9 Ways Your Body is Trying To Tell You You’re Pregnant
July 21, 2018
When you’re trying to get pregnant or when you’re really afraid you might be pregnant, the days between when you have sex and when you’re supposed to get your period can be filled with anxiety. You might be paying extra attention to your body, watching for signs of pregnancy. So what are the early signs of pregnancy? What clues does your body give even before you miss a period?
Many women experience some of the following symptoms beginning as early as conception (approximately 2 weeks after the last period). Because pregnancy symptoms are so different from woman to woman, you may have some of these symptoms or none of these symptoms.
- Cramping – Cramping in early pregnancy can come from a surge of blood to the uterus. Some mildly uncomfortable, generalized cramping is normal in early pregnancy. If you have cramping that makes you double over in pain or that’s concentrated in one place, you should call your doctor right away.
- Spotting – When the newly-conceived baby attaches to the uterine wall, there can be some implantation bleeding. This bleeding is usually light pink or brown and isn’t as heavy as a normal period. Because of the timing – 6 to 12 days after conception – it easily can be confused with a light period. So if you have this symptom along with other symptoms, you might want to take a pregnancy test.
- Bloating – As your hormones change, you might feel bloated similar to that bloated feeling you get during your period. These same hormones can slow down your digestive system, so you might be constipated along with the bloating.
- Sore Breasts – Sore breasts and nipples are often one of the first signs of pregnancy. As your levels of estrogen and progesterone spike, blood flow to your breasts increases. This can make your breasts feel sore or tingly or extra sensitive. Many women experience this same thing during the monthly cycle. But as the hormone levels dip back down during the regular cycle, the breast tenderness goes away. During pregnancy, your hormone levels stay elevated, so the tenderness doesn’t go away like it does during your monthly cycle.
- Fatigue – As soon as you get pregnant, your body starts making a placenta and producing more blood to carry nutrients to your baby. Add to that all the extra hormones, which can cause sleepiness, and it’s no wonder you’re exhausted! Extreme fatigue during the first trimester is very common.
- Peeing More Often – As soon as the newly-conceived baby implants in the wall of your uterus, your body starts making a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, which is more widely known as hCG. This is the hormone that shows up in your urine and causes the pregnancy test to be positive. It’s this same hormone that can make you feel like you have to pee every five minutes.
- Nausea – Some people call this morning sickness, but that’s really a deceptive name because you can feel sick at any or all times of the day or night, not just in the morning. Some women vomit; others feel nauseous but never vomit. More rarely, some women experience extreme vomiting, leading to dehydration and other problems. If your morning sickness seems especially severe, talk with your doctor and she can offer solutions.
- Mood swings – You know all those hormones we keep talking about? Well, they can cause your moods to shift like sand on a windy day. You might feel perfectly fine one moment and burst into tears the next. And maybe you don’t even know why you feel so sad or so happy or so irritated. The good news — this isn’t permanent. Pregnancy doesn’t last forever, and your moods will eventually even back out again.
- Food cravings (or food aversions) – You know all those stories about pregnant women wanting pickles and ice cream? That’s not just a myth or old wives’ tale. You might not want pickles and ice cream exactly, but food cravings are a real thing. Some people believe it’s your body’s way of telling you what nutrients you need, though there isn’t much science or data to back that up. Similar to cravings, some women experience intense food aversions — you can’t even stand the smell of certain foods or you become nauseous. What should you do about the cravings? Most doctors agree that giving in to cravings in moderation is OK, but be careful about eating too many empty calories. Your growing baby needs nutrients.
If you suspect you’re pregnant, call us and schedule a time to meet with one of our staff members. We can offer a pregnancy test at no cost to you and possibly an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy. Whether you’ve been trying to get pregnant or whether this is the biggest surprise of your life, we’ll do our best to help you navigate this next step – You don’t have to do this alone.
New ParagraphIf you recently had sex and are wondering when to get tested for an STD, there is not one waiting period that applies to every infection. Different STDs take different amounts of time to become detectable, and the type of test being used can also affect when an infection may show up. Testing too soon after exposure may yield a negative result even when an infection is present. If you are unsure about your timing, schedule an appointment with Collage. We offer no-cost testing and treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhea , and our licensed medical professionals are here to answer your questions. Treatment is provided if a test is positive, and medical professionals are available to answer your questions. Why Timing Matters After exposure to an STD, there can be a period of time before a test can detect the infection. That window is not the same for every STD. Some infections may become detectable sooner than others, and certain situations may call for repeat testing after an initial negative result. This is why testing the day after sex will not necessarily give you the information you are looking for. A medical professional can consider when the exposure occurred, your symptoms, and the type of testing available. You Can Have an STD Without Symptoms Do not assume that feeling fine means there is no reason to get tested. Some sexually transmitted infections cause no symptoms or only mild symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may include: Sores or bumps on the genitals or in the oral or rectal area Painful or burning urination Unusual or odorous vaginal discharge Unusual vaginal bleeding Pain during sex Sore, swollen lymph nodes, often in the groin area Fever Chlamydia may cause symptoms such as unusual discharge or burning with urination, but many people don’t notice symptoms at all. Gonorrhea can cause similar symptoms and may affect the genitals, rectum, or throat. However, because symptoms aren't always present, testing can identify an infection that might otherwise go unnoticed. If you develop symptoms or learn that a sexual partner has tested positive for an STD, contact a healthcare professional rather than waiting to see whether symptoms appear or go away. Why Testing Is Worth Doing Some untreated STDs can cause problems beyond the initial infection. Depending on the infection, complications can include arthritis, certain cancers, infertility, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Testing gives you the opportunity to identify an infection and receive treatment if available. A medical professional can also explain whether follow-up or repeat testing is recommended. Regular screening may also be appropriate for some people based on factors such as age, sexual history, new or multiple partners, and previous STDs. Start With Testing at Collage Collage offers testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea at no cost. Both infections commonly occur without obvious symptoms, so testing can be important even when you feel well. Both infections can be treated with the appropriate antibiotics. If your test is positive, Collage will contact you to schedule an appointment to come in for treatment. Schedule an initial STD testing appointment with Collage today to ask your questions and find out what is appropriate for you. Call us in Kearney at 308.234.9880 and in Grand Island at 308.675.2217. Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services.
