Are you pregnant? Some early signs of pregnancy may appear around your menstrual period, or a week or two before or after. The most common early pregnancy symptoms are nausea, fatigue, frequent urination and breast tenderness. Other early signs and symptoms of pregnancy include mood swings, light spotting and cramps, bloating and constipation. Not all women experience early pregnancy symptoms, but many do.
Pregnancy symptoms are different for every woman and may even differ from one pregnancy to the next. Symptoms also start at different times: Some women feel pregnant right away, while other women may not show signs of pregnancy for months.
However, there are some very early pregnancy signs and symptoms that are common. These are likely caused by an increase in the pregnancy hormone human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), as well as increases in estrogen and progesterone.
Early signs and symptoms of pregnancy
Early pregnancy symptoms can be subtle. When you put on your bra, you may notice that your breasts are different, you feel more tired than usual, or your usual breakfast is unattractive.
If you start to feel some of the following early pregnancy symptoms, you may be pregnant. Here are some of the first signs and symptoms of pregnancy.
missed period
If you're usually fairly regular and your period is late, this may be the first and most obvious sign that you're pregnant. But if you're not regular or not tracking your cycle, other signs may be your first clues to a possible pregnancy. And some women feel early pregnancy symptoms before they get their period.
frequent urination
Shortly after getting pregnant, hormonal changes cause a series of events that increase the rate of blood flow through your kidneys. This causes your bladder to fill up faster, so you have to urinate more often.
Frequent urination will continue or intensify as your pregnancy progresses. During pregnancy, your blood volume rises dramatically, causing the extra fluid to be processed and trapped in your bladder.
burnout
Do you suddenly feel tired? No, don't tire him. No one knows for sure what causes early pregnancy fatigue, but rapidly rising progesterone levels are likely to blame. Of course, morning sickness and the constant need to urinate throughout the night can also increase your fatigue.
You should start to feel more energized once you enter your second trimester, but fatigue often returns in late pregnancy as you carry more weight, and some common ailments of pregnancy make it difficult to get a good night's sleep.
sore breasts
A common early pregnancy symptom is tender, swollen breasts caused by rising hormone levels. The pain and swelling may sound like an exaggerated version of how your breasts felt before your period. Your discomfort should decrease significantly after the first trimester as your body adjusts to hormonal changes.
Nausea
Morning sickness can start two weeks after conception – so it may be the first pregnancy symptom you notice. And it's not just in the morning: Pregnancy-related nausea (with or without vomiting) can be a problem in the morning, noon, or evening.
Pregnancy nausea may be accompanied by indigestion, a dislike for food, an increased sense of smell, a metallic taste in your mouth, and excessive salivation.
Implantation bleeding or spotting
If you're pregnant, the last thing you expect to see is any spotting or vaginal bleeding. But if you notice light spotting near your period, you may have implantation bleeding. This may be because the fertilized egg implants in the lining of your uterus.
Note: About 1 in 4 women experience spotting or light bleeding during the first trimester. It's usually nothing, but sometimes it can be a sign of miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. Call your doctor or midwife if your bleeding is heavy or accompanied by pain or dizziness, or if you have any concerns.
cramp
Like spotting or bleeding, cramping is a confusing early pregnancy symptom—because it can make you feel like your period has begun. But you may actually be experiencing implantation cramps that occur when the fertilized egg implants in your uterus. You will be able to recognize that you have implantation cramps and bleeding (not your period) because it will be less than a normal period and will only last a day or two.
Constipation
If you're newly pregnant, constipation may be an early symptom. It is caused by an increase in progesterone, which relaxes smooth muscles throughout the body, including the digestive tract. This means that food passes through the intestines more slowly.
Mood
It's common to have mood swings during pregnancy, in part due to hormonal changes that affect neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain). Everyone reacts differently to these changes. Some expectant mothers experience high emotions, both good and bad, while others feel more depressed or anxious.
Note: If you feel sad or hopeless or unable to cope with your daily responsibilities, call your healthcare professional or a Psychologist right away.
Abdominal bloating
Hormonal changes in early pregnancy can make you feel bloated, as some women feel just before their period. Therefore, even when your uterus is still quite small, you may feel more comfortable in the waistband of your clothes than usual.
When do pregnancy symptoms start?
Pregnancy symptoms are different for every woman (even every pregnancy). Some women feel the first contractions of pregnancy a week or two after conception, while others feel no different for several months.
In the best study to date on this question, 136 women trying to get pregnant kept diary logs of their symptoms from when they stopped birth control until they were 8 weeks pregnant. (This counts eight weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period.)
Results:
50 percent had some pregnancy symptoms at 5 weeks pregnant
70 percent showed signs of pregnancy at 6 weeks pregnant
90 percent showed signs of pregnancy at 8 weeks pregnant
The first sign of pregnancy is usually a missed period. The most common symptoms were nausea and vomiting, fatigue, frequent urination, and breast tenderness and swelling.
At 8 weeks pregnant, women reported some additional pregnancy symptoms:
Painful burning sensation in the chest
nasal congestion
Shortness of breath
dizziness
spider veins
Itching
Darker skin areas (on the face, abdomen, or areolas)
Other symptoms that occur throughout pregnancy include:
Forgetfulness
dizziness
food request
increased appetite
Backache
Diarrhea
headache
rashes
glowing skin
Hair and nail changes
leaky boobs
pelvic pain
Sciatica
pubic symphysis dysfunction
Swelling
vision changes
Hemorrhoids
awkwardness
nose bleeding
increased vaginal discharge
When should I take a pregnancy test?
Some home pregnancy tests claim to be sensitive enough to give a positive result five days before you expect your period. However, you are more likely to get a more accurate result if you wait until after the first day of your missed period to test. If you test too early, you may get an unclear result, such as a false negative pregnancy test or a faint line.
If you test and get a negative result but still have signs of pregnancy and/or have not had a period, try again in a few days. Test first thing in the morning, when your urine is more concentrated. Home pregnancy tests measure the amount of human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. In early pregnancy, hCG levels typically double every two to three days.
Remember that your baby is starting to develop before you can tell you're pregnant, so be mindful of your health while you wait to find out. Start taking a daily prenatal vitamin containing at least 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid if you haven't already taken it.
When you get a positive pregnancy test result, make your first prenatal appointment. Good prenatal care is very important for you and your baby. If you don't have a doctor or midwife to take care of you during pregnancy, start asking for advice and see who's covered by your insurance. There are options if you don't have health insurance or need low-cost prenatal care.