Suspect you’re pregnant? There are no shortage of signs and symptoms that supposedly signify this to be true, whether it’s a more prominent pulse in your neck or a bizarre food craving.
However, before you start Googling symptoms or going on an anxiety-filled pregnancy, there are five common early signs that you’re pregnant:
1. Missing your period or not having a period.
2. Nausea and vomiting.
3. Breast tenderness or breasts that swell in size.
4. Urinating more frequently.
5. Being severely exhausted or fatigued.
In addition, there are several other signs and symptoms that you might be pregnant.
Food aversion or food cravings
Food aversions — where you can’t stand to taste, smell or even look at certain foods — are common, as are food cravings. Both of these things manifest with no rhyme or reason. There’s no association with what your body actually needs in pregnancy, which is what’s so unusual. Some people crave fatty foods. Some people crave salty foods. Some people can’t eat meat. Some can’t smell meat. They’re just random.
A metallic taste in your mouth
Having a metallic taste in your mouth is quite common, due to illness, medications or even food allergies. However, pregnancy can also cause this condition.
Changes in vaginal discharge
Your cervical mucus (which you expel as part of vaginal discharge) can get thinner or thicker depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. These changes in consistency can help you gauge fertility and pregnancy status. It’s a thin and watery discharge before you ovulate. Then it becomes thicker after you ovulate — and then it gets even thicker if you’re pregnant. It just stays that way.
This is completely normal and not something to worry about. People often say, ‘Why am I having this discharge? I must have an infection. I’m worried about the baby.’ But, no — it’s normal to have increased discharge.
