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Common symptoms of pregnancy

Pregnancy symptoms

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Pregnancy symptom: Nausea/Morning Sickness

Some women complain of feeling nauseous throughout their whole pregnancy and others manage to escape it. This well-known symptom will normally show up between 2-8 weeks into your pregnancy.

One theory is that it is caused by an increase of the hormone progesterone. Progesterone apparently softens the muscles in the uterus ready for labour but it also softens the stomach muscles causing nausea and sickness.
What else could it be? Food poisoning, stress, or other stomach upsets can also cause you to feel queasy.
Get more info about sickness during pregnancy as well as some top tips from goodtoknow readers and experts

Pregnancy symptom: Fatigue/Tiredness

Many pregnant women complain that they find themselves falling asleep on buses, at work and even during sex! Feeling more tired is a pregnancy symptom that can also start as early as the first week and is because your body is working overtime to get ready for the baby.
What else could it be? Stress, depression, common cold or flu, or other illnesses can also leave you feeling tired or sleepy

Pregnancy symptom: Backaches

Having a backache is a common symptom throughout your pregnancy due to the extra weight you're carrying. But it and can also be an early sign of pregnancy too.
The ache will be similar to the stomach cramps and aches you get when you're on your period. And it's just because your body is getting ready for the baby.
What else could it be? If you are due on your period you may get a backache or if your suffering from physical or mental stress and tension. It could also be another back problem.

Pregnancy symptom: Leg cramps

It's quite common for women to suffer from leg cramps during pregnancy and you might notice it a lot more in the early stages. This has been linked to having less calcium in your blood because it's being taken by the baby!
What else could it be? Straining a muscle or being cold, especially at night, can cause the muscles in your legs to tense and spasm.

Top tip: Find out how experts and other mums-to-be deal with cramp during pregnancy.

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Please leave a comment, tip or story in the box below

Amy, 4 days

Hi im on the pill cerazette i stoped taking it about 3 weeks ago i have been having frequent unprotected sex with my boyfriend and about a week ago i bled a small amount but after about 2 hours it stopped i have still not been taking the pill and have still had no bleeding could i be pregnant?

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Carrie, about 1 month

My partner and I have had unsafe sex twice and I am wondering if I should get tested because I have missed taking my birth control pill for seven days now. However I think it would be to early to tell if I am pregant. I am tired and sore all the time.

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Sarah, 3 months

im suffering from back aches and my legs ache when i move or crouch down. i keep having the odd headache and feeling tired. i have never had sex but im worried that my boyfriend may of had sperm on his fingers. This would of been dry betime it entered me im sure. why am i getting these pains? i'm really worried!

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kimberly, 4 months

I came off the pill in December 2008. My husband and i have been having unprotected sex from January 2009 to date. We really woiuld like to have a child but we arer not sure what we are doing wrong. It has been seven months to no avail, im beginning to think that something is wrong with me. By the way i am 25. please let me know what you make of it. by the way this site is very informative.

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eddy, 4 months

hello,i saw my last period on d 27th june of it finished on d 1th of july we made love on the 11th and 14th of dis month and i think am due for my period 21th of dis month but am feeling strange at d lower part of my abdormel, i go to the toilet often to wee,sometimes i feel sick sometime's, a little cold,soome's i feel like taking ice cream, i really want to have a baby is it that am so stress up over dis issue

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Carry Tanner, 5 months

Well, i had sex just a week ago, but it was my first time, so can you get pregnant if it was your and your bf first time? All ive been feeling is backaches, that i get but on rare occasions, and i just been feeling a littel stuffed & bloated at my lower belly. what could that be, could i be pregnant even though it was me and my boyfriends first time, but we didint use any protection?

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pippa leigh, 5 months

hi am 25 and already have 2 girls but i had unprotected sex about 5 weeks ago and again the last week am feeling very tired and have started to feel sick i also have little feelings in my stomach like butterflies. and needing the toilet more i also had a spot of bleeding about 4 days ago . could i be pregant please help me a confused 25 yr old thanks

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sam r, 6 months

hi i had unprotected sex with my ex partner and i took a test this mornin which came bk possitive just to b ont he safe side i took another test this fater noon n came back negative i also took a test last week in the mornin and also came bk possitive but both possitives have faint lines?? is there a chance i am pregnant but very erly on for the tets to only show possitive readings in the mornins?

