Early pregnancy symptoms and signs

A late or missed period is often one of the first symptoms of pregnancy that women notice. There are however many other pregnancy signs that you might pick up on.

Common very early symptoms of pregnancy are fatigue, tingling nipples and a change in your tastes. These can show up as early as a few days after conception, before your period is late.

Other symptoms develop later, around the time of a missed period, like implantation bleeding, morning sickness (nausea and vomiting) and frequent urination.

For some women, there are no symptoms besides a missed period.

If you suspect that you might be pregnant, the only way to know for sure if you are indeed expecting, is to take a home pregnancy test (this is a urine test) or a Beta hCG test (this is a blood test).

What are the symptoms of pregnancy?

Most women first suspect that they are pregnant when their period is late. There are other early signs of pregnancy however that might show up as well.

These are the most common early pregnancy symptoms:

• A missed period: You cannot be pregnant if you have your period. So if your period didn't come when it was meant to, it might be your first obvious symptom of pregnancy. If your missed period is accompanied by any of the other pregnancy symptoms below, then it might raise your hopes further and you can confirm your suspicions with a pregnancy test.
  
  Periods can be irregular for several other health reasons however, and if you have an irregular cycle, it can be hard to know exactly when your period is due. In such cases, it's best to consult your doctor.
• Implantation bleeding and cramping: This refers to the spotting that can happen a week before or around the time of your regular period. This can be a sign that your pregnancy is starting. After implantation bleeding, the pregnancy hormones start increasing fast. So most pregnancy tests will be able to pick up on the pregnancy hormones if you test after the spotting is over.
• Morning sickness (nausea and vomiting): This is the name given to the feeling of nausea, which sometimes leads to vomiting, that is common in early pregnancy. Morning sickness can start as early as the 5th or 6th week of pregnancy and last through the first trimester. It's one of the more noticeable pregnancy symptoms after a missed period.
• Fatigue: The changes in hormone levels that your body is going through to support and allow a pregnancy can leave you feeling more tired than usual. Tiredness can have many causes though so on its own, it's not a sure sign of pregnancy. However, this is one of the most common symptoms in the first trimester.
• Tingling nipples: As pregnancy hormones increase the blood supply to your breasts, you may feel a tingling sensation around your nipples. This can be one of the earliest signs of pregnancy, and is sometimes noticeable within a week or so of conception. Once your body gets used to the hormone surge, this sensation will subside.
• Sensitive or painful breasts: Once you are about six weeks pregnant, your breasts may become increasingly sensitive or painful to the touch. It's similar to how they feel before you have a period, but more so. You may also notice that your breasts are larger and swollen. The pain or sensitivity in your breasts usually gets better as your pregnancy progresses.
• Changes in your tastes: Food cravings or aversions can be a sign of pregnancy. They're not a sure symptom (they can also be a sign that your body is low on a particular nutrient), but if cravings are accompanied by some of the other pregnancy symptoms, you have reason to suspect you're pregnant.
  
  You may go off some foods, but develop a craving for others. Some women report a metallic taste in their mouth, others that they can't stand the taste of coffee or a food they usually like, such as eggs.
• A heightened sense of smell: This often goes along with changes in your tastes because the senses of smell and taste are so closely linked. You might go off some foods because of their smell for example. Your heightened sense of smell can trigger nausea and you may notice smells that didn't bother you before.
• Frequent urination: From about six weeks of pregnancy, you may notice that you're passing urine more often. This is because there is more blood in your body during pregnancy and your kidneys become more efficient at producing urine. Your uterus is also expanding and putting pressure on your bladder. All these factors combine to send you running to the washroom more often than usual.
• Mood swings: With the start of pregnancy, your hormone levels go through huge changes. These changes can affect your mood. You might feel heightened emotions, both good and bad, or you might just feel more depressed or anxious than usual.
• Gas and bloating: Your clothes may feel tighter than usual at the waistline - not because your uterus is already expanding, but because hormonal changes can make you bloated. Pregnancy hormones can cause your digestive processes to slow down, which can lead to bloating, gas and digestive discomfort, especially after a big meal.

You may get some of these other symptoms, all of them, or none at all (except for a missed period). The only way to know for sure if you're expecting is to get a positive result on a home pregnancy test, or a confirmation through a blood test.

When do pregnancy symptoms start?

Each woman is different and experiences pregnancy symptoms differently. Some pregnancy symptoms can show up as early as a few days after conception, or you might not notice anything till your period is late. Most symptoms show up around the time of your period or a week or two before or after.

It's also normal for you to have no symptoms other than a missed period. There are a few lucky women who don't get morning sickness or other common early pregnancy discomforts. This doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the pregnancy, some women are just more sensitive to hormonal changes.

Are there any pregnancy symptoms before a missed period?

If you get any symptoms before a missed period, they are likely to be fatigue, sensitive or tingling nipples, changes to your tastes and possibly implantation bleeding.

Morning sickness, painful breasts, mood swings and frequent urination are more likely to happen around the time that your period is due, or just before or after.

What's the difference between implantation bleeding and a period?

Implantation bleeding happens when the fertilised egg attaches or implants into the lining of the uterus. Not all women get implantation bleeding. If you do, it can be hard to know if it's your period or a sign that you are pregnant.

Implantation bleeding is usually a lighter flow than a normal period. It's often described as spotting. This means that although you get blood stains, it's not quite enough to soak a pad.

Also, implantation bleeding doesn't last as long as a normal period. It might go on for just a few hours, or between one and three days.

Implantation bleeding can happen a week before your period is due, or at the time that your period would usually come.

When can I take a pregnancy test after a missed period?

Most pregnancy tests will give you an accurate reading if you take it at the time you usually get your period.

You might prefer to wait a few days to be sure your period is not just late, but if you just can't wait to know, you can try as soon as you realise that your period is late.

Some pregnancy tests are more sensitive and can pick up on the pregnancy hormone before you miss a period. If when you test, you get a negative result, but your period is still not coming, try to test again after a few days.

Are there any symptoms of pregnancy in the first 72 hours of conceiving?

No, there are no symptoms that can tell you for sure if you're pregnant in the first 72 hours after conception.

At this time, it's too early to test for the pregnancy hormone hCG, which is the surest way of knowing if you're pregnant.


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• Early pregnancy: all you need to know
• 11 steps to a healthy pregnancy
• How to choose your gynaecologist