Early Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy

Knowing that you are pregnant is important so that you can begin to take extra care of yourself and the baby as early as possible.  Understanding the symptoms of pregnancy is also important because each symptom may be related to something other than pregnancy.

Symptoms of pregnancy are not the same for every woman. Pregnancy symptoms can also vary in their intensity, frequency and duration. The following early signs and symptoms of pregnancy, adapted from the websites listed at the bottom of the page, are only general guidelines. 

Missed Period

Perhaps the most obvious early symptom of pregnancy is when you have missed your normal menstrual cycle period.  Some women might only experience a much lighter period compared to their usual.

Just "Feeling" Pregnant

Many women believe they have an intuition about pregnancy signs. Their intuition is often proven correct. Maybe you just feel different, tired, moody, queasy, lightheaded. You may also have heartburn, constipation, or find yourself making more frequent trips to the restroom. Perhaps you feel a dull ache or stiffness in your lower back, you have sore breasts or they seem overly sensitive, or you are simply not feeling like your usual self.

Tender, swollen breasts or nipple

One of the first physical changes of pregnancy is a change in the way your breasts feel. They may feel tender, tingly or sore. Or they may feel fuller and heavier. You may notice these pregnancy sign at bedtime when you are trying to get comfortable and go to sleep, when exercising or showering, or when getting dressed. As early as two weeks after conception, your breasts start to grow and change in preparation for producing milk.  In addition to breast tenderness and swelling, your nipples may feel sore or extra sensitive. Some women notice their nipples darken in color.

Fatigue

One of the earliest pregnancy signs for some women may be fatigue and exhaustion especially in the early stages. 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.  Many women feel wiped out during pregnancy,  Exercising seems like too much effort. This early pregnancy symptom is caused by all of the changes that your body is going through, plus the increasing levels of hormones.  If you know you are pregnant, try to take frequent rests or naps of 15 minutes to a half-hour whenever possible.

Nausea with or without vomiting

One of these pregnancy signs is queasiness, nausea and vomiting. Morning sickness is one of the telltale signs of early pregnancy. Most women feel some sickness around four to eight weeks of pregnancy, but the queasiness can begin as early as two weeks after conception. It tends to level off once you are into your second trimester and your body adjusts to all the many changes it is going through.

Many women experience illness in the morning when they have coffee or eat something on an empty stomach. This is known as morning sickness. Other women notice nausea in the afternoon or evening. Others feel queasy all day. This pregnancy symptom may often be helped by eating smaller, more frequent snack size meals. Many women say saltine crackers and milk seem to be helpful.

Food Cravings, or Aversions to Foods

Pregnant women also have a heightened sense of smell, so a variety of odors such as foods cooking, coffee, perfume or cigarette smoke can trigger nausea.  Meat, dairy products and spicy foods are other common objects of repulsion.

Food cravings are common, too. Like most other symptoms of pregnancy, these food preferences can be related to hormonal changes. Pregnant women typically find that their food tastes change somewhat, especially in the first trimester, when hormones have the strongest impact.

Taking a good pre-natal vitamin supplement and a pure fish oil capsule may ease some cravings and help prevent extra weight gain.

Frequent Urination

Frequent urination is caused by the enlarging uterus pushing on your bladder.  Also, pregnancy causes extra body fluids to be processed by your kidneys and bladder. That means more trips to the restroom. This symptom of pregnancy may remain constant for nine months.

Dizziness and/or Fainting

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.

You may feel faint when you have gone a while without eating. This is due to low blood sugar, because that is your baby's main source of food. You want to eat frequent, healthy snacks to keep your blood sugar up.

Constipation and Heartburn

Heartburn and constipation arecaused by the uterus starting to swell and pushing against the stomach and other organs as it grows. Also, increasing levels of hormones may slow down digestion and bowel functions to allow the body to absorb as much vitamins, minerals and nutrients as possible from foods. Taking a quality prenatal multi-vitamin-mineral supplement is important to help your body get the nutrients it needs for your growing baby.

The slower emptying of the stomach may also cause the release of increased stomach acid to aid digestion, leading to a feeling of heartburn. Soda crackers and sparkling water can help. Smaller more frequent meals are easier to digest. Drink plenty of water and eat fruits, vegetables and perhaps some raisin and bran cereal to help regularity.

Mood Swings and Irritability

The flood of hormones in your body in early pregnancy can make you unusually emotional and weepy. Swings in your mood, from bliss to deep gloom, are common, especially in the first trimester.  There is also the emotional adjustment period since your world has changed. Even when your pregnancy is carefully planned, it is normal for your mind to suddenly be filled with questions about the timing, your career, finances, insurance, labor and delivery, motherhood, even the future costs of college.  With all of these symptoms of pregnancy to deal with, along with raging hormones, you may experience mood swings and irritability.  It is perfectly normal to feel mixed emotions, excitement and depression, joy and sorrow, laughter and tears.

Raised basal body temperature

Your basal body temperature (BBT) is your oral temperature when you first wake up in the morning.  One of the pregnancy symptoms is higher than usual body temperature. You may have been feeling a little bit warm. Take your temperature and see if it is higher than it normally would be. If your temperature is higher than usual and it stays high for two weeks in a row, something is obviously going on with your body. You may be pregnant (or you may have a low grade fever). Prolonged periods of increased temperature are a cause to contact your health care provider.

Slight bleeding or cramping

Many women also experience cramping very early in pregnancy as the uterus begins to enlarge. These cramps are similar to menstrual cramps. Some women experience a small amount of spotting or bleeding very early in pregnancy. This is known as "implantation bleeding" and it usually takes place between 10 to 14 days after fertilization. It happens when the fertilized egg first attaches to the lining of the uterus. This type of bleeding is usually a bit earlier, spottier and lighter in color than a usual period and does not last long.

Headaches

You may be troubled by frequent, mild headaches. Early in pregnancy, headaches may be the result of increased blood circulation caused by hormonal changes.

Weight Gain

Unavoidable weight gain is also a sign. Your clothes may be getting tighter, you may feel bloated, and you may have food cravings. 

Your body is under great nutritional demands to feed the newly conceived baby. The March of Dimes encourages women to take a multi-vitamin containing folic acid, (a B vitamin).  Your odd food cravings may also not be as strong if you are taking your prenatal vitamins and fish oil capsules.

Talk to your health care provider.  Be very careful to avoid most herbs and supplements when pregnant or nursing.

Are you really pregnant?

The signs and symptoms are not unique to pregnancy. Some can indicate that you are getting sick or that your period is about to start. And, conversely, you can be pregnant without ever experiencing these symptoms. 

If you notice any of the above symptoms, make plans to take a home pregnancy test.  This can help put your mind at ease. 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.