Early Signs Of Pregnancy
For women who have a regular monthly menstrual cycle, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period.
If your period doesnt arrive as expected, you may be pregnant, but there can be other reasons for a missed period, such as illness, stress and strenuous activity.
Sometimes women who are pregnant have a very light period, losing only a little blood.
Some of the other early pregnancy signs and symptoms are listed below. Every woman is different and not all women will notice all these symptoms.
Pros Of Blood Testing
- Blood tests can detect pregnancy earlier than a home pregnancy test, about 6 to 8 days after ovulation, or about 7 – 12 days after possible conception .
- This could mean that you get a result as early as 9 days after possible conception, or 5 days earlier than a home pregnancy test would be able to detect .
For most women, it makes more sense to wait and do a pregnancy test at home because of its convenience and low cost, as well as the fact that you’d only find out a day or two earlier with a blood test .
For others, especially those with a high risk for miscarriage or other pregnancy complications, their doctor may recommend getting a blood test.
What Are 5 Signs Of Pregnancy
There are many signs of pregnancy, but the most common are missed periods, breast tenderness, nausea, fatigue and weight gain.
But if youre pregnant, some of these symptoms can be caused by something else. So its important to know when you should seek medical attention.
Here are some of the most common signs of pregnancy.
Missed Periods
One of the first signs of pregnancy is missing a period. But its not unusual for your period to be late from time to time, especially if you have irregular cycles or have just started taking birth control pills. If youve been recently pregnant and had a miscarriage, you may also notice bleeding that resembles a period.
If you have any concerns about your missed period, take a home pregnancy test or visit your doctor for an evaluation to rule out other causes for your symptoms before concluding that youre pregnant.
If youve been charting your menstrual cycle, then you know when to expect your period. If you dont, or if its been more than two weeks since your last period, its time to take a pregnancy test.
Early on in pregnancy, the growing uterus can put pressure on your bladder and make it difficult to hold urine in. This is especially true during the first trimester, when you may need to pee every 30 minutes or so. It may also be difficult to focus on anything else while youre trying not to pee all over yourself!
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When Can You Confirm Your Pregnancy
If you think you might be pregnant because you missed your period or are experiencing some of the early symptoms of pregnancy listed above, you can take a home pregnancy test.These tests can confirm a pregnancy by checking your urine for the presence of a hormone called hCG.
If you think you may be pregnant, but the test says otherwise, test again after a few more days or speak to your healthcare provider. You can also ask your provider to confirm your pregnancy with a blood test. Think you might be pregnant? Take our Am I Pregnant quiz. It wonât tell you for sure, but itâs all good fun!
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.
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Other Early Signs Of Pregnancy
These early pregnancy symptoms tend to appear around or after the time that you miss your period, usually sometime between weeks 4 and 9. But again, every woman and every pregnancy is different, so you may not experience these symptoms at all, while other moms-to-be may notice them a little earlier.
The Most Common Early Signs Of Pregnancy
Your body experiences a lot of changes during pregnancy and this can result in many different symptoms from early on, such as the ones below. But keep in mind, these symptoms dont automatically mean youre pregnant and there can be other medical reasons why youre experiencing these changes.
Here are some of the common signs and symptoms, and what else they could mean if you have them.
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Am I Pregnant 12 Early Signs Of Pregnancy
ByCari Nierenberg, Sarah Wild, Ailsa Harveypublished 15 December 21
The early signs of pregnancy can differ between women. Here are some of the clues your body may provide.
Looking out for the early signs of pregnancy in the body can help you to find out if you have become successful in conceiving. When discovering you are pregnant, it can be the start of a remarkable, life-changing experience. That journey often starts with the question: “Am I pregnant?”
The first sign is usually a missed period, followed by a pregnancy test, said Lia Moss, a certified nurse midwife at Northwestern Medicine, who delivers babies at Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago.
Pregnancy tests, whether done at home or at a doctor’s office, measure the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin in a woman’s urine or blood. This hormone is released when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. Urine pregnancy tests can detect levels of hCG about 10 days after conception, Moss told Live Science, while blood tests, usually done at a doctor’s office, can detect a pregnancy about seven to 10 days after conception. Testing too soon can produce a false negative result. A woman’s due date is calculated from the first day of her last period.
“The first trimester can be very hard for some women,” Moss said, but after that many mothers-to-be start feeling better.
Here are 12 clues that a woman may notice during her first trimester to indicate she may be pregnant.
