Whether you have taken a pregnancy test and know you are pregnant or you have not officially determined you are pregnant, you may be experiencing some common early pregnancy symptoms. These symptoms may happen to some pregnant women and some may not.
Each pregnancy may be different also. Some women may also think they are pregnant, but may be just be experiencing some symptoms right before menstruation. These symptoms are very similar. Here are some common early pregnancy symptoms.
How Soon Can I Expect Pregnancy Symptoms to Start?
The timing of pregnancy symptoms can vary depending on several factors, such as a woman’s age, health, and whether she has been pregnant before. On average, the earliest signs of pregnancy can start to appear within the first two weeks after conception. However, for some women, it may take a few weeks longer before they start to notice any changes.
When Do Pregnancy Symptoms Become More Noticeable?
As the pregnancy progresses, the symptoms tend to become more noticeable. This typically occurs during the first trimester, which lasts from week one to week 12 of pregnancy. During this time, the body is undergoing significant changes, including the production of hormones and the growth of the fetus. As a result, many women experience more intense symptoms during this time.
Are Pregnancy Symptoms Different for Every Woman?
Every woman’s pregnancy is unique, and so are her symptoms. Some women may experience only a few symptoms, while others may experience many. Additionally, the severity of symptoms can also vary greatly from woman to woman.
Early signs of pregnancy
(Before a missed period: Pregnancy weeks 2-4)
1. Spotting and Cramping
When the fertilized egg attaches itself to your uterine wall, you may experience a little spotting and cramping. This is also called implantation bleeding. Spotting and cramping can happen six to twelve days after the egg has been fertilized. A lot of women experience the same type of spotting and cramping before menstruation, which is why it can be confusing. If you are pregnant, it will be very light and will not become heavy.
2. Vaginal Discharge
Another common early pregnancy symptom is vaginal discharge. The discharge appears because your vagina’s walls are beginning to thicken and there is an increase growth of cells. This discharge is usually a milky, white color. This discharge may happen right after conception. This discharge may be consistent all through your pregnancy. It is important if it ever becomes smelly, itchy or uncomfortable that you tell your provider. It easily can become a yeast or bacterial infection.
3. Breast Changes
The breasts becoming swollen, tender, sore or tingly is an early pregnancy symptom. This symptom may appear one to two weeks after conception. If the breasts become heavier and the area around your nipples (called your areola) darkens, this is also a sign of pregnancy. You may also notice some more pronounced veins in your breasts, which is normal while pregnant. Breast soreness and tenderness can also happen depending where you are in your cycle.
4. Tiredness
Tiredness or fatigue is a common early pregnancy symptom. A lot of women will feel exhausted all the time or get exhausted more easily than normal. This symptom can appear as early as one week after conception. This usually happens due to an increase and high level of progesterone in a pregnant woman’s system. It would make sense to be extra tired; your body is working hard to create a whole other human! That takes a lot of work and a lot of cells to be created. This tiredness will more than likely last the entire nine months of pregnancy. Give your body a break. Some other things may cause tiredness and fatigue: low blood sugar levels and low blood pressure. Make sure you eat foods that are high in protein and rich in iron!
5. Nausea
Morning sickness is a popular early pregnancy symptom that is talked about a lot and common in a lot of pregnant women. Some women may experience morning sickness with one pregnancy, and not experience it with the next pregnancy. On the other hand, some women may always experience it and some never experience morning sickness. There is no exact cause or reasoning for morning sickness, but it is assumed it is related to a woman’s change of hormones suddenly.
Even though this is usually called “morning sickness” do not let it fool you! Nausea can happen at any time of the day. Some pregnant women may only experience it in the evening or even experience it all day long.
It is important to make sure you try to continue to eat and drink healthy. A lot of women cannot handle some foods and can only eat certain foods. Whatever it is make sure you are attempting to eat a balanced diet.
6. Smells
Smells can easily go along with nausea, but when you are pregnant certain smells can certainly turn you off. Also, you may smell things very pronounced that you may have never smelled before you were pregnant. Your heightened sense of smell may be a blessing at times or a curse.
7. Missed Period
Well this is the ultimate sign of early pregnancy! If you have not had your menstrual period then you probably are pregnant! There are also several other reasons why a woman may experience a missed period including weight change, stress, fatigue, or birth control pills.
8. Frequent Urination
This is a common symptom that happens around six or eight weeks of pregnancy. Hormone levels usually cause this symptom. If you are still trying to figure out if you are pregnant or not the sign of frequent urination may be also because you may have a urinary tract infection or diabetes.
9. Constipation
When you become pregnant your body will have higher levels of the progesterone hormone. This hormone may cause constipation, causing food to pass slowly through the intestines, in many pregnant women. If you are experiencing this symptom make sure you are drinking lots of water, exercising and eating high-fiber foods. Some of these things may be easier said than done if you are experiencing fatigue and morning sickness. Do your best!
10. Mood Swings
Mood swings: not only will we notice this early pregnancy symptom but our partners and loved ones may also notice it too! Some women can experience full blown out temper tantrums, crying phases and more. Mood swings may be frustrating for everyone involved; it is important to know that they are completely normal and are related to all the hormonal changes you are experiencing.
