Can I be pregnant and have no pregnancy symptoms?
It's not common to be pregnant and have no pregnancy symptoms, but it's possible. There's nothing predictable about which symptoms a woman will have when she's pregnant, or even if she'll have the same symptoms from one pregnancy to the next.
Some women have morning sickness around the clock, for example, while others feel nauseated only in the mornings and others never get the least bit queasy. Some moms are exhausted from the get-go and others don't feel tired until later in pregnancy, if at all.
Maybe your symptoms are subtle enough that you don't recognize them. Some women (about 1 in 475) have a cryptic pregnancy, which means they don't realize that they're pregnant until 20 weeks or sometimes until labor.
If you've had a positive pregnancy test, chances are very good that you're pregnant, even if you have no symptoms. And once you have an early ultrasound – and the fetal heartbeat is detected – it's undeniable. (You can probably see your baby's heart beating as early as 5 or 6 weeks.)
I'm 5 weeks pregnant and symptoms come and go
By the time they're 5 weeks pregnant, only about half of women have symptoms. It's not unusual at this point to have no pregnancy symptoms or symptoms that come and go. In fact, even women with severe symptoms have stretches when they feel okay, thanks to fluctuations in hormone levels.
Common symptoms at 5 weeks pregnant include:
In a week or so, you may join the 70 percent of women who have pregnancy symptoms by 6 weeks pregnant.
I'm 8 weeks pregnant with no symptoms
Most pregnant women – 90 percent of them, in fact – have pregnancy symptoms by 8 weeks.
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By this point, most women feel tired and may have nausea and vomiting, swollen breasts, and frequent urination.
Other common symptoms at 8 weeks pregnant include:
Not having any pregnancy symptoms at 8 weeks is unusual, but it's not unheard of.
Do some women have no pregnancy symptoms at all?
Yes, it's possible to go your entire pregnancy without having any of the usual symptoms. You'll hear your baby's heartbeat, and you'll feel your baby's movements. But you may be lucky enough to avoid a host of unpleasant symptoms throughout pregnancy.
We don't know why some women have no symptoms, or some symptoms and not others. But it doesn't reflect on the health of the pregnancy.
It can be hard to believe you're pregnant if you don't have any symptoms, though, and some moms-to-be find it stressful. Women in the BabyCenter Community shared their experiences:
"I'm six and a half weeks. Not an ounce of morning sickness. No cravings, no cramping, no exhaustion. I'm so worried because of the lack of symptoms."
"Although I'm only 5 weeks today, I don't feel pregnant and am looking forward to an ultrasound. I know lack of symptoms doesn't mean anything, but I'd love to feel pregnant so it can start to sink in."
"It's worrisome not having any symptoms at all. This is totally normal for a very few lucky ones, though. I guess we should enjoy it."
Does having no symptoms mean I'll have a miscarriage?
Never having pregnancy symptoms doesn't mean you'll have a miscarriage. For some women, it's perfectly normal. But do talk with your caregiver if you had symptoms and they suddenly go away, or if you have concerning symptoms such as bleeding or spotting or abdominal pain. These may be signs of a problem with the pregnancy.
For a rundown of possible pregnancy symptoms – and when they're most likely to show up – read our article on pregnancy symptoms.
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