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The First Warning Signs of Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be exciting or daunting, depending on the circumstances. Do you suspect you're pregnant? Below are some of the tell-tale first signs of pregnancy.

Most women mark the first missed period as the first sign of pregnancy, but a missed period can be caused by a number of factors. A large change in diet, exercise or stress level can also contribute to a missed period.

Some women experience spotting about two weeks after the first day of the previous period as the first sign of pregnancy. This spotting is caused when the fertilized egg implants in the uterus and is usually very light.

Mood Swings caused by hormonal surges early in pregnancy can be more severe than those experienced during PMS. Often this is the first symptom of pregnancy noticed by family members!

Breast tenderness and enlargement, caused by the breast preparing for breastfeeding is especially common during very early pregnancy, but often disappears after a few weeks. Darkening areolas, or the area around your nipples, occurs soon after conception and may persist throughout the pregnancy.

Fatigue is an early sign of pregnancy, but also a sign of many other conditions.

Nausea and vomiting, sometimes referred to as morning sickness, ranging from queasiness to severe vomiting that can manifest just in the morning (when hormone concentrations are highest) or all day.

Changes in appetite and food cravings often plague the newly pregnant woman and can occur early in the pregnancy right through delivery.

If you are experiencing any combination of these symptoms, and you suspect that you may be pregnant, try a home pregnancy test. These tests detect the level of pregnancy hormone (HCG) in your urine. If you test positive, you should make an appointment with your doctor to begin prenatal care!

Maria writes for Pregnancy Due Date, a site that tries to information for expectant mothers. For more great pregnancy articles, visit our Pregnancy articles archive.