Ten Early Signs of Pregnancy

July 8, 2009 - PRLog -- Am I pregnant? The very thought makes one’s heart beat. This question is asked by many Chicagoland couples hoping to have a child.
Here is a ten-point checklist of signs that you might be pregnant:

• Missed period – A pregnancy test can be taken as early as two or three days after a missed period.
• Nausea – This feeling may show up from two to eight weeks after conception, although some women do not feel it at all.
• Breast tenderness – May begin as early as two weeks after conception.
• Sleepiness and fatigue – May start two weeks after conception.
• Frequent urination – Can occur as early as the fourth week of pregnancy.
• Headaches – Early in pregnancy, caused by increased blood circulation from hormonal changes
• Moodiness – Also irritability, due to increased hormone levels.
• Strange food cravings – Or aversion to some foods.
• Bloating – Also weight gain.
• Slight bleeding or cramping – Possibly due to embryo implantation.

Women who are trying to achieve pregnancy can often increase the possibility of having a baby by observing the signs of a woman’s fertility. A woman is fertile for only a few days each cycle, and by observing basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and the cervix on a daily basis, the couple can optimize their chances of pregnancy.
“Natural family planning (NFP) has been used by our couples in both enhancing their ability to conceive as well as avoid pregnancy,” said Monica Cassidy, who with her husband is a Chicago area Teaching Couple certified by the Couple to Couple League. “Not only that, but when couples learn the signs of observation, they experience a certain satisfaction in knowing more about the way God designed their bodies,” she said.
Classes in the Sympto-Thermal Method of Natural Family Planning are offered in 15 locations in the Chicago area, southeast Wisconsin and northwest Indiana. The next class will begin Sun., Aug. 9, at Holy Trinity Church in Westmont. Go to http://www.nfpchicago.com/local-classes/classes-by-location/.

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The Couple to Couple League (CCL) is an international, interfaith, non-profit organization dedicated to teaching Natural Family Planning (NFP) to married and engaged couples. This news article is sponsored by the Chicago chapter of CCL International.