11. Headaches and Back Pain
Pregnant women who are not staying properly hydrated may experience more headaches and more aches and pains due to dehydration. It is safe to take pg-safe acetaminophen. Try and avoid ibuprofen while pregnant. Back pains are also common because your body is growing and changing and your ligaments are beginning to loosen.
12. Dizziness and Fainting
If you are not eating properly and drinking properly you may become dizzy easily and even in some cases faint. Although with hormones, fatigue and morning sickness it is hard to stay on top of eating healthy and drinking enough water, it is important that you try to. In the long-run, you will feel much better.
13. Shortness of Breath
If you are a normally active person then you may notice that you run out of breath quickly. This can be a sign of early pregnancy. That little baby you are growing also needs oxygen and unfortunately it gets priority. You will probably experience this problem throughout your entire pregnancy.
14. Food Aversions
Your heightened sense of smell during pregnancy may cause food aversions, where the mere thought, sight, or scent of certain foods can lead to discomfort or even exacerbate morning sickness.
This pregnancy symptom can be brought on by a variety of foods, including common triggers like chicken and seemingly harmless items like salad.
While this symptom may not be one of the first indicators of pregnancy, it is commonly experienced during the first trimester as a result of the flood of hormones in your body during this time. Rest assured, this issue usually subsides by the second trimester as your body adjusts to the hormonal changes.
15. Elevated Basal Body Temperature
Basal body temperature is commonly checked to see when you are about to ovulate, so you know when to try and get pregnant. If you continue to check your basal body temperature and notice your temperature is still elevated two weeks after ovulation, you may be pregnant!
Positive Pregnancy Test
The ultimate symptom of pregnancy is a positive pregnancy test! It is important to test as soon as you think you may be pregnant. Sometimes when you take a pregnancy test it may not show a positive quite yet, but you may be experiencing the early symptoms. That is okay.
Most pregnancy tests recommend you wait at least a week before testing again, so you do not waste another pregnancy test. You want to wait for your body to build up enough hCG in your urine to show a positive pregnancy test. Your hCG hormone will double almost every 48 hours, so if you are pregnant waiting 48 hours may be ideal. There is nothing wrong with testing daily other than it costing some money.
What is hCG? hCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin. The only time that this hormone will ever appear in your system is after an embryo is implanted into the endometrium. Another hormone that can be tested for is the (H-hCG) which stands for hyperglycosylated hCG. “Early” pregnancy tests test for this hormone. This hormone appears in your body shortly after fertilization.
When to take the pregnancy test is also important. A lot of women feel that if they are one day late, taking a pregnancy test will show a positive pregnancy. In some cases it may, but more than likely it will still be negative. Some women may have very regular cycles, but it is important to remember that they can vary by a few days. For example, if your cycles were about 30 days, it would be smart to test at about day 32 or day 33.
If you have continually taken pregnancy tests and they are negative and you are experiencing these early pregnancy symptoms consult your care provider. They will be able to do a blood test or another test to confirm your pregnancy!
Conclusion
Pregnancy symptoms can vary greatly from woman to woman and can start as early as two weeks after conception. The intensity and severity of symptoms can also vary, with many women experiencing more noticeable symptoms during the first trimester. However, there are steps that can be taken to alleviate some of the symptoms, such as eating small, frequent meals and staying hydrated. If you think you might be pregnant, it’s important to take a pregnancy test to confirm.
FAQs
- Can stress cause pregnancy symptoms? Yes, stress can cause a variety of symptoms that are similar to those experienced during pregnancy, such as fatigue, mood swings, and nausea.
- Can I experience pregnancy symptoms before I miss my period? Yes, some women may start to experience pregnancy symptoms before they miss their period. This is because the hormones produced during pregnancy start to affect the body as soon as conception occurs.
- What is the earliest pregnancy symptom? The earliest pregnancy symptom is often a missed period. However, some women may experience other symptoms, such as nausea or breast tenderness, before missing their period.
- Can pregnancy symptoms start as soon as two weeks after conception? Yes, it is possible for pregnancy symptoms to start as soon as two weeks after conception. However, this can vary from woman to woman and may take longer for some women to start experiencing symptoms.
- Are there any reliable home remedies to relieve pregnancy symptoms? While there is no surefire way to alleviate all pregnancy symptoms, some home remedies that may help include eating small, frequent meals, staying hydrated, getting plenty of rest, and exercise. It is always best to consult with your healthcare provider before trying any new remedies during pregnancy.
- Is it normal to experience nausea during pregnancy? Yes, nausea is a common pregnancy symptom that many women experience, particularly in the first trimester. It is believed to be caused by the increase in hormones in the body during pregnancy. However, if you experience severe or persistent nausea, it is important to talk to your doctor.
- Can stress and anxiety cause pregnancy symptoms? Stress and anxiety can certainly contribute to pregnancy symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and nausea. It is important to find healthy ways to manage stress during pregnancy, such as through exercise, mindfulness, and support from friends and family. If you are feeling overwhelmed, it is also important to talk to your doctor.
