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Do you think you are pregnant? The proof is in the pregnancy test. But even before you miss a period, you may suspect that you're pregnant.
For some women, early symptoms of pregnancy begin in the first few weeks after conception.
Discover below common early signs of pregnancy. However, symptoms of pregnancy are not the same for every woman and even your own symptoms may actually be different from one pregnancy to another. Pregnancy symptoms can also vary in their intensity, frequency and duration. Women can experience a wide variety of physical and emotional changes during pregnancy which may include any or all of the pregnancy symptoms. By the way, these symptoms are not unique to pregnancy and some can indicate that you're getting sick or that your period is about to start. Likewise, you can be pregnant without experiencing any of these symptoms.
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Missed period
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The most obvious early symptom of pregnancy is missed period. This possible sign of pregnancy is often what causes women to search for more details about the other pregnancy symptoms.
Some women might only experience a much lighter period compared to their usual. You might not experience any of the pregnancy signs listed below until around the time you notice you've missed your monthly cycle.
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Tender, swollen breasts
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As early as two weeks after conception, hormonal changes may make your breasts tender, swollen, tingly or sore. At the same time your nipples may feel sore or extra sensitive; some women notice their nipples darken in color. You may notice this pregnancy sign at bedtime when you are trying to get comfortable and go to sleep, when exercising or showering, or when getting dressed. |
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Fatigue |
One of the earliest pregnancy signs for some women may be fatigue and exhaustion. You may start going to bed sooner, or find it harder than usual to get out of bed in the morning. If you are working, by noon you may feel like you need to lie down. Exercising seems like too much effort. A simple activity like shopping may leave you feeling wiped out and lightheaded. This early pregnancy symptom is caused by all of the changes that your body is going through, plus the increasing levels of hormones. |
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Frequent urination
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You can experience frequent trips to the restroom. Your friends and family members may comment that you seem to be going off to the ladies room quite often lately. One cause of this pregnancy symptom is that the swelling uterus can put pressure on your bladder. At the same time the pregnancy causes extra body fluids to be processed by your kidneys and bladder. This symptom of pregnancy may remain constant for nine months. |
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Implantation bleeding and cramping
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Sometimes a small amount of spotting or vaginal bleeding is one of the first symptoms of pregnancy. Known as implantation bleeding, it happens when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus - between 6 to 12 days past ovulation (on average about 9 days after ovulation). This type of bleeding is usually a bit earlier, spottier and lighter in color than a normal period and doesn't last as long.
Some women also experience abdominal cramping early in pregnancy. These cramps are similar to menstrual cramps.
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Morning sickness |
Morning sickness, which can strike at any time of the day or night, is one of the classic symptoms of pregnancy. For some women, the queasiness begins as early as two weeks after conception.
Nausea seems to stem at least in part from rapidly rising levels of estrogen, which causes the stomach to empty more slowly. Pregnant women also have a heightened sense of smell, so various odors — such as foods cooking, perfume or cigarette smoke — may cause waves of nausea in early pregnancy. |
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Food aversions or cravings |
Food preferences during pregnancy can be chalked up to hormonal changes — especially in the first trimester, when hormonal changes are the most dramatic.
Less well known but equally common pregnancy signs are aversions to certain foods. You may find that some foods you previously enjoyed are no longer appetizing. A well-known cliché is the pregnancy sign-symptom of craving certain foods or unusual combinations of foods. |
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Headaches
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Early in pregnancy, increased blood circulation caused by hormonal changes may trigger frequent, mild headaches.
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Constipation
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Constipation is another common early symptom of pregnancy. An increase in progesterone causes food to pass more slowly through the intestines, which can lead to constipation.
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Mood swings
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Flood of hormones in early pregnancy can make you unusually emotional and weepy. Mood swings also are common, especially in the first trimester.
It is perfectly normal to feel mixed emotions, excitement and depression, joy and sorrow, laughter and tears. Your partner may be very confused by this and may not seem to be supportive. Explain that your mood swings are very normal signs of pregnancy and that you need support and understanding. |
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Faintness and dizziness |
As your blood vessels dilate and your blood pressure drops, you may feel lightheaded or dizzy. Early in pregnancy, faintness also may be triggered by low blood sugar.
One of the more surprising pregnancy signs is dizziness and/or fainting. Going up stairs, standing up suddenly after sitting for a time, or just having to stand in line at the grocery store can make you feel light headed. You might even faint. As the uterus swells it compresses arteries in your legs. This can drop your blood pressure and make you dizzy. |
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Raised basal body temperature
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Your basal body temperature is your oral temperature when you first wake up in the morning. This temperature increases slightly soon after ovulation and remains at that level until your next period. If you've been charting your basal body temperature to determine when you ovulate, its continued elevation for more than two weeks may mean that you're pregnant. |
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Sensitivity to aromas
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Another related early symptom of pregnancy is a heightened sensitivity to aromas. Even a favorite aroma, such as the smell of a food or perfume, can make you gag. The smell of fresh mowed grass, the smell of a gas station, smells of various foods, household cleaners, perfumes, cigarette smoke, etc., can all cause you to feel nauseated. This is thought to be yet another side effect of the estrogen that is flooding your body. |
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Low Back Pain
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Low back pain can be “a real pain” literally. This low back pain is caused by several factors. First is your weight change. You gain some weight because you are pregnant, your uterus gets bigger, and your baby grows larger every week. Next, your posture and torso are thrown out of alignment. This weight is mostly in the front of your torso, which pulls on your back. It is like wearing a backpack on your front instead of your back. This changes your posture and puts a strain on your back. |
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Bloating and Weight Gain
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Yes some unavoidable weight gain is also a sign. Your clothes are getting tighter, you are feeling bloated; the weight showing on the scale is going up... you are getting bigger and that is simply part of being pregnant.
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Positive Pregnancy Test
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If you are worrying about possible early symptoms of pregnancy, you can use the pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests work best if you wait to take them until at least a day or two after you miss your period. Even if the pregnancy test result is negative you should try it again a few days later to be sure. The best pregnancy tests are the ones done by your doctor or medical clinic. However there are some very high quality at home tests available too.
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