If you took the first abortion pill, it’s possible to start wishing you hadn’t. The regret may have hit you immediately, or it might have taken a few hours to realize that you want to continue the pregnancy. Either way, there may still be something you can do: abortion pill reversal (APR) may be an option. The first drug used in the abortion pill regimen is usually mifepristone. If you have taken mifepristone but now want to continue your pregnancy, call the Abortion Pill Reversal Network at 1-877-558-0333 right away. Their Helpline is available 24/7 and can connect you with a medical provider who can administer APR. If You Have Only Taken the First Pill Mifepristone works by blocking progesterone. Progesterone helps maintain the lining of the uterus during pregnancy. When this hormone is blocked, the uterine lining thins, and the pregnancy ends. The second drug in the abortion pill regimen is misoprostol , which causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy. Abortion pill reversal involves giving progesterone after mifepristone in an effort to allow the pregnancy to continue. Don’t Wait for Symptoms Before Calling You may wonder whether you should wait before deciding what to do. But if you want to try to continue the pregnancy, call first. It’s critical to start the protocol as soon as possible, ideally within 24 to 48 hours of taking mifepristone. However, you should still call even when more time has passed; it may not be too late. A medical provider can determine whether APR may still be appropriate. Does Reversal Always Work? Abortion pill reversal cannot guarantee that the pregnancy will continue. One published study reported ongoing pregnancy rates of approximately 64% to 68% with certain progesterone regimens, but individual outcomes vary. The important thing is to get medical guidance quickly rather than trying to determine your chances on your own. What if You Already Took Misoprostol? If you have already taken misoprostol, contact a healthcare professional promptly and explain exactly what you took and when. You should also seek immediate medical attention if you develop symptoms that concern you or believe you may be experiencing a medical emergency. Make the Call Now Changing your mind after taking mifepristone can be frightening, especially when you’re unsure whether there is still time to act. You don’t need to figure that out yourself. Call the Abortion Pill Reversal Network at 1-877-558-0333 as soon as possible and tell them when you took mifepristone. They can explain whether abortion pill reversal may still be an option and connect you with an appropriate provider. You can also contact Collage if you need someone to speak with while you work through your next steps. We’re here to help you. *Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services. **All abortion information in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
Seeing another positive pregnancy test after having had a past abortion may bring up memories or emotions from that experience. If you already know you don’t want another abortion, you may be wondering what other choices you have and whether either feels realistic for your life right now. You have time to learn about your options and the available support. Collage is here to give you a place to discuss your circumstances so you can decide what’s right for you. Schedule a no-cost appointment today to learn more about your pregnancy and what your next steps could look like. And read on to learn more about your pregnancy options besides abortion. Consider What Parenting Would Require You may want to parent but have concerns about whether you can make it work. Finances, housing, childcare, your relationship, work, or school can all influence how possible this option feels right now. Before deciding that those challenges make parenting unrealistic, it can help to identify your biggest concerns individually. Some of those concerns may have solutions you haven’t considered yet. Think about the support you already have, along with what you would need during pregnancy and after your baby arrives. Knowing where the gaps are can make it easier to find resources rather than trying to solve everything at once. Learn More About Adoption If you don’t want another abortion but aren’t ready to parent, adoption is another option. Today, a woman making an adoption plan can have a significant role in deciding what that plan looks like. Depending on the type of adoption, you may be able to choose an adoptive family and decide what level of contact you would like after placement. Open, semi-open, and closed adoption offer different levels of communication and privacy. Speaking with a licensed adoption professional can help you understand these differences, your rights, and what the process would involve before you make any commitments. Discuss Your Options in a Confidential Space Having had an abortion before does not mean you have to make the same pregnancy decision again. Your feelings, circumstances, priorities, or perspective may be different this time. If you know you don’t want another abortion, start by learning what parenting and adoption could realistically look like in your current situation. Collage provides a place to talk about your pregnancy and the concerns influencing your decision. We can also connect you with adoption agencies and community organizations that provide the support you’re seeking. Reaching out doesn’t lock you into a specific decision. Schedule a no-cost appointment with Collage today to get your questions answered and explore the options available to you. Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services.
