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Do you think you’re pregnant?

Typically, the most obvious symptom of pregnancy is a missed period. This happens because your body begins producing certain hormones with conception. These hormones will cause your body to stop ovulating, and also stop the shedding of your uterine lining each month. So, your menstrual cycle will stop and will not come back until after your baby is born. However, you can miss a period and not be pregnant. Some things that can cause this would be stress, exercising too much, lack of nutrition, and some medical conditions.

Maybe you are noticing that you have to pee more often. This is a symptom of pregnancy, because when you are pregnant, your body increases its blood supply. When your blood supply builds, your kidneys must filter more blood and as they do this, more urine is produced, making you pee more frequently. Some women notice this even before a missed period.

Another commonly noticed symptom is fatigue. Your body releases a lot of a hormone called progesterone during the first trimester of pregnancy, and this can make you feel very tired! Thankfully, this usually gets better during the second trimester, but the fatigue may come back during your third trimester.

Are you experiencing nausea? Although often referred to as “Morning Sickness”, it can come at any time of day. Some women don’t experience any nausea. Others may find themselves vomiting during pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy can be normal, but if you find yourself unable to keep food or liquids down, you could become dehydrated and you should seek help from your healthcare provider.

Many women also experience sore and/or swollen breasts as a first symptom of pregnancy. This is due to the increase in hormones in your body, and will go away once your body gets used to those hormones.

Other less common early pregnancy symptoms are light spotting which may be implantation bleeding, food cravings or aversions, headaches or dizziness, a metallic taste in your mouth, mood swings, and bloating.

If you think you might be pregnant, it’s important to take a pregnancy test. At Heart of Tioga, they offer FREE lab-quality pregnancy tests, as well as FREE confirmation ultrasounds!

You can call them at 570-948-2020 to schedule an appointment for a pregnancy test, ultrasound, or to talk with an advocate about your options and get connected with community resources!