The American Pregnancy Association (APA) conducted a survey on the first signs of pregnancy. Of the women polled, 29% reported a missed period and 25% reported nausea as the first symptoms of pregnancy. We’ll consider these two first and then focus on 10 additional indicators. 

1. Missed Period. A missed period is often the very first sign a woman has that she may be pregnant. Many women begin seeking answers because they know they’re late for their next period. If you’ve had a missed period of about one week, you might consider this a possible indicator of pregnancy. However, this symptom in itself may not be accurate if you’ve had irregular menstrual cycles.
2. Nausea/Vomiting. Nausea is quite common in the first trimester and may or may not be accompanied by vomiting. This is known as morning sickness, though it can be experienced later in the day as well. The severity can differ from person to person. It isn’t totally clear what the cause is for morning sickness, but it may be due to hormonal changes.

Figuring out if you are pregnant based on the early signs of pregnancy is not always easy. There are many different symptoms, and it is possible to have all or only a few of them. Some women have all the typical symptoms of a pregnancy, yet are not pregnant. This may happen when taking certain types of contraceptives with hormones. Other women may only have a few of the signs but are most definitely pregnant. Thus, the signs and symptoms of an early pregnancy are only signs — not an absolute confirmation of a pregnancy.

• You stop having your period, or you bleed slightly when you would have normally had your period, or you have a small amount of bleeding when the fertilized egg is implanted in your uterus.
• You experience swollen, sore, or tender breasts.
• You need to urinate more frequently.
• You experience excess unexplained tiredness, and may even need to take naps.
• You experience digestive changes — indigestion, heartburn, constipation, and/or bloating.
• You have mood swings, such as feeling sad, angry, or happy, for no discernible reason.
• You start feeling nausea or sick to your stomach, which often occurs in the morning — leading to the phrase “morning sickness.”
  (One of the causes of this is an empty stomach. So the best way to handle morning sickness is by eating many small meals during the day.)
• You may sense the life of the small person growing inside you.