Usually, the first sign of a new pregnancy is a missed menstrual period. If your monthly cycle is regular, this can be obvious: for example, if you normally get your period around the 1^st of every month and one month it hasn’t come by the 15^th, you would probably notice. However, because many women commonly experience irregular periods or skip periods entirely, this sign can be easy to miss. If you so miss your period and there is any chance you might be pregnant, it is a good idea to see a health care provider to find out if whether you are pregnant or if you might have some other health problem.

Other signs and symptoms of early pregnancy may occur in the first week or two after conception — even before you miss your period — or they may not become noticeable until a few weeks later. These other signs and symptoms of early pregnancy include:

• tender, swollen breasts or nipples
• fatigue
• slight bleeding (spotting) that is lighter in color than normal menstrual blood
• cramping
• nausea, with or without vomiting, at any time during the day
• frequent urination
• food aversions or cravings
• headaches
• constipation
• mood swings
• faintness and dizziness
• elevated basal body temperature

Unfortunately, none of these symptoms is unique to pregnancy. However, if you experience several of them together, you may want to take a home pregnancy test. Some of these tests can determine if you are pregnant a few days before you miss a period.

If your home pregnancy test is positive, make an appointment with your doctor right away to confirm the test results. The sooner you begin prenatal care, the more likely you are to have a healthy pregnancy.