Signs of Pregnancy

Think you’re pregnant? If it wasn’t intended you’re probably feeling scared. You want to know for sure before anyone else knows. Slow down and take a deep breath. You’ve come to the right place.

Over-the-counter pregnancy test kits can give unreliable results. WISH Medical offers free pregnancy testing and confirmation via limited obstetrical ultrasound. Check out our list and call or click to set up a test.

• Possible Signs of Pregnancy

  • Amenorrhea (absence of menstration)
    • Usually appears during entire pregnancy
    • Other possible causes: Travel, fatigue, stress, fear of pregnancy, hormonal problems or illness, extreme weight gain or loss, going off the Pill, breastfeeding
  • Morning sickness (any time of day)
    • Usually appears 2-8 weeks after conception
    • Other possible causes: Food poisoning, tension, infection, and a variety of diseases
  • Frequent urination
    • Usually appears 6-8 weeks after conception
    • Other possible causes: Urinary tract infection, diuretics, tension, diabetes
  • Tingling, tender, swollen breasts
    • Usually appears as early as a few days after conception
    • Other possible causes: Birth control pills, impending menstruation
  • Changes in color of vaginal and cervical tissue*
    • Usually appears: First trimester
    • Other possible cause: Impending menstruation
  • Darkening of areola (area around nipple) and elevation of tiny glands around nipple
    • Usually appears during first trimester
    • Other possible causes: Hormonal imbalance or effect of prior pregnancy
  • Food cravings
    • Usually appears during first trimester
    • Other possible causes: Poor diet, stress, imagination, or impending menstruation
  • Darkening of line from navel to pubis
    • Usually appears during 4th or 5th month
    • Other possible causes: Hormonal imbalance or effect of prior pregnancy

• Probable Signs of Pregnancy

  • Softening of uterus and cervix*
    • Usually appears 2-8 weeks after conception
    • Other possible causes: A delayed menstrual period
  • Enlarging uterus* and abdomen
    • Usually appears 8-12 weeks after conception
    • Other possible causes: Tumor, fibroids
  • Intermittent painless contractions
    • Usually appears early in pregnancy, increasing in frequency as pregnancy advances
    • Other possible causes: Bowel contractions
  • Fetal movements
    • First noted at 16-22 weeks of pregnancy
    • Other possible causes: Gas, bowel contractions

• Positive Signs of Pregnancy

  • Visualization of embryo or gestational sac through ultrasound*
    • Usually appears as early as 4-6 weeks after conception
    • Other possible causes: None
  • Fetal heartbeat*
    • Usually detected by ultrasound about 6 weeks after conception**
    • Other possible causes: None
  • Fetal movements felt through abdomen*
    • Usually appears after 16 weeks
    • Other possible causes: None

*Signs of pregnancy looked for in medical examination.

**Depending on device used.

Portions of the content of this web page are excerpted from “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” Copyright © 1984, 1988, 1991, 1996, 2002 by What to Expect LLC – Used by permission of Workman Publishing Co., Inc. New York – All Rights Reserved – No Portion of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form whatsoever or stored in a database or retrieval system without the prior written permission of Workman Publishing Co, Inc.