Tell if Someone is Pregnant

It can be the most awkward thing in the world to ask a woman if she is pregnant, especially if it turns out she is not. Maybe you are just curious and want to know, or maybe you’re trying to decide if you should give up your seat on the bus. Whatever the reason, there are some common indications of pregnancy that can help you determine if she is pregnant before asking so that you can prevent this awkward moment from happening. In general, however, it's best not to assume someone is pregnant. Avoid directly asking someone if they are pregnant and instead wait until they bring it up.

Steps

Determining if a Woman is Pregnant Early On

1. Look for a change in clothing. Early on in a pregnancy, many women begin wearing baggy clothes or clothing that looks like it could hide a "bump." As their belly grows, many women also need to buy maternity pants or clothing in a larger size. If you notice that she is wearing unusual clothing for her normal style or she is shopping for outfits in larger sizes, it could be because she is expecting.
2. Listen when she discusses her eating habits. Many pregnant women experience changes in appetite as well as changes in the types of foods they want to eat. Because of this, paying attention to her complaints or comments about food can help determine if she's pregnant:
   • Cravings: Not all pregnant women experience this, but some women find that they want to eat strange combinations of food (like pickles and ice cream) or that they only want to eat one type of food (like citrus foods or Chinese food). Pay attention when she talks about what she feels like eating!
   • Food aversions: Many pregnant women experience the sudden onset of food issues with a particular type of food they never had a problem with before. If you know she loves sushi and suddenly even the thought of fish turns her stomach, she might be pregnant.
   • Hydration: Staying hydrated is essential to delivering vital nutrients to a fetus, so many pregnant women are careful to ensure they drink enough water. A pregnant woman may show a sudden preoccupation with making sure she is hydrated and/or start carrying around a water bottle.
3. Look for signs of nausea. Along with changing eating habits, many pregnant women experience nausea called “morning sickness” in the early months of pregnancy. This could be the cause of some alterations in her diet, like if she’s eating just crackers, but it can also happen unrelated to eating. Many women feel sick throughout the day and not just in the morning as the name suggests, so be sure to pay attention to any signs of nausea or vomiting. To help you distinguish this symptom from regular indigestion or the flu, morning sickness will be intense and last longer than the typical flu period of only a few days.
4. Pay attention to complaints about pain or discomfort. Pregnancy causes all sorts of changes, and this leads to soreness and aching throughout the body. If you hear her suddenly talking about lower back pain and headaches or dizziness, it could be associated with pregnancy. When she comments on any pain or soreness, try following up by asking how they hurt themselves or if they are active in any sports and see what they say. For example:
   • “Oh no! How long has your back been hurting?”
   • “I heard you say earlier that you’ve been feeling lightheaded lately, have you been getting dizzy like that for a while?”
5. Keep an eye on her behavior. In addition to physical changes, many pregnant women also exhibit changes in behavior or routine. Try observing the person you think may be pregnant and see if you notice any of the following behaviors:
   • Using the bathroom more frequently than usual can indicate pregnancy. This is because changes in hormones and the pressure of the growing fetus on other organs can cause constipation, increased urination, and vomiting.
   • Mood swings are common in pregnant women because fluctuating levels of hormones can cause fatigue and spikes in a variety of emotions (like being really happy one moment and then crying uncontrollably for seemingly no reason).
6. Take note when she discusses her sleep patterns. Being exhausted is an extremely common complaint in pregnant women, especially in the first trimester. If you observe any of the following, it could be because she is pregnant:
   • She is noticeably too tired to keep up with everyday activities.
   • She talks a lot about being exhausted or feeling “completely wiped out.”
   • You find her napping often or at odd times (like when she is on the job or at school).
7. Ask about her plans for the future. A subtle way of determining whether or not a woman is pregnant is to ask her about any upcoming plans. Because a typical pregnancy lasts nine months, asking about plans that would fall around that time period can help you figure out if she is pregnant now. If she is pregnant, she will be too far along in the third trimester to travel, so try asking if she’d be interested in a trip in a couple of months. You could also ask her if she has any plans for the summer, and see if she lets it slip that she will be decorating a nursery!

Recognizing Pregnancy Later On

1. Look at the shape of her abdomen. A woman’s body changes a lot during pregnancy, particularly in her abdomen. As the baby grows, the abdomen needs to expand to accommodate. This can sometimes be difficult to differentiate from belly fat in the same area, but a pregnancy has some subtle distinguishing characteristics. Weight gain in the belly area that looks like a well-defined bump, but little to no weight gain in other areas of the body is most likely caused by pregnancy. If you happen to accidentally bump into her, keep in mind that a pregnant belly is also much firmer than belly fat.
2. Take note of her breasts. Enlarged, growing breasts are a common physical change because breast tissue is very sensitive to hormonal changes. If you don’t know this person, this might not be helpful since you don’t have a pre-pregnancy breast size to compare her current size to; however, some pregnant women in the later stages of pregnancy have disproportionately large breasts to the rest of their body because they swell with milk production.
3. Look at her feet and ankles. Swollen ankles are also very common in pregnant women, especially around the fifth month. This is because the body retains more water and produces more blood and body fluid when a person is pregnant. She may also be wearing extra comfortable, supportive shoes or flip-flops to help with the pain associated with walking and standing with swollen feet and ankles.
4. Notice how she is moving around. As her body begins to change and grow, many pregnant women also begin experiencing changes to their mobility. Keep an eye out for these common signs:
   • A waddling walk and other changes in gait are common as the growing belly and swelling feet cause the woman’s balance to be thrown off a bit.
   • Many pregnant women tend to hold their belly or keep a hand on their bump as they move around. This is both for balance and because of the bond that is growing between the mother and child.
5. Listen for any shortness of breath. In addition to changes in mobility, many pregnant women also experience shortness of breath in their second and third trimesters. This is caused by the growing fetus needing more and more oxygen and also by the expanding uterus putting more pressure on the lungs and diaphragm. Feeling winded with minimal exertion is very common, and in combination with other signs of pregnancy can be conclusive.

Tips

• Even if she is exhibiting many of the signs listed above, it is still best to avoid asking a woman if she is pregnant. Since many of the signs mentioned above could be caused by other factors and not just pregnancy, it can be hurtful and uncomfortable to ask someone if they are pregnant when they are not.

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Sources and Citations

See also

• Exercise Safely During Pregnancy
• Tell Your Grandparents You're Pregnant
• Tell the Position of a Baby in the Uterus
• Manage Pregnancy Food Aversions
• Plan a Postpartum Beauty Routine
• Find Out Your Baby's Sex
• Tell Coworkers You're Pregnant
• Determine How Many Weeks Pregnant You Are
• Treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder During Pregnancy
• Make Your Water Break

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