One Week Pregnancy Signs Are Similar To Those Which Are Experienced Throughout The Remaining Nine Months Take A Pregnancy Test To Be Sure About It
Those who might be pregnant want to know the news as soon as possible. Many do not realize that you can find out if you are pregnant in as little as one week after conception. Your body will start producing different levels of hormones in preparation for the growth and care of the growing fetus. These symptoms can be an indicator that you should take a pregnancy test or visit a doctor. It is important to note that not all women will experience symptoms at the same level and some may not show pregnancy symptoms at all.
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My Child Hates Their Playpen What Do I Do
Am I pregnant?
One of the special things about pregnancy is that no two women experience it in the same way. One woman doesn’t stop vomiting for weeks in the first trimester, and another might never even feel nauseous .
There are several early signs of pregnancy. Some of them are subtle, and you may not notice them right away, or you may mistake them for PMS since they are similar. In fact, in one study, 29% of women reported that missing their period was their first clue that they were pregnant.2
You’ll probably want to know if you’re pregnant sooner rather than later since it’s important to receive appropriate prenatal care and discontinue any unhealthy habits you may have.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below, and if you’ve missed a period, you should definitely take a pregnancy test. It’s the only way to know for sure if you’re pregnant or not.
Use An Ovulation Test
Another way to determine when youre ovulating is to use an ovulation test kit. These tests use your urine to measure whether certain hormones are present in your body, which can predict ovulation.
You can purchase these tests over the counter or online. Follow the instructions provided with the test to ensure that you get accurate results.
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Things To Think About
In the early days and weeks of pregnancy, you may not know if you’re pregnant.
But you can do the following things:
- take a folic acid supplement of 400 micrograms a day while you’re trying to get pregnant and until the 12th week of pregnancy
- take a vitamin D supplement of 10 micrograms a day
- avoid some foods to protect against infections
- stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your baby’s health
You can get supplements from pharmacies and supermarkets, or your GP may be able to prescribe them for you.
If you want to get your vitamin D or folic acid from a multivitamin tablet, make sure the tablet does not contain vitamin A .
You can get vitamin supplements containing folic acid and vitamin D free of charge if you’re under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding and qualify for the Healthy Start scheme.
What Are Five Common Signs Of Pregnancy
There are several signs of early pregnancy that you could experience. Not everyone will have all of these symptoms, and some women may not feel any of these things. Pregnancy symptoms throughout the entire pregnancy can vary dramatically between women. Its important not to compare your pregnancy to someone elses.
Common early pregnancy symptoms can include:
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How Long Does It Take Hcg Levels To Be Detected By Home Pregnancy Tests
Pregnancy doesn’t necessarily start the day that two people have sex. An egg can be fertilized by sperm up to six days after intercourse.5 And then, it can take between six and ten days for the egg to implant itself in the uterus.
The hormone that home pregnancy tests look for starts being released from when the fertilized egg implants itself, which is why you have to wait for them to be effective.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, HCG is made by cells formed in the placenta, which nourishes the egg after it is has implanted itself in the wall of the uterus.4
Levels of HCG can be detected by two kinds of tests:5
- Blood testâaccurate as early as 11 days after conception
- Urine testâaccurate as early as 12 to 14 days after conception
So, if you don’t know when your period is supposed to start and you think you might be pregnant, you should test about two weeks after you had sex and possibly conceived.5
If it’s negative and your period still hasn’t come and you still think you might be pregnant, test again in another week.
Why You Feel Pregnant
It can be fairly common to experience some physical symptoms as you enter into what many people call the two-week wait, the period of time between when you ovulate and when you expect your period. These symptoms can include:
- Breast soreness
- Mood swings
- Nausea and/or changes in appetite
While all of the symptoms could be pregnancy symptoms, they are more likely explained by either fluctuation in your hormones due to your menstrual cycle, or by other events in your life. These events can include illness, stress, or even something as simple as not enough sleep or too much exercise.
Some people experience premenstrual syndrome symptoms as pregnancy symptoms, where others do not typically have these symptoms every cycle.
When you experience a symptom that is not common to your cycle, it may be easily confused with a potential pregnancy.
To help relieve focusing on these symptoms, you can take positive steps for your physical and emotional health. Eating nutritious foods, quitting smoking, and limiting or avoiding alcohol will promote your health and wellness whether or not it turns out you are pregnant.
