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Learn About Pregnancy Symptoms 

Pregnancy symptoms vary from woman to woman. The most common pregnancy sign is a missed menstrual period — although sometimes a missed period can point to something other than pregnancy. 

Symptoms of Pregnancy

You may know you’re pregnant even before you miss your period. There are a variety of signs that may indicate you’re in the early stages of pregnancy. Because every woman is different, so you may experience all of these symptoms or none at all.

If you think you’re pregnant, an at-home pregnancy test may help provide more answers. It’s also important to schedule an appointment with your doctor to confirm your pregnancy and to start on a regimen of regular doctor’s appointments and health improvements.

The most common symptoms of pregnancy are:

  • Missed menstrual periods. Skipping your period is the the most well-known sign of pregnancy. However, a missed period doesn’t always equal pregnancy; especially in the case of women with irregular periods.    
  • Swollen, tender breasts. Early on in your pregnancy, your breasts may become extremely sensitive and you may also see darker areolas.
  • Nausea. While not every woman experiences morning sickness during pregnancy, a handful of do, especially after the first month of conceiving.
  • Exhaustion. You might experience fatigue because your hormone levels increase drastically in early pregnancy. The hormones, called progesterone, may cause you to feel sleepy.  
  • Mood swings. Rapidly changing hormones can lead to fluctuations in your mood.
  • Headaches. Hormone changes can lead to headaches in some women.
  • Food aversions or cravings. You might notice you’re more sensitive to certain odors and your food cravings may change.
  • Frequent urination. The blood levels in your body increase during pregnancy, which means to extra fluid in the bladder.

If you experience any of these symptoms — especially if they persist — it’s a good idea to try an at-home pregnancy test.

Diagnosing Pregnancy

If you want to find out whether you’re pregnant or not, there are two types of pregnancy tests you can take: urine-based tests and blood tests. Both tests help measure human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels, a hormone that increases rapidly in the early days and weeks of pregnancy, in the body.

Home pregnancy tests are urine-based tests. For best results, read and follow the directions carefully, and wait the allotted amount of time before reading the test.

Some at-home tests can detect pregnancy even before you miss a period. For the most reliable results, wait about a week after your period and and take a urine pregnancy test in the morning.

Visit UPMC Susquehanna for Pregnancy Testing

Call your healthcare provider to schedule a pregnancy test. Your provider may use a urine-based pregnancy test or draw a sample of your blood for a blood-based pregnancy test.

If your test indicates you’re pregnant, schedule a prenatal visit with an obstetrician. If your test is negative and your symptoms persist, contact your doctor, who may order another pregnancy test and conduct a physical exam. The caring and compassionate physicians at UPMC Susquehanna are here to help diagnose pregnancy and give you peace of mind.

UPMC Susquehanna is dedicated to the health of all women in our community. We provide exceptional diagnosis for pregnancy symptoms in Williamsport and Wellsboro, PA, and the surrounding areas.