- Headaches - Headaches that occur during pregnancy are often intense and caused by increased hormone levels.
- Mood swings - Don't think you're crazy if you suddenly develop atypical mood swings or if you are unusually emotional during pregnancy. Many times, pregnant women burst into tears for reasons that are unclear to anyone, including the pregnant woman. This is another symptom caused by increased hormone levels.
- Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy - This symptom can be caused by the circulatory system as dilation of the blood vessels occur. Low blood sugar early in pregnancy can also trigger these symptoms.
- Increased basal body temperature or BBT - Your basal body temperature is your temperature immediately upon rising in the morning. BBT normally increases during ovulation and decreases when menstruation occurs. However, when pregnancy takes place, increased basal body temperature continues. BBT is a good indicator of pregnancy for women who have used it, either to prevent pregnancy or when trying to get pregnant.
- Constipation - Food digests slower than usual during pregnancy due to increased progesterone production. Slower digestion sometimes causes constipation during pregnancy.
If I have one or more of these symptoms, does that mean I'm pregnant?
Not necessarily. Many of these symptoms are common to several different conditions, and could mean that you're sick or that menstruation is about to begin. Another point to remember is that while these symptoms are common during pregnancy, sometimes none of these symptoms occur.If you experience the signs and symptoms of pregnancy, you may want to buy a home pregnancy test and see your doctor -- either to begin prenatal care and confirm your pregnancy, or to determine the cause of your symptoms if you're not pregnant.
