How to Tell if a Woman Is Pregnant

Outside of a protruding abdomen and expanding uterus, a dead giveaway for determining if a woman is pregnant is the positive indication on a home pregnancy test that detects the hormone hCG. Besides a plus sign or double lines from a urine test taken in the privacy of a home bathroom, there are other physical hints that will help tell you if a woman is pregnant.

  1. Function

    • The cessation of menstruation or missed periods is one of the earliest signs a woman is pregnant, since the egg, which descends during the menstrual cycle, has been fertilized.

    Potential

    • A woman's breasts enlarge, becoming more sensitive and tender during the early stages of gestation. This can continue for the duration of her pregnancy.

    Identification

    • Feelings of fatigue can leave an expecting woman wiped out and ready for naptime at the most inopportune times of day.

    Considerations

    • Numerous bathroom breaks due to frequent urination both in the first and third trimester are common occurrences in a woman's pregnancy.

    Effects

    • Nausea--caused by smells, tastes or seemingly no concrete reason--overtakes many pregnant women in their first trimester.

    Misconceptions

    • "Morning sickness"--nausea due to pregnancy--is for many not limited to mere mornings or particular trimesters, and can occur at any time of day.

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