Early signs of pregnancy vary from woman to woman and even pregnancy
to pregnancy. If you're particularly tuned in to your body's rhythms,
you may begin to suspect you're pregnant soon after conception.
Are You Pregnant?
Most
women won't experience any early signs of pregnancy until the
fertilized egg implants into the uterine wall, on average six to twelve
days after ovulation. Other women may notice no signs of pregnancy until
a delayed or missed menstrual cycle, one of the most pronounced and
significant symptoms of pregnancy.
Whether you're trying to get
pregnant, or trying not to, it's important to understand indicators of
pregnancy because each symptom may be related to something other than
pregnancy.
Below is a list of some of the most common first signs
of pregnancy - some of which may occur before a home pregnancy test can
be used - letting you know that you may be on your way to becoming a
mother. You may experience all, some, or none of these signs that you
could be prego:
Food Cravings
Admittedly
it's a cliché, but food cravings sometimes can be early signs of
pregnancy. Don't rely on a hankering for pickles and ice cream as a sure
symptom of pregnancy - it may be all in your head, or even a sign that
your body is deficient in certain nutrients - however, if cravings are
accompanied by some of the other symptoms on this list, it could mean
that you might be eating for two.
What else it could mean: Poor diet, nutritional deficiency, stress, depression, or impending menstruation.
Darkening of Your Areolas
If
the skin around your nipples darkens, you may be pregnant, though this
may also mark a hormonal imbalance unrelated to pregnancy or be a
leftover effect from a previous pregnancy.
What else it could mean: Hormonal imbalance unrelated to pregnancy or may be a leftover effect from a previous pregnancy.
Light Bleeding or Cramping
Implantation
bleeding can be one of the earliest signs of pregnancy when, about six
to twelve days after conception, the embryo burrows into the uterine
wall. As a result of this, some women will experience implantation
spotting - a slight staining of a pink or brown color - as well as some
cramping.
You might mistake implantation bleeding for a very light period, as spotting can occur around the time you expect your period.
What
else it could mean: Actual menstruation, altered menstruation, changes
in birth control pill, infection, or abrasion from intercourse.
Frequent Urination
Once
the embryo implants and begins producing the pregnancy-sustaining
hormone secreted by the embryo soon after conception (usually around six
to eight weeks after conception) you may find yourself running to the
bathroom more often.
What else it could mean: Urinary tract infection, diabetes, increasing liquid intake, or taking excessive diuretics.
Fatigue
Feeling
drowsy? No, make that absolutely wiped. High levels of the hormone
progesterone experienced during pregnancy can make you feel as if you've
run a marathon when all you've done is put in a normal day's work. This
hallmark of early pregnancy can appear as soon as the first week after
conception (before a positive pregnancy test can be performed), but
don't necessarily assume you're pregnant just because you're feeling
exhausted.
What else it could mean: Stress, exhaustion,
depression, common cold or flu, or other illnesses can also leave you
feeling drained.
Tender, Swollen Breasts
If
you're pregnant, your breasts will probably become fuller and
increasingly tender to the touch, similar to the way they may feel
before your period, but more pronounced. These changes may begin as
early as one to two weeks after conception.
What else it could
mean: Hormonal imbalance, birth control pills, impending menstruation
(PMS) can also cause your breasts to swell and become more sensitive.
Nausea
As
early as a couple of days following conception, you may begin feeling
nauseated and queasy; it will often show up between two to eight weeks
after conception. Despite the common name of this well-known sign of
pregnancy (morning sickness) it doesn't only kick in during the morning
hours: pregnancy-related nausea can be present any time of day or night.
If
you're lucky, morning sickness won't hit you until a few weeks after
conception, and some women are lucky enough to escape it altogether.
What else it could mean: Food poisoning, stress, or other stomach disorders can also cause you to feel queasy.
Backaches and Headaches
Lower backaches and headaches may appear as early signs of pregnancy as a result of the sudden rise of hormones.
What
else it could mean: Impending menstruation, stress, back problems, and
physical or mental strains, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, eye
strain.
A Missed or Different Period
When
you become pregnant, your next period should be missed, and a missing
period is often one of the first signs of pregnancy experienced by
women. Many women experience bleeding while they are pregnant, but
usually the bleeding will be shorter or lighter than a normal period. If
you have been sexually active, are late and usually experience
clockwork visits from Aunt Flo, it's worth trying a pregnancy test.
What
else it could mean: Excessive weight gain/loss, fatigue, hormonal
imbalance, tension, stress, stopping birth control pill, or
breast-feeding.
A Positive Pregnancy Test
A
positive pregnancy test is the most definitive sign that you're in the
family way. Home (urine) pregnancy tests are available at most drug
stores; there are early home pregnancy tests such as E.P.T Digital Early
Pregnancy Tests, which can give results as early as five days before a
missed period, as well as traditional home pregnancy tests which
recommend waiting to test until at least the first date of a missed
period to ensure that adequate amounts of pregnancy hormone.
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