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val, 6 months

i had unprotected sex 3week ago it was during my ovulation period. when i went i calculate my date and i saw that am in y ovulation period so the next day i take norvelo pills.on the 10may i got my period but its last for only 2and a half day normal i have 5days. my belly is still paining. i know i was so so so stupid not to use a condom. what the chance am pregnant.

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Sharon, 6 months

Hi, i had unprotected sex with my boyfriend. I am having my periods as normal but I am gaining weight however, I have seriously bad heartburn and I have a pulsing sensation it and around my stomach. I have taken two tests both neagtive. We have a child already and I know this sensation but is this possible, to have normal periods and negative tests? Stupis I know but seriously worried.

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patricia, 8 months

hi i had sex with my bf , he did not use condom, and i m sure he did not fall inside me.last month we did it thrice.normally my perionds slip for 1-2 days.its been 2 days still i m felling nothing.(no stomach and legs pain)does it mean i m pregnant? i m very tensed.i knw i did a stupid thing, next time i ll make sure to be more careful and use condom.

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Zoe, 8 months

Hey people im 7 weeks pregnant 2morrow =] i had my last period on 6th of febuary then 2 weeks after my period i bled for a day so when that happened i had suspicion i was pregnant... i was due on period on march 10th never come on so i waited 2 and half weeks nothing happened so i took two prego tests both came out positive.. it only took me a month to get pregnant as i had the implant removed then got pregnant straight away. Im tired all the time, get mild lower stomach cramps now and then only last for a few mins tho and my stomach is just so bloated and achey. It's just my newborn growing :) i do get a little worried about my mild stomache cramps but i dont bleed when i get them so i guess its all normal also my nipples are changing colour and my veins stick out. If some of you woman think ur pregnant just press down on ur lower stomache and you'll feel that ur waistline is thicker because mine is. I cant wait until im 12 weeks (my 1st scan) if i didnt say im scared about having a miscarriage id be lying. So i just hope my pregnancy will be healthy. Wish me luck :) x

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Jade, 8 months

hiya, ive been having sex with my boyfriend uprotected for about a two months now as were trying for a baby, i recently cum of the pill about two months ago. now 2months into trying for a baby im starting to fell sick everyday but not achely being sick, bad cramps in my back and legs and my stomach everyday feels very tense and hard i was the monday and now its friday ive got no symptoms of period either, i had a pregnancy test 3 days before my period but come back negative ? do you nah if i could be pregnant? thanks.

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sameera, 8 months

i had protected sex just 1 day after my period got over but in between condom slips and i m not sure whether my boy frien goes inside me or not. my period due 2 days.am i pregnant?

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Gemma, 8 months

Hi me and my hubby are trying for a baby and we sex a wk ago and i am dew my period to day but it still has not come just yet.i have been haveing pms pains and iv had a bad back and feeling like i just cant be bother to do anything.i have done a test which came up as - do you think iv tested to soon?

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kerry, 9 months

hya i use to be on the depo and in january this year i should of gone back to get it done again it was the 21st bt i didnt go, i had sex 2days after coming off it .. i was having sex with my boyfriend the last month of being on the depo but a day before im due to get the depo again i always come on my period but i didnt this time i havent been on now for nearly 4weeks i get funny feelings in my stomach when im sat down or laying down i havent took a pregnancey test because im to scared but i get headaches a lot and shooting pains at the bottom off ma stomach do u think i could be pregnant??

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ria., 10 months

hiyaaa im 3 weeks late on saturday, i have back pains, feeling very tired and my stomache is very hard, iv taken 3 tests and they were all negative! could i be pregnant? please helppp x

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no name, 11 months

I have pain near my stoamch area I'm about 3 days late for my period and I'm sick. I'm on the pill 2. I take it every day. And the last time I had sex was about a week or 2 ago Could I be pregnant?

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rachy, 11 months

hey.... i last had my period i think around the 23rd october (i remember being on that day) the last time i had sex was the 7th november.... i have not been on since oct... i have taken test but all say negative?? what do we think? i have a docs app 2mora..... do u think i cud be? x

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beth, 11 months

i had sex with my boyfriend about 2 months ago i had my period 3 days after i had sex but missed my period the month after, i feel tired all the time and get back aches, i also feel sick in the mornings and sometimes get dizzy spells when i stand up, could i be pregnant?