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Raised Basal Body Temperature
If you’ve been using a special basal body thermometer to track your first morning temperature, you might notice that it rises around 1 degree when you conceive and stays elevated throughout your pregnancy.
Though not a foolproof early pregnancy symptom , it could give you advance notice of the big news.
Cannabis Alcohol And Caffeine During Pregnancy
If youre considering using cannabis to deal with early-pregnancy symptoms or as part of your regular routine, read up on some new studiesits generally not recommended due to links to low birthweight and other indicators of baby health. As you probably know, its time to pass on drinking alcohol, too, but you can still have coffee or tea because drinking two small cups of brewed coffee or three cups of tea daily isnt harmful.
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What To Do In Different Scenarios
| If You Had Sex… | ||
|---|---|---|
|
And your period doesn’t come, test again in three days |
||
|
And you haven’t missed your period |
And your period doesn’t come, test again in three days |
|
|
And you don’t know when your period is supposed to come |
Wait at least two weeks before taking a test |
And your period doesn’t come, test again in a week |
Keep track of the date when you may have conceived as well as when you are expecting your period.
Sex At Week 1 Of Pregnancy
Most women arent on their fertile window during their period, and during the first week of pregnancy, youll still be around 14 days away from ovulation. But that doesnt mean you cant start practicing!
Sperm can live up to 5 days inside the uterine cavity, so even having sex a few days before ovulation can result in a pregnancy. Once youve decided youre ready to conceive, avoid using lubricant. Some lubricants can change the pH inside your vagina and make it harder for sperm to swim.
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High Blood Pressure And Dizziness During Early Pregnancy
In most cases, high or normal blood pressure will drop in the early stages of pregnancy. This may also cause feelings of dizziness since your blood vessels are dilated.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, as a result of pregnancy is more difficult to determine. Almost all cases of hypertension within the first 20 weeks indicate underlying problems. It may develop during early pregnancy, but it may also be present beforehand.
A medical professional will take your blood pressure during your first doctors visit to help establish a baseline for a normal blood pressure reading.
What Kinds Of Medical Tests And Screenings Take Place In The First Trimester
At your first prenatal appointment, where you suspect that youre pregnant, your healthcare provider may order a blood test that measures hCG levels to confirm your pregnancy and check that your hormone levels are on track.
Between eight and 13 weeks, you may be offered an appointment for a dating ultrasound to get measurements that can help determine a more accurate due date. You can probably hear your babys heartbeat at 12 weeks, when your healthcare provider uses a handheld ultrasound called a Doppler.
Between weeks 11 and 14, you may opt for genetic screening through a blood test or a combination of a blood test and an ultrasound, also called a nuchal translucency scan. An NT scan measures the fluid and tissue at the back of your babys neck and checks for chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome. If your doctor or midwife recommends further screening, it will be done early in your second trimester.
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Bathroom Trips Sore Breasts And Acne
Natural cures for common pregnancy symptomsBy week seven, your uterus has doubled in size and is pressing on your bladder, so you may have to pee all the time. Plus, those trusty hormones are stimulating your kidneys to produce more pee. Tender, slightly bigger boobs are another sign of early pregnancy. And hows your skin? That hormone cocktail can cause acne to kick in. Your skin may settle down later on or you may have some pimples throughout your pregnancy.
Tingling And Numbness In Your Hands
Carpal tunnel syndrome tingling and numbness in your hands affects up to 60 per cent of women during pregnancy. It is caused by compression of the median nerve due to an increase in the tissue fluids during pregnancy.
Carpal tunnel syndrome may be mild, intermittently painful, or severe, which may cause partial paralysis of the thumb or loss of sensation. Symptoms usually resolve on their own soon after birth.
If you are experiencing tingling and numbness in your hands, inform your doctor or midwife. In very severe cases, your doctor may recommend corticosteroid injections or surgical treatment.
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Can You Feel Pregnancy Symptoms Soon After Sex
While some pregnancy symptoms start very early, most of the time, you won’t notice anything right away. Anything that happens immediately after having sex, like spotting or increased discharge, is usually not related to pregnancy.
Other than a missed period, pregnancy symptoms tend to really kick in around week five or six of pregnancy. One 2018 study of 458 women found that 72% detected their pregnancy by the sixth week after their last menstrual period. Symptoms tend to develop abruptly.
This is about two weeks from when you missed your last period . Occasionally you will hear of someone who has symptoms right around their first missed period.
