Early Signs Of Pregnancy
If you have a regular monthly menstrual cycle, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period.
In the first few weeks of pregnancy you may have a bleed similar to a very light period, with some spotting or only losing a little blood. This is called implantation bleeding.
Every pregnancy is different and not everyone will notice all of these symptoms.
A Small Amount Of Bleeding Which Could Be Implantation Bleeding
You may think that if youre slightly bleeding or spotting its a sign your period is on its way, but this can actually indicate a fertilized egg implanting into your uterus or other normal effects of early pregnancy. A quarter of pregnant women experience this spotting, researchers published in the American Family Physician.
According to the National Institutes of Health , spotting generally starts about 6 to 12 days after you conceive.
This spotting may last a few days or can continue for several weeks, or even through the first trimester. Experts at the Cleveland Clinic note that this implantation bleeding might look like a brownish discharge or it may contain small drops of redder blood.
How To Improve The Accuracy Of Your Home Pregnancy Test
- Wait until your period is one week late
- Read the instructions carefully and follow them to the letter
- Take the urine test in the morning, with your very first urine of the day
- Dont drink large amounts of liquids before the test
- Pee into a clean cup and put the test stick into it for 15 minutes
- Store your test in a cool dry place. Extreme temperatures can damage the test.
- Check the expiration date of the test
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What Are The Earliest Signs Of Being Pregnant With Twins
Is there such a thing as being twice as pregnant? As you begin to experience pregnancy symptoms, you may wonder whether having stronger symptoms means something are there signs youre having twins? Is it normal to be this exhausted and this nauseous, or could it mean something more?
While the only definitive way to know whether youre pregnant with twins is an ultrasound, some symptoms may suggest that a little something extra is happening on the inside.
When Do Early Pregnancy Symptoms Start
Regardless of your feelings about a possible pregnancy, it can be easy to ascribe any sensations youre having to potential pregnancy symptoms. However, keep in mind that premenstrual syndrome symptoms and those of early pregnancy can be very similarand pregnancy symptoms most often dont occur until after youve missed a period not before.
Having symptoms a day or two after having sex is usually not a sign of pregnancy. Here are some things to consider as you try to determine if youre pregnant.
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Contact Your Obgyn As Soon As You Think You Are Pregnant
Call your OBGYN clinic as soon as you find out youre pregnant. When you call in, your provider will review your medical history to determine the timing of your first prenatal visit. If you are a woman with no medical problems and under the age of 35, your first prenatal appointment will likely be 3-4 weeks after your missed period.
Some women should be seen sooner than others. For instance, if a woman has a history of ectopic pregnancy , she should be seen within a couple of days. Certain other medical conditions warrant an immediate visit with the provider.
Note: Ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized egg grows outside of the uterus, such as in the fallopian tube. The earliest symptom of ectopic pregnancy is typically light vaginal bleeding soon after a positive pregnancy test. If this happens, call your OBGYN to schedule an ultrasound right away. The ultrasound will identify if the fertilized egg is growing in the uterus or if it has attached somewhere else.
An ectopic pregnancy cannot be moved to the uterus and requires treatment such as medication or surgery. If the ectopic pregnancy continues growing to 5 or 5.5 weeks after conception, it could cause more serious complications, such as a ruptured fallopian tube, which can result in life-threatening internal bleeding. Symptoms of a ruptured fallopian tube include sudden and severe pain, abnormal bleeding, lightheadedness, and shoulder pain.
Round The Clock Peeing Increased Urination
Bolting for the bathroom at every turn is something many women assume happens only in later pregnancy, when the uterus is big enough to press on their bladder. But its also a common symptom in the first few weeks, Dr. Ross says.
Thats because the hormone hCG increases blood flow to your pelvis, and the extra fluid volume can trigger the need to urinate more.
If the urinary frequency is accompanied by pain or cloudy urine, though, its possible you have a urinary infection and should be checked, Taylor says.
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Most Symptoms Don’t Show Up Until After You Miss A Period
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, increased discharge, or feeling tired or nauseated, is usually unrelated 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 pregnant people found that 72% detected their pregnancy by the sixth week after their last menstrual period.
