Spotting Or Light Bleeding
Its not unusual at all to have light spotting or bleeding in early pregnancy in fact, it can occur in around 20% of pregnancies.
Dr Larisa explains the science behind it: This is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy and is usually associated with implantation bleeding when the fertilized egg or embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus. The embryo usually implants between 6 to 12 days after conception.
Not all women will get spotting though, so dont worry its not a reflection of how successful the implantation has been!
Forum mum xFran82x says she had implantation bleeding 8 days after ovulating. I had some watery pink discharge when I wiped a few times, she says, and then found 2 dots of brown blood on my pants. I tested the next afternoon and got a faint positive result.
And it was similar for BabyGirlsMummy: I had a regular 28 day cycle and the implantation bleeding was about a week before Id have expected my period. Mine was some pink cervical mucus for a couple of days enough that I needed a panty liner.
If you do bleed, our expert say you should definitely get anything unusual checked out by your doctor. In most cases, spotting is nothing to worry about, says Dr Amin, but it can be a sign of something more serious like an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. If you experience any bleeding thats not normal for you, seek immediate medical attention.
When Should You See A Doctor About A New Pregnancy
If youve taken a pregnancy test and its positive, go ahead and make your first prenatal visit right away.
At the first prenatal visit, youll get a physical exam and other tests to make sure everything is looking healthy, and youll learn about your pregnancy timeline. Youll also get to talk through any expectations and questions you have about your pregnancy.
Questions or concerns about your symptoms? Our 24/7 nurse line is free for our members and patients.
Positive pregnancy test? Schedule a visit.
Your Period Changes Throughout Your Life
Just when you start to feel like you can predict exactly when your period is going to show, everything can change. For that, you can thank the hormone shifts that happen throughout your lifetime.
Once you get your very first period, your cycles may be longer, meaning more time may pass between when one period starts to the next. A typical cycle for a teenage girl may be 21 to 45 days. Over time, they get shorter and more predictable, averaging about 21 to 35 days.
Hormone changes that happen during perimenopause — the years before menopause when your body starts to make less estrogen — can throw you for a loop. The time from one period to the next may get shorter or longer, and you may have heavier or lighter bleeding during your period. This phase can last up to 10 years before you start menopause and stop getting your period for good.
Gradual life changes are normal, but sudden, unusual issues like very heavy bleeding or missed periods are not. Talk with your doctor if you notice that something seems off.
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Onset Frequency And Severity Of Symptoms
The first trimester of pregnancy is when most people experience common symptoms like fatigue, morning sickness, sensitivity to smells, and breast soreness. In general, early pregnancy symptoms show up around five to six weeks after the first day of your last menstrual period.
Breast tenderness can begin within one or two weeks of conception. You also might notice changes in your weight . Most of the more intense symptoms of pregnancy typically begin to subside by the second trimester.
A Missed Period And Light Bleeding
A missed period is probably the most well-known pregnancy symptom, and the one that most often prompts women to take a pregnancy test. If your period is late or doesnt come at all, you may be pregnant.
But newly pregnant womenone-third to be exactmay have whats called implantation bleeding, or bleeding that is lighter, shorter and spottier than a regular period. When you become pregnant, the fertilized egg latches on to the uterus lining and embeds itself, which initiates the pregnancy. The movement may cause light bleeding a few days before your period is supposed to start. And while the amount differs from woman to woman, implantation bleeding is typically pinkish or dark brown in color. It will likely occur for a few days to a few weeks.
Brown recommends that all women track their menstrual cycle, especially if they are trying to get pregnant. You can use a regular calendar, or one of many phone apps. These apps can help you see what a normal menstrual cycle looks like for you, including how long it is and how heavy your period is. They can also anticipate your period and ovulation days for the months to follow, says Brown. I think this is really helpful for patients who are trying to get pregnant. It can help them track when theyre most fertile.
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Late Or Missed Period
Being late or missing your monthly period is the most well-known early sign of pregnancy and for 1 in 3 women, says the American Pregnancy Association, a missed period is still their 1st pregnancy symptom.
There are plenty of other symptoms in our list that you may notice before you miss your period but, as Dr Larisa Corda says, this is the one that prompts most women to get a pregnancy test.
Be warned though that not all missed or delayed periods mean youre pregnant. Sometimes weight changes, hormone problems, stress or recently coming off contraception can affect your periods and possibly lead to you missing a period or having a delayed period.
And of course, for many of us, late and irregular periods can be the norm which is why its useful to know other symptoms.
