Maybe your girlfriend’s feeling a little funky, or you just have a gut feeling that something is off. Could pregnancy be the cause? One thing’s for sure: pregnancy is never an easy topic to bring up, no matter how long you’ve been together. Try not to panic, though. While talking with her and having her take a pregnancy test is the only way to know for sure if she’s pregnant, there are plenty of verifiable symptoms that can help you figure out what’s going on.

1

Missed period

  1. The hormone changes of pregnancy cause a woman’s period to stop completely. You probably don’t know the ins and outs of your GF’s period, and that’s okay! Chances are, she’s mentioned it off-hand in a conversation before, or you’ve noticed her stashing some extra tampons or pads before an outing or trip. If she hasn’t mentioned her period in over a month, there’s a chance that she missed it completely.[1]
    • These are good clues to watch out for, but they aren’t irrefutable proof that she’s pregnant. Some women like their privacy and may not share any details about their period when it comes around.
    • At the start of a pregnancy, a woman may “spot,” or lightly bleed from her vagina. This is easy to mix up with a regular period, but it’s actually a key sign of a successful pregnancy.[2]
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2

Morning sickness

  1. Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of a starting pregnancy. Better known as “morning sickness,” these unpleasant symptoms tend to flare up in the early weeks of pregnancy. If your GF seems to be getting sick without any rhyme or reason, morning sickness might be the cause.[3]
    • “Morning sickness” is actually a misleading name, since pregnancy-associated nausea and vomiting can happen at any hour of the day.[4]
    • You might say something like, “I’m so sorry you’re not feeling well, babe. Do you think it’s a stomach bug or something?”
5

Headaches

  1. Big hormone shifts in early pregnancy can lead to nasty headaches. The occasional headache isn’t anything to worry about, but frequent headaches could signify something bigger in the works. Try to count how many headaches she has in a week, and see if that number is higher than usual.[7]
    • In addition to headaches, hormone changes can cause some pregnant women also feel a bit lightheaded.
    • Keep in mind that headaches are really common and can mean a lot of different things. If headaches are the only real change you notice in your GF, pregnancy probably isn’t the cause.
    • You could say something like, “Wow, you’ve had a lot of headaches this week. Are you feeling okay?”
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12

Smell sensitivity

  1. Pregnant women are often extra sensitive to different smells. Whether you’re cooking, enjoying takeout, or lighting a scented candle, see how she reacts to a variety of scents. Pregnant women tend to have a more potent sense of smell, and may comment when something smells a little strong.[17]
    • There isn’t a lot of scientific evidence to back this up, but many pregnant women agree that it’s true.[18]
    • You might say something like, “Your sense of smell is way better than mine. I never would’ve noticed that if you hadn’t said something!”
14

Pregnancy test

  1. An at-home pregnancy test is the best way to confirm if she’s pregnant. These tests work their magic by testing urine for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that’s only produced during pregnancy. Sit down with your girlfriend and see if she’d be comfortable taking one of these at-home tests. Explain to her that you’ll both have more time to think about and weigh your options if she takes the test early on.[20]
    • Pregnancy tests are sold at pharmacies and most big-name retail stores.[21] Some tests cost less than $5.
    • It's best to take a pregnancy test in the morning.[22]
    • Your girlfriend can either dip the test in a cup of your urine or use an eyedropper applicator to draw up the urine and put it on the designated area on the tip of the test.[23]
    • Let your girlfriend know that you love and support her and that the decision to take a pregnancy test is completely her decision. You might say, “I know that this is really scary, but you’re not alone in any of this. Whatever you decide to do, I’ll support you 100%.”

About This Article

Lisa Shield
Co-authored by:
Dating Coach
This article was co-authored by Lisa Shield and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Lisa Shield is a love and relationship expert based in Los Angeles. She has a Master's degree in Spiritual Psychology and is a certified life and relationship coach with over 17 years of experience. Lisa has been featured in The Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, LA Times, and Cosmopolitan. This article has been viewed 41,058 times.
7 votes - 57%
Co-authors: 4
Updated: March 23, 2022
Views: 41,058
Categories: Pregnancy

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

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