Symptoms, such as breast tenderness and morning sickness, tend to develop abruptly. Typically this happens 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, but this timing is less common.
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
- 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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Ovulation: About 2 Weeks Before Your Period
This is your window to become pregnant. About two weeks after your last period is when you ovulate. That means your ovary has released an egg and its hanging around in your fallopian tube waiting for sperm. Youll ovulate for about 12 to 24 hours. If the egg isnt fertilized, itll be reabsorbed by your body.
What Can I Do To Improve My Fertility Journey In Perimenopause
Here are five of my top tips to help your fertility journey. This list is not exhaustive and there are many other tips or advice you may have heard.
Get medical advice ASAP
Consult your doctor and fertility specialist as soon as possible. It helps to get expert advice as soon as you can, especially if you are in perimenopause, but also at any stage of your fertility journey. There are numerous pieces of information your doctor will want to know, including your past medical history and how long youve been trying to conceive. They will use this information to consider which tests to perform and the next steps to take to help you along your fertility journey.
Monitor your ovulation
Symptoms: Look for symptoms that might indicate you are ovulating. Breast tenderness and white vaginal discharge in the middle of your cycle between periods can be a sign you are ovulating. This is a good time to increase the amount of sex you are having with your partner.
Ovulation tracking: Use our Hoopsy ovulation tracker to track your cycle and ovulation. Use ovulation test strips, which are available to buy from your local pharmacy. These test for luteinizing hormone in your urine. If this has risen and the test is positive, it is highly likely ovulation will happen in the next 12 to 36 hours. This is the best time to have more sex to increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
Diet and exercise
Consider your fertility options early
Reduce your stress levels
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Early Pregnancy Symptoms: How To Tell Before A Missed Period
Pregnancy symptoms are really similar to those of PMS on paper, but there are a few clues your body gives you if you listen.
Jessica Rendall
Jessica is a Wellness News Writer who wants to help people stay informed about their health. She’s from the Midwest, studied investigative reporting at the Missouri School of Journalism and is now based in NYC.
Your menstrual cycle is your body’s way of preparing a nourishing environment for a pregnancy by building up a uterine lining. So you won’t get your period if you’re pregnant. This is true even if you’re taking birth control pills that stop ovulation and mimic the natural menstrual cycle with a monthly bleed.
But while a missed period is many people’s first signal that they’re pregnant, it often isn’t the first clue your body gives you.
In the first weeks of pregnancy , the body starts producing a lot of hormones that can affect you physically and mentally. In addition to amping up its regular production of progesterone and estrogen, your body starts producing new hormones, including human placental lactogen and human chorionic gonadotropin .
While your body is in hormonal overdrive during early pregnancy, you may feel some side effects. But if hormones are to blame, how do you tell if it’s PMS, ovulation symptoms or something else completely? Below, we outline some signals you might notice from your body during early pregnancy, before you even take a pregnancy test.
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What Should I Do If I Think I’m Pregnant
If you think you may be pregnant, you can check using a home pregnancy test. Home pregnancy tests are easy to use and you can get them at most supermarkets and pharmacies.
If your home pregnancy test is positive, you should see your doctor to confirm your pregnancy with a blood test, and get information and advice about what comes next.
If your home pregnancy test is negative, but you still think you may be pregnant, you can see your doctor for a blood test to check whether you are pregnant.
To find a GP clinic near you that is open now, use the Service Finder tool.
While you are waiting to confirm whether you are pregnant, its a good idea to behave as you would if you were pregnant. This means you should avoid alcohol and cigarette smoke, and ensure you eat a healthy diet, including a folic acid supplement.
Learn more about the most common signs of early pregnancy.
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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.
How Long After Conception Will My Pregnancy Test Be Positive
It can take between 11 and 14 days after conception to get a positive pregnancy test. At-home pregnancy tests check for human chorionic gonadotropin , a hormone released by the placenta. Your pee must have enough hCG to get a positive pregnancy test. However, your healthcare provider can check for hCG in your blood sooner around 10 days after conception.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Conception is when sperm fertilizes an egg. Its one of the many critical steps in getting pregnant. Conceiving a child is a complex process dependent on lots of factors. Being unable to conceive is a common problem, and there are lots of resources available to help you. Contact your healthcare provider if youre struggling with conceiving. They can explain the process and identify any issues preventing conception and pregnancy.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 09/06/2022.