Saying all that, if your period is unusually late, its time to take a pregnancy test.
A Sign Your Symptoms Indicate Something Else
If you skip your cycle or have irregular periods and youre not pregnant, there could be several other reasons. Some of the most common things to cause a change in the usual pattern can be fluctuations in your weight, hyper- or hypothyroidism, extreme stress and extreme exercise. Some hormonal methods of contraception can also affect your periods. There is a medical condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, where women often stop getting their periods or have irregular cycles.
Its always a good idea to see your health care provider if youre not having a regular monthly period, Giles said. We can do a workup for irregular cycles or for absence of cycles that may include a blood test and a pelvic ultrasound. Its important to get treatment for amenorrhea or irregular cycles to prevent a condition known as endometrial hyperplasia. There are many treatment options to prevent this from happening.
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Tampons And Pads Arent Your Only Choices
You have more options to help you manage that time of the month.
A menstrual cup is a flexible cup that fits inside your vagina and collects blood during your period. Period panties are super-absorbent, and you can wear them on their own on your lighter days or with a tampon during heavier times. Reusable cloth pads can be washed and worn again.
These products can be cost-savers, since you can reuse them, and they also create less waste. In some cases, they give you more time between changes. For example, you need to change a tampon every 4 to 8 hours, but you may be able to go up to 12 hours with a menstrual cup before you empty it.
There are pros and cons to all these options, just as there are with tampons and pads. But you can find one that works best for you with some trial and error.
Symptoms Of A Late Period And Pregnancy
The symptoms of a late period will be obvious to many women who menstruate regularly. If you were expecting your period, and it doesnt begin, youll know its late. Not all periods arrive like clockwork, and its very normal for periods to occur on a slightly different schedule. Pregnancy isnt the only thing that can cause a late or skipped period. But if youre wondering whether your missing period might mean youre pregnant, you can look for other early symptoms of pregnancy. During the first 8 weeks of pregnancy, many women experience:
1. Fatigue
During the first trimester , your body produces large amounts of a hormone called progesterone. This can make you feel sleepy. Even during the first week after conception, you may feel more tired than usual.
2. Spotting
Implantation bleeding is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. It is very light bleeding, often called spotting, that happens as a result of the fertilized egg implanting to the uterine wall. Implantation is usually 6 to 12 days after conception, or the moment the egg is fertilized by a sperm.
Some women also have mild abdominal cramps during implantation. Other women dont notice any symptoms with implantation.
3. Breast Changes
You may see changes in your breasts as early as 1 to 2 weeks after conception. Your breasts may be swollen and tender to the touch. You may have soreness or a feeling of fullness in your breasts.
4. Headaches
5. Missed Period
6. Nausea
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Things To Do This Week For A Healthy Pregnancy
Once your pregnancy test turns positive, youll want to call your doctor or midwife to set up your first prenatal appointment. Dont worry if the due date is far in the future. Most women are seen for the first time around week 8.
Depending on your healthcare providers protocol, you may also need to head into the office to have some preliminary blood work. This will confirm your pregnancy and check your hormone levels. One test will check your hCG. This number should double about every 48 to 72 hours. The other will check your progesterone levels.
Both tests are repeated at least once to assess the increase in numbers.
Even at week 4, its never too early to start healthy habits. Try eating whole foods, avoiding smoking and alcohol, and, if you arent already, start taking a prenatal vitamin.
Exercise is also a great way to ease pregnancy symptoms and keep your body and baby healthy. Typically any activity you were doing before pregnancy is safe to continue in the first trimester. For vigorous exercise, you may want to speak with your doctor about certain changes that might be necessary.
Breast Pain And Tenderness
Breast changes are a common symptom of both PMS and early pregnancy. The changes can include:
- pain
- bumpy breast tissue
The severity of these symptoms varies among individuals.
However, in people with PMS, breast-related symptoms are usually most significant just before a menstrual period, and they typically get better during the period or just after it ends.
In early pregnancy, the breasts may feel particularly tender to the touch, and they often get heavier. The area around the nipple may sting or feel sore. Some women also develop more noticeable blue veins near the surface of the breasts.
Breast symptoms during pregnancy begin 1 or 2 weeks after conception and may persist until childbirth.
