Asking a woman if she is pregnant can be the hardest thing in the world, especially if it turns out that she is not. Maybe it's just out of curiosity and you want to know or want to determine if you should give him your seat on the bus. Regardless of the reason, there are some pregnancy indicators that can help you determine if a woman is pregnant before asking in order to avoid that embarrassing moment.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Determine if a woman is pregnant in the early stages
Step 1. Pay attention to a change in her outfit
In the early stages of pregnancy, many women begin to wear clothing that is loose or appears to hide a bulge. As the belly grows, many women also need to buy maternity pants or oversized clothing. If you notice that she is wearing unusual clothing for her conventional style or that she is buying outfits in larger sizes, it could be because she is expecting a boy.
Step 2. Pay attention to when she talks about her eating habits
Many pregnant women experience changes in their appetite and changes in the types of food they want. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to your complaints or comments regarding food in order to determine if you are pregnant. Observe the following aspects:
- Cravings: Not all pregnant women have these, but some have the desire to eat strange combinations of foods (eg, pickles and ice cream) or a single type of food (eg, citrus or Chinese food). Pay attention to the occasions when she talks about her tastes when it comes to eating!
- Food aversions: Many pregnant women have sudden eating problems with a certain type of food that had not previously caused problems. If you know she loves sushi and suddenly the thought of fish makes her nauseous, you may be pregnant.
Step 3. Look for signs of nausea
In addition to the change in eating habits, many pregnant women experience nausea known as "morning sickness" during the first months of pregnancy. This may be the cause of some alterations in your diet (eg, eating only cookies), but it may also not be related to your diet. Many women feel unwell during the day and not just in the morning as the name suggests, so make sure to watch for all signs of nausea or vomiting. One way to distinguish morning sickness from a simple cold or indigestion is to keep in mind that morning sickness is more severe and lasts longer than the normal cold of just a few days.
Step 4. Pay attention to complaints regarding pain or discomfort
Pregnancy causes all kinds of changes, causing pain throughout the body. If you suddenly hear her saying that she has back pain and headaches or dizziness, it could be a pregnancy-related symptom. Every time they comment that they are in pain, ask them how they hurt themselves or if they continuously play sports and pay attention to their response. For example, you can ask the following questions:
- "Oh no! How long has your back hurt?
- "I heard you say before that you've been feeling dizzy lately, have you been like this for a while?"
Step 5. Pay attention to their behavior
In addition to physical changes, many pregnant women also have changes in their behavior or routine. Try to observe the person if you think they might be pregnant and see if you notice any of the following behaviors:
- You go to the bathroom more often than usual, which may indicate pregnancy. This is because changes in hormones and the pressure that the growing fetus puts on other organs can lead to constipation, increased urination, and vomiting.
- Mood swings are common in pregnant women because fluctuating hormone levels lead to fatigue and elevated levels of a number of emotions (such as feeling very happy for a moment and then crying uncontrollably for no apparent reason).
Step 6. Pay attention to the times when she talks about her sleep patterns
Tiredness is an extremely common complaint in pregnant women, especially during the first trimester. If you hear any of the following complaints, it is likely a pregnancy:
- She is notoriously tired to keep up with daily activities.
- She talks a lot about how tired or "completely dead" she is.
- You discover her by napping regularly or at odd times (like at work or school).
Step 7. Ask him about his plans for the future
A subtle way to find out if a woman is pregnant or not is to ask her about her future plans. Since a normal pregnancy lasts 9 months, asking her about her plans for that time can help you determine if she is currently pregnant. If he is, he will be in the latter part of the third trimester to travel, so you could ask him if he is interested in taking a trip in a couple of months. You can also ask her if she has any plans for the summer and see if she mentions that she will be decorating the nursery!
Method 2 of 2: Recognize the Signs of Later Pregnancy
Step 1. Observe the shape of her abdomen
A woman's body changes a lot during pregnancy, especially in the abdomen area. As the baby grows, the abdomen must expand to accommodate it. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell it apart from abdominal fat in the same area, but a pregnancy has some distinctive features. Weight gain in the belly area, similar to a well-defined lump, but without variations in the rest of the body, is the clearest indicator of pregnancy. If you bump into it accidentally, keep in mind that in a pregnancy the belly is much firmer than the abdominal fat.
Step 2. Pay attention to your breasts
Enlarged and growing breasts are a common physical change during pregnancy, as breast tissue is very sensitive to hormonal changes. If you do not know this person, this may not be of much use to you because you do not have a pre-pregnancy reference to make the comparison. However, in the later stages of pregnancy, some women have breasts that are disproportionately large compared to the rest of their bodies as they begin to produce milk.
Step 3. Look at her feet and ankles
Swollen ankles are also a very common sign of pregnant women, especially after the fifth month. This is because during pregnancy, the body retains more water and produces more blood and body fluids. You may also be wearing more comfortable and supportive shoes to deal with the pain of walking and standing with swollen feet and ankles.
Step 4. Pay attention to the way he moves
As the body begins to change and grow, many pregnant women also begin to change their movement. Look out for the following signs:
- As the belly grows and the feet swell from loss of balance, the woman begins to waddle and undergo other changes.
- Many pregnant women tend to hold their belly or have a hand on the bulge as they move. This is intended to achieve a balance and is also due to the bond that develops between mother and child.
Step 5. Pay attention to shortness of breath
In addition to changes in movement, many pregnant women also have trouble breathing during the second and third trimesters. This is because the developing fetus needs more and more oxygen and also because the expanding uterus puts more pressure on the lungs and diaphragm. It is very common for a pregnant woman to become short of breath with only minimal effort, which in combination with other signs of pregnancy can be a conclusive sign.