References
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Smell Sensitivity And Food Aversions During Early Pregnancy
Smell sensitivity is a symptom of early pregnancy thats mostly self-reported. Theres little scientific evidence about smell sensitivity during the first trimester. However, it might be important, since smell sensitivity may trigger nausea and vomiting. It may also cause strong distaste for certain foods.
You may experience either a heightened or lessened sense of smell during pregnancy, according to 2017 research. This is especially common during the first and third trimesters. Heightened smell is more common than lessened smell. Some smells that never bothered you before may become less pleasing or even trigger nausea.
The good news is that your sense of smell usually returns to normal after delivery, or within 6 to 12 weeks postpartum.
Weight Gain During Early Pregnancy
Weight gain becomes more common toward the end of your first trimester. You may find yourself gaining about 1 to 4 pounds in the first few months.
Calorie recommendations for early pregnancy wont change much from your usual diet, but they will increase as pregnancy progresses.
In the later stages, pregnancy weight often shows up in the:
Hormones can cause the valve between your stomach and esophagus to relax. This allows stomach acid to leak, causing heartburn.
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Varicose Veins And Leg Oedema
Varicose veins of the legs are very common in pregnancy due to a combination of factors, including increased volume of circulating blood during pregnancy, and pressure of the pregnant uterus on the larger veins. This increased pressure on the veins can also result in swelling of the legs that can cause pain, feelings of heaviness, cramps and other unusual sensations.
If you have varicose veins, it is recommended that you:
- Wear support stockings.
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Ways To Tell If Youre Pregnant Before Missing Your Period
Is your body temperature unusually high? Have your boobs been feeling sore?If youve been trying to conceive, these may be early signs of pregnancy, even before your first missed period. Although a pregnancy test and an appointment with your doctor is the best way to confirm that youre pregnant, these signs of pregnancy before a missed period could be a good indication. Turns out, based on science, there are several ways to know that your gut feeling is right when its telling you its finally happened.
As a certified health coach, I work with clients on figuring out their bodies and staying in touch with their physical states, emotions, digestion, and other sensations that all dictate how you feel during the day. If your body feels different â especially when it comes to your reproductive system â you could definitely be on to something. Its important to stay in-tune with what your body is trying to tell you, especially if you have been looking to conceive lately. And if something is already telling you that youre pregnant, it may be time to follow your intuition and listen. Here are seven ways experts say you can sometimes figure out as signs of pregnancy before a missed period, that could indicate you may really be pregnant.
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When To Use Home Pregnancy Tests
Of course, the most accurate way to know that you are pregnant is to take a home pregnancy test. This test uses urine to measure hCG and is generally accurate as early as two days before your expected period, says Hugh Taylor, MD, chair of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine and its medical practice, Yale Medicine.
Of course, women who have irregular periods can find it harder to know when to test. If you get a negative test, repeat it the following morning the first time you use the bathroom, when the hCG is most concentrated, Dr. Taylor says. If its still negative and you havent yet gotten your period, test again a few days later.
While waiting for pregnancy test results, many women look to their symptoms to help determine if they have conceived. Its important to note that symptoms are different for every woman. Some experience many signs, others just one or twoor even none. And many of the symptoms attributed to early pregnancy can also be caused by other situations and conditions.
Still, symptoms are the way many women know they are pregnant. Here are 10 of the most common early pregnancy signs you should look for:
Early Changes To Breasts: Tingling Aching Growing
Breast changes can occur between weeks 4 and 6. Youre likely to develop tender and swollen breasts due to hormone changes. This will likely go away after a few weeks when your body has adjusted to the hormones.
Nipple and breast changes can also occur around week 11. Hormones continue to cause your breasts to grow. The areola the area around the nipple may change to a darker color and grow larger.
If youve had bouts with acne before your pregnancy, you may experience breakouts again.
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