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What Are The Most Common Early Signs Of Pregnancy
In a poll on pregnancy symptoms conducted by the American Pregnancy Association:
- 29% of women surveyed reported a missed period as their first pregnancy symptom
- 25% indicated that nausea was the first sign of pregnancy
- 17% reported that a change in their breasts was the initial symptom of pregnancy
- While implantation bleeding is often considered the first pregnancy symptom, our survey reveals that only 3% of women identify implantation bleeding as their first sign of pregnancy
Feeling Nauseous And/or Being Sick
New pregnancy hormones are flooding your body and, for some women, the reaction to this is to feel sick. Some women feel slightly queasy and others may actually be sick. This is commonly known as morning sickness but it can happen at any time of the day.
You might be more sensitive to smells, including food and cooking.
If you cant keep any food or water down talk to your midwife or GP because there is a risk that you may become dehydrated.
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What Will Happen In Your Belly In The First Three Weeks Of Pregnancy
If you have a typical 28-day menstrual cycle, one of your ovaries will release an egg around 14 days after the first day of your last period. The egg will travel down one of the fallopian tubes where it may be united with sperm.
Itâs worth noting that sperm can live inside your body for up to five days, and your egg has a lifespan of up to one day.
This means your window of fertility is about five days before you ovulate to one day after.
Read on to find out what happens from before conception and onward.
1 Week Pregnant
Your journey through pregnancy starts now, but did you know youâre not technically pregnant yet? Healthcare providers calculate the length of a pregnancy as 40 weeks from the first date of your last menstrual period, and, as we mentioned above, ovulation happens about 14 days after the start of your period, assuming you have a 28-day cycle.
So, for the sake of calculation, this week and the next are considered part of your pregnancy, even though you havenât conceived just yet. It can be mindboggling, but at one week pregnant, youâre actually not!
2 Weeks Pregnant
At two weeks pregnant, so to speak, your period may be over and ovulation may be just days away. At the end of this week, if you have sex, egg and sperm can meet and conception can take place. If this does happen, your uterus is about to become a very busy place!
3 Weeks Pregnant
When To See Your Health Care Provider
Because it isnt possible to get your period while pregnant, its important to be mindful of any bleeding you do experience during this time. While light bleeding or spotting during the first trimester is usually normal, bleeding that is accompanied by other symptoms may indicate something more serious, and its important to see a health care provider immediately. These symptoms include:
- Cramping and pain
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Bleeding And Cramping After Ovulation: Is It Your Period Or Pregnancy
Implantation bleeding, which shows up in about 30 percent of pregnancies, happens when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of your uterus. It usually starts around the time you expect your period , and can easily be mistaken for menstruation. It might also be accompanied by mild cramping that feels like pulling or tingling.
There are a few distinctions between implantation bleeding and menstruation though: “Implantation bleeding tends to be lighter and shorter in duration than a period,” says Dr. Kim. “You may have spotting instead of full days of flow.” It’s also likely to be brown or pink, instead of red. But if you don’t experience implantation bleeding, don’t fret. You can still be pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy without it.
Changes In The First Trimester
During the first trimester, your bodys blood volume starts to increase to meet the developmental needs of the growing fetus. This may cause the veins on your breasts to become larger, bluer, and more visible. Your breasts will also continue to grow in size. They may feel tender and swollen, although these symptoms often dissipate within the first few weeks of pregnancy as your body adjusts to the hormonal changes youre experiencing. You may feel an ache right up into your armpits. That area has breast tissue called the Tail of Spence.
You may also notice changes to your nipples. They may become larger and more sensitive, and you may notice a darkening of the areola. You may also begin to develop Montgomery tubercles in the areola. These small, painless bumps have antiseptic and lubricating qualities, and help support breastfeeding.
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Early Pregnancy Symptoms Vs Pms: Whats The Difference
Most early pregnancy symptoms before your period are strikingly similar to the side effects of PMS. However, youll only notice changes in your areolas if youre pregnant. A consistently elevated BBT and creamy vaginal discharge post-ovulation are also both relatively reliable signs of conception, but theyre certainly not foolproof.
Otherwise, the only way to know if other early pregnancy symptoms are due to a baby or PMS is to hold out until you can take a pregnancy test.
Should I See A Doctor During The Two
If you get your period less than 14 days after you ovulate, it could be a red flag that something is affecting your ability to become pregnant. It could be as minor as miscalculating ovulation, or it could be a condition called luteal phase defect. “This means your body isn’t producing adequate levels of progesterone to maintain a pregnancy,” says Dr. Kim. Your doctor may prescribe extra progesterone following ovulation to help lengthen your luteal phase.
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