Top eight signs you are pregnant

Sore Breasts

Are the girls getting more attention than usual? But when your husband wants to motorboat those lovely lady lumps, you'd rather whack him on the head than let him get anywhere near you? Better bust out the pee-stick.

Sore breasts are one of the first signs of pregnancy. Hormonal changes cause an increase in blood flow as the breast tissue changes and prepares for breastfeeding. As early as four to six weeks into your pregnancy, your breasts may begin to feel tingly and tender. Make sure you get a comfy and supportive bra because over the next few months, those bad boys may just grow a size or two.

Morning Sickness

Anyone who has experienced "morning sickness" knows that it is not restricted to the morning, nor is "sickness" an adequate description for puking your guts out for 16 weeks straight. It might be better called "inexplicable and debilitating nausea," as it is known to strike at any time of day or night and can cause a woman to double over in stomach distress for no better reason than a whiff of eggs or enchiladas.

When my mom was pregnant, she claimed that the mere sight of the wallpaper in her kitchen made her gag. Caused by the dramatic increase in hormones during the first trimester of pregnancy, some women stop feeling nauseous around 12 weeks. But others continue to feel nauseated throughout their entire pregnancy. If this happens to you, just consider it a little advance training for motherhood because before you know it, you'll be cleaning up biohazard on a daily basis like the rest of us.

Fatigue

Does your husband complain that you fall asleep on the couch while he's talking to you and that your teddy bear gets more action than him these days? Never fear. Fatigue is one of the first symptoms of pregnancy and your sex drive could be taking a nose dive simply because you're hormonal and tired.

Exhaustion is typically worst during the first trimester of pregnancy, but don't get excited yet. While you may feel revived during your second trimester, get ready to feel like a bowling ball on wheels during your third. Not to mention, you will want to nap as much as possible now, because after the baby arrives, you may never nap again. Or at least not for the next 18 years.

Hunger

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Strangely enough, nausea and hunger often go hand-in-hand during pregnancy. If you aren't puking up your stomach lining, you are probably eating your weight in some strange food that you've become obsessed with over the last few weeks like barbecue chicken ice cream or pickle flavored lollipops.

Obviously, it is okay to give into some of your pregnancy cravings, but make sure that you don't go overboard and decide to live on Chicken McNuggets for the next nine months because they are the only thing that doesn't make your stomach curdle. As much as possible, try to follow a balanced diet and stay away from any foods that are unsafe for pregnant women

Frequent Urination

When I was seven months pregnant, for some reason my husband and I decided it would be fun to take a bus tour through Europe. Unfortunately, the majority of what I remember from this trip relates to the many bathrooms we visited in six different countries.

The pregnant body produces more fluid than usual which increases our need to urinate more frequently. Also, Little Peanut's attempts to use your bladder as a trampoline don't help much in this department either.

Moodiness

Moody much? Did you just threaten to divorce your husband because he wanted to watch Ask This Old House while you wanted to watch Wife Swap? Don't worry. Moodiness is completely normal during pregnancy thanks to the dramatic hormonal shifts your body is undergoing. In fact, take the time to enjoy this free ticket to Crazy Town because before you know it, you'll have a little toddler tyrant who will co-opt that role forever.

Missed Period

A missed menstrual cycle is usually a good indication that you might be pregnant, but it can also be deceiving. Some women still menstruate regularly during their pregnancies. And women whose periods are irregular may not know they have missed a menstrual cycle.

Also, some women experience a little spotting during implantation, which occurs very close to the time that your regular menstrual period would have occurred. If you think you might be pregnant, make sure to take a pregnancy test just to be safe before engaging in any activities that would be dangerous for your baby.

Pregnancy Test

Of course, even though you may be convinced you are preggers by your ginormous bazongas and your new ability to be completely repulsed by the smell of your own deodorant, make sure to visit your obstetrician or midwife for a pregnancy test. Home pregnancy tests are very accurate nowadays, but it is always important to get your pregnancy confirmed by a medical professional and begin monitoring that brand new bundle of joy.

More on pregnancy signs

• Early signs of pregnancy
• Pregnant but no symptoms?