Am I pregnant?

Advice on the pregnancy signs and symptoms to look for if you're wandering 'Am I Pregnant?'

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Some women 'just know' they're pregnant while others have no idea until they're left waiting for aunt flo to arrive. While the most reliable way to find out whether you are pregnant is by taking a home pregnancy test a couple of days after a missed period, there are other pregnancy signs that may indicate you are expecting.

Some symptoms may begin to develop after implantation although their appearance and onset varies greatly from woman to woman. It is however important to remember that symptoms of pregnancy can be similar to those experienced premenstrually so it is always best to hold out to test before you get really excited.

Here are some common pregnancy signs to look out for if you are wandering 'am I pregnant?'.....

Missed Period - If you are trying for a baby one of the most reliable signs of pregnancy is a missed period. However, this isn't the only reason for delayed menstruation so it is always best to take a home pregnancy test as a confirmation.

Morning Sickness - Nausea is a common symptom of pregnancy and can occur at any time of the day or night, not just in the morning.

Implantation Bleeding - Some women experience light spotting as the embryo implants into their uterus wall. This tends to be lighter in colour than that experienced during normal menstruation and generally only lasts a day or so.

Swollen or Tender Breasts - Early on in pregnancy many women notice a heightened sensitivity and enlargement of their breasts. They may feel sore, swollen or tingly and the areolas may appear larger and darker than usual. Additionally, the small bumps on the nipples (Montgomery glands) may also become more pronounced.

Fatigue - Feelings of extreme tiredness are also common early on in pregnancy, this is partially due to elevated levels of the hormone progesterone (which is also responsible for making you feel tired premenstrually) in combination with all the extra work your body is doing to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the growing foetus.

Odour Sensitivity - Many women experience a heightened sense of smell early on in pregnancy. Some find odours that have never bothered them before suddenly become unbearable and even favourite foods may seem less appealing.

Frequent Urination - This is one of the most common signs of early pregnancy and is down to an increase in the amount of blood circulating, and fluid processed by the body in combination with pressure on the bladder from the expanding uterus.

Constipation - On the other hand many women also experience constipation as increasing hormone levels slow digestion and the colon begins to absorb more water.

Headaches - While headaches are not a defining pregnancy symptom they are often experienced in the early stages as a result of all the hormonal activity going on.

Bloating - Even before the foetus and uterus have developed and enlarged enough to 'show' many women experience abdominal bloating, this can be similar to that experienced premenstrually.

Metallic Taste - A large number of women experience a metallic taste in their mouth early on in pregnancy. This is thought to be down to the cocktail of hormones circulating around the body, especially as the 'pregnancy hormone' estrogen is also thought to play a role in the sense of taste.

Elevated BBT - If you have been charting your BBT (basal body temperature) and notice a post ovulation temperature of 98 deg or more that remains elevated for more than 18 days in a row there is a strong likelihood that you may be pregnant.