8 Signs You May Be Pregnant

Your energy is dwindling, your body feels bloated and your breasts are tender — these could be signs that a baby is on board. The signs and symptoms of pregnancy, however, are often similar to premenstrual symptoms, so a woman might overlook those tender breasts and bloated stomach at first. But if your period is missing in action and you've experienced some or all of the following symptoms, it may be time to head to your doctor to get the final results.

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While there are numerous causes of missing a period, it is often a clear sign of pregnancy, says Angela Jones, New Jersey-based gynecologist with Barnabas Health. Irregular bleeding in place of regular menstrual cycles can also be a sign of pregnancy. Jones recommends taking a home pregnancy test or making an appointment with your physician for a blood or urine pregnancy test if you have missed your menstrual cycle and suspect you may be pregnant.

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If your breasts appear to be growing or you are experiencing soreness or tenderness, it may be a sign that a baby is on the way, Jones says. "While one can experience this with a normal menstrual cycle, the degree will be greatly heightened," she says. "This is due to the large increase in hormones, specifically progesterone and estrogen." Before treating the soreness with aspirin or pain medication, consult with your physician and undergo pregnancy testing.

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Even though virtually everyone has experienced nausea or felt under the weather, instead of brushing the symptoms off as the flu or a virus, consider that it could be a sign of pregnancy. "This is due to hormonal changes and in most cases resolves once a woman gets outside of the first trimester," Jones says. The myth that nausea stemming from a pregnancy only occurs in the morning is just that — a myth. Nausea during pregnancy can occur at any time of the day.

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The wear and tear of life alone can cause you to feel tired and lack energy, but fatigue can also be attributed to a symptom of pregnancy. "Fatigue is due in large part to all the energy your body is expending to nurture and carry a baby," Jones says. "The amount of cellular turnover and production is astronomical when one looks at everything required to support a growing being inside the body." As a result, daily naps may be in store for you for the next nine months.

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Largely due to hormonal influences, women who are pregnant often experience mood swings. If you feel like crying one moment and laughing the next, you may be expecting a baby. Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can result in sharp mood swings, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and begin as early as a few weeks after conception. Although women experience mood swings and hormonal fluctuations at various points in their lives, if your mood swings are sudden, it may be time to take a pregnancy test.

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If you find yourself scurrying to the restroom more often than usual, know that this is a symptom pregnant women commonly experience. "Due to the dilation of the ureters, which is common during pregnancy and also related to hormonal influences, pregnant women experience an increased urge to urinate and urinate more often than women who are not pregnant," Jones says. "An enlarging uterus that applies direct pressure to the bladder also contributes to increased urination when a woman is pregnant."

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You may have slept wrong, pulled a muscle or lifted an item that was too heavy if you're experiencing back pain. But you may also be pregnant if your back is aching. "Back pain worsens as the pregnancy progresses," Jones says. "This is due largely in part to a growing uterus and the shift in a woman's center of gravity, which puts stress on the lower spine." If your aching back is causing you discomfort and you suspect you may be pregnant, now is the time to make an appointment with your physician.

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Although that spicy burrito you ate for dinner or a lack of fiber in your diet may be causing heartburn or constipation, it could also be a sign that you have a bun in the oven. "Constipation and heartburn in pregnant women are triggered by the slowing of some organ functions due to relaxation caused by hormonal influences," Jones says. It may be a good idea to ditch the burrito and increase your intake of fiber, but it's also crucial that you confirm whether or not you are pregnant.

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