Some women have an idea that they're pregnant from early on, as they’re attuned to the biological, mental and physical changes it can bring. This is especially true if you’ve been pregnant before. A test is, of course, the easiest and most reliable way to confirm you’re pregnant. But here are some of the tell-tale signs to look out for as your body adjusts.

Baby brain, also called pregnancy brain, is when people feel more forgetful or have trouble focusing during pregnancy. You might find it harder to remember things or finish tasks. During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes, including changes to your brain. Your hormones shift a lot, and your mind often focuses on getting ready for your baby. Baby brain is a normal part of pregnancy, and most people only have mild symptoms that go away on their own. In this guide, we'll explain what baby brain is, why it happens, and tips for dealing with it. We'll also talk about brain fog after giving birth and when you should talk to a doctor. Understanding Baby Brain Baby brain means small changes in memory, concentration, and focus during pregnancy. Many pregnant people feel forgetful, distracted, or less sharp than usual. Some describe it as feeling "foggy" or like there's a haze in their mind. These changes happen because your brain responds to higher hormone levels. With all the physical demands of pregnancy and getting ready to be a parent, it's normal for your mind to work differently. Not everyone gets baby brain, and those who do experience it in different ways. For some people, these thinking changes might continue after the baby is born. This is often called postpartum brain fog. It happens because of lack of sleep, hormone changes, and adjusting to caring for a new baby.

Pregnancy brings exciting new beginnings, but it can bring new problems, too, as your body changes under the influence of hormones and the physical size of a growing baby. Constipation is one of these – it's common in the general population but even more common in pregnancy. Constipation describes either finding you are going less frequently or straining to have a bowel movement and producing hard pellets. Everyone is different – some go three times a day, and others go twice a week. But the aim is to produce soft, easily passed stool every time.

Breast pain is common, and there can be many causes, but most cases are not a cause for concern. Cyclical breast pain can be a normal part of many women's menstrual cycles, especially in the weeks before a period starts. Other causes of breast pain are the contraceptive pill, pregnancy, menopause, an infection in the breast such as mastitis, a muscle strain in the chest wall, and injury to the area. Pain is not a common presentation of breast cancer; other signs that are more indicative of breast cancer include changes in your breast shape, nipple or skin changes, or a breast lump that doesn't go away with your next period.

Bleeding during pregnancy is very common, and although understandably worrying, there are many causes for this. Between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 women have bleeding during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy (first trimester). Bleeding any time during pregnancy requires evaluation, so you should be assessed by your midwife or doctor urgently. Miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy are two common causes of bleeding in the first trimester. There are other causes that are less worrying, but first, the medical team would want to exclude these.

For most, the abundance of estrogen causes a slowing down of hair shedding, and many women report increased volume and lustrous locks during pregnancy. But this isn’t so for all – the relative stress to the body in the first trimester may cause hair loss, but this is only evident later in the pregnancy. Hair will come back – you’ll notice regrowth two to four months after the baby is delivered.

Morning sickness is very common in the early stages of pregnancy. It is estimated that up to 3 in 4 mothers experience nausea or vomiting, typically within the first 3-5 months of their pregnancy. Nausea is when you feel sick, and vomiting is when you are sick. Contrary to popular belief, morning sickness happens not only in the morning, but at any time of the day. It is quite unpleasant and, depending on the severity, can really affect your daily activities, but thankfully does not tend to negatively affect your baby. The cause is largely unknown, but it is suggested that it is related to the increased levels of pregnancy hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and hCG.

During pregnancy, it’s perfectly normal to experience some swelling in your lower legs and possibly fingers. It worsens as the day goes on and usually the further along in pregnancy you are. Gradual swelling as you approach your due date is not associated with harming you or your baby, but it can feel quite uncomfortable. If you have sudden swelling, this may be a sign of something more serious, so it’s best to get this checked out by someone on your maternity team.