First signs of pregnancy

If you're already pregnant or trying to conceive, you may want know what happens when you fall pregnant. For many women, the first time they consider whether or not they're pregnant is when they miss their period.

These are the basic signs of pregnancy:

• A missed period
• Changes in your breasts
• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Frequent urination
• Feeling exhausted or sleepy
• Food cravings
• Increased vaginal discharge

If you want to know more about these signs, take a look at "Am I pregnant?"

There are women who know that they are pregnant long before they take their first pregnancy test or even miss their first period. I took to Facebook and asked our users what signs and symptoms gave it away.

Here are some of their answers:

I couldn't sleep on my stomach because of sore boobs - only realised a week later that maybe there is more to it. - Alzena

Sore boobs, nausea, dry eyes and insomnia. Took a test, it was positive. - Louise

I had a little spotting the week before my period was due and I had read about implantation bleeding. I did a test the day my period was due and it was positive! I only then started getting sore boobs, that bloated feeling and nausea from around 6 weeks. - Brigitta

Nausea (the smell of of chicken made me sick). Short temper and going to the loo now and then. - Dineo

I think most women have an idea one way or the other. I was extremely exhausted, very eina boobs, peeing ALL the time and it felt like 'something' was there. I just knew. - Amy-Rae

Click here to see the rest of their answers

If you want to know more about what happens to your body and your baby during pregnancy, take a look at our pregnancy week-by-week updates. And if you have a question that needs an expert answer, ask our expert midwife, Marlise Van Onselen.

Did you know you were pregnant before taking a pregnancy test?

Parent24