Early Signs of Pregnancy That Are Easy to Miss

Many women experience signs of pregnancy that aren’t hard to miss. However, if you have a busy schedule, are already taking care of one or more children, or are undergoing a life transition, you may miss early signs that you’re carrying a child. 

Our board-certified internal medicine physicians and nurse practitioner at Norwood Medical Associates include a specialty in women’s health, such as pregnancy, menopause, reproductive cancers, and other gynecological conditions. 

We encourage you to come in at the first sign of pregnancy to confirm your condition and benefit from prenatal care. We start you on prenatal vitamins that give your body the boost it needs as it prepares for your baby, and we follow you at every step with tests to chart your pregnancy. 

Following are early signs of pregnancy that you may miss if your schedule is packed. 

A missed period

If your period is somewhat irregular, you may not realize for a month or two that you’ve completely missed a menstrual cycle. If it is regular, but you’re super busy, it’s also easy to miss. Your mind may be on getting your child to after-school activities, your work deadlines, or an upcoming vacation.   

Feeling more tired than usual

Feeling extra tired is another sign of pregnancy that’s easy to miss. Your hormone levels are changing rapidly, but you may simply chalk up the feeling to being overwhelmed with your day-to-day routine. 

Reaction to certain smells

If you suddenly have a heightened sense of smell that causes an extreme reaction like nausea, you’re likely pregnant. A majority of women say that a strong reaction to smells was one of the first clues to pregnancy.  

More frequent urination 

When you’re pregnant, your body produces more blood in order to support the increased amount of oxygen needed to supply the baby. Your kidneys work harder, so you urinate more frequently. 

Nausea 

Nausea with or without vomiting is a common early symptom of pregnancy. Some women get nausea early on, some experience it after a month or two, and some women never have it. 

Even though it’s called morning sickness, you can feel nausea any time of the day or night when pregnant. If you feel nauseous and you don’t have a sensitive stomach, it’s likely an early sign of pregnancy unless you have a case of food poisoning. 

Appetite loss or food cravings 

Are you experiencing sudden cravings for foods you like but haven’t craved previously? Perhaps it’s a certain flavor of ice cream or a type of chips. 

On the other hand, maybe you’ve lost your appetite. That’s not uncommon, especially if you experience nausea. Maybe you normally love eggs and spicy foods but now you can’t stomach them. Both extremes, cravings and appetite loss or aversion to certain foods, are often signs of pregnancy. 

Breast soreness

Are your breasts sore and tender? Breast soreness often occurs early in pregnancy around weeks 4-6. It’s a telltale sign of pregnancy. 

Call Norwood Medical Associates in Norwood, Massachusetts, or request an appointment through our online portal today if you think you might be pregnant and for all of your health needs. We’re your health partner through all of your life’s transitions.