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Vicki, 12 months

Heya. i had sex a week ago and i should of been on a couple of days ago but still ain't. i used to be on the pill but kept on forgetting to take it. i get extremly tired, have really bad stomach aches, food cravings and headaches. am i pregnant? or isit just because im on and off the pill my body is confused??

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tina, 12 months

i was on the pill injection i had sex why i was on it and then i was due to go back for it but i never and i ive not been on and a couple weeks later i slept with my boyfriend and now am 2 months late but ive not had any symptons ive only had leg cramps and stomarch aches could you help me and tell me if am pregnant or not ?

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Kelly, 12 months

about 4 weeks ago i had my period, about a week later i was bleeding again this was bright red extremely heaving chnaging my pad maybe every hour and a half, it had little black bits in it aswell, now i feel sick, never actually vomited but i have felt it, i have extreme cravings for chocolate and tattie soup, my breats are extremely tender and i'm absolutley knackered. AM i pregnant or just extremely stressed?

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Donna, 12 months

i had sex about 5 weeks ago and the week later i started to feel sick and tired, 5 days later my period started and it all stopped then a couple of days ago all of a sudden my breast started to feel tender and they still do, also im getting funny cramps and im gaining weight. could i be pregnant?

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Sarah, about 1 year

Hi, I am 28, Been trying to get Pregnant for 4 months. I have now taken two testa dn they are both positive - yeh. They say I am 2-3 weeks pregnant. I have constant dull pains in my stomach - almost like a dull period pain, but no where near as painful. Is this normal - is everything ok? Thanks

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melli, about 1 year

well I had sex while I was on my period then about a week or less after I was in the hospital I had stomach & hea aches I was told I had a flu now im have like spotted blood like if I was still on my period. am I pregnant?

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zshane, about 1 year

hai, I am 26 years old and i am in week 5 pregnancy. So far, I didn't have any problems or troubles like morning sickness or fatigueness..I am not sure whether this is normal or not since this is my first pregnancy. Honestly, I just don't feel like I am pregnant and if I didn't miss my period and do the home pregnancy test, I'll surely wont have the slightest idea that i am pregnant. However, this makes me a lil curious..Is this normal??

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katherine, about 1 year

hi i am 17. I have missed two peirods and have evey test done which has come back normal. I have had two doctors do pregnancy tests which have come back negative i have also done a shop brought one which came back negative. I am getting strong pains in my stomach area which is stretching to my abdominal area, backache, feeling really tired and being sick quite often and also gone off most foods. Can you help me work out what is wrong?

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Jo, about 1 year

I am 24 and am showing some of the signs that i could be pregnant. I have been gtting continous pains in mt stomach, they feel like period pains, but i am not on my period or due for a few more weeks. I have also been having pains in my lower back, which are very uncomfortable. Along with this I have a metallic taste in my mouth, which i can't get rid of. I have also noticed a change in my apetite. Normal things that i usually love now make me feel sick, i have also lost my appetite which is very odd. I normally am always hungry but recently food just makes me feel sick. i am gong to the toilet a few more times a day but not much more. I am also feeling very tired all the time. Just have no energy and have constant headaches. I have not been sick at all, only felt sick. I have also not noticed any changes in my breats. They are big anyway, so if they got any bigger i not sure if i could notice. Also do not see any difference with my nipples. I have not taken a test yet as i do not know if i am. People around me have also said that things about me have changed, with this is my head i am worried. If i am there will be problems. My ex is now in a new relationship, and living with her and we do not get on. I really want kids but am so scared. Have not told anyone about what is going on apart from a close friend who was the one who first said i could be pregnant. AM I? Please help.

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sami, about 1 year

i had sex a day before my period when i came on i bleed heavy after about 2 days i was getting bad stomach pain they only lasted about 2 hours havent had any since.ive been trying for a baby for a year but havent had any luck .could i be pregnant.

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jade taylor, about 1 year

very helpfall this website is really good i would addvise evey one to explore on this web site. thanks very good

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