Whats Behind These Pregnancy Symptoms
Peeing on a chemically prepared stick from the drugstore is the fastest and most convenient way to detect the presence of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin , or the pregnancy hormone in your urine. When you have a pregnancy blood test at the doctors office a few weeks later, theyre actually testing for the same hormones presence in your blood.
The new embryo begins to produce hCG immediately after it attaches to the uterine wall in the very first few days of pregnancy, even before youve had a missed period. It is the first hormone produced by the placenta, and its levels double every two days in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. After passing through your body, hCG is eliminated through the urine.
Probable Signs Of Pregnancy
Probable means likely to be the reasonprobablyvery likely.
These are pregnancy signs that the nurse or doctor can observe and document. However, these signs do NOT mean 100% that a baby is growing in the uterus. It can be due to other causes.
Probable
Positive pregnancy test
Returning of the fetus against the fingers when the uterus is pushed during palpation. This is termed as external ballottement.
Outline of fetus can be palpated
Braxton Hicks Contractions: false labor contractions that are not regular and wont result in cervical dilation
A softening of the cervix Goodells Sign .happens around the 6-8th week of gestation
Bluish color to the vulva, cervix, and vagina due to increased blood flow.happens around 4 weeks gestation Chadwicks Sign
Lower uterine segment becomes soft Hegars Signhappens around 6-12 week of gestation
Enlarged uterus
How Can I Tell If Im Pregnant After 1 Week
Ready for a curveball? At one week pregnant, you wont experience any pregnancy symptoms because youre not actually pregnant. Say what?! The conventional method of dating pregnancy does not use conception as the starting point for pregnancy. Instead, healthcare providers use the date of your last menstrual period to date pregnancy. For most women with regular cycles, this means they arent actually pregnant during the first two weeks of pregnancy.
However, one week after conception , some women may begin to experience very early pregnancy symptoms, like fatigue, nausea, a heightened sense of smell, or light spotting. But dont fret if you dont get a positive pregnancy test at this point: your body likely hasnt started producing enough hCG to get that BFP.
Don’t Miss: Can You Get Pregnant While Taking Birth Control
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.
What Happens During Week 1
These are the first 2 weeks of your menstrual cycle. You have your period. About 2 weeks later, the egg thats most mature is released from your ovary this is called ovulation. Ovulation may happen earlier or later, depending on the length of your menstrual cycle. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days.
After its released, your egg travels down your fallopian tube toward your uterus. If the egg meets up with a sperm, they combine. This is called fertilization. Fertilization is most likely to occur when you have unprotected vaginal sex during the 6 days leading up to and including the day of ovulation.
Read Also: Why Take Folic Acid During Pregnancy
Weird Early Signs Of Pregnancy
Early signs of pregnancy are one of those things that make you wonder if you are imagining it.
Store bought pregnancy tests cant normally show a concrete result until just a day or so before your period is due but for many women, the signs are present way before then.
Some early signs appear so quickly that you might feel different even before a test would register the change in your hormone levels.
Being able to recognize some of the clues that your body is giving you, can help you decide if you need to look further into the possibility that you could be pregnant.
Here are some signs to watch for that may indicate that you are indeed pregnant plus at the bottom of this page there is a free unusual signs of early pregnancy checklist that you can download and print.
If you are indeed pregnant, make sure to bookmark these 51 Pregnancy Movies To Watch When Youre Expecting.
This post contains affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure for more information.
Early Pregnancy Signs And Symptoms
A number of symptoms begin in the early stages of pregnancy:
Recommended Reading: How Soon Can One Feel Pregnancy Symptoms
Baby Bumps On Your Face
You may look forward to that perfect pregnancy complexion only to end up with a face full of angry red bumps instead. Pregnancy acne is a not-so-fun symptom common in the first and second trimesters.
What to know:
- Its caused by the production of androgen, a hormone that triggers your glands to make extra sebum, an oily substance that can clog your pores and lead to pimples.
- More than half of all pregnant women will develop some acne in the first trimester.
- Women who experience acne flare-ups during menstruation are more likely to get pregnancy acne.
- If you dont experience pregnancy acne in the first trimester, you probably wont have abnormal breakouts in the second or third trimester, either.
- Some prescription acne treatments, like Accutane, can be harmful to your baby you should avoid them during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about what treatments are safe in pregnancy.
Tips:
- Avoid white bread, pasta, rice, and sugar. A wholesome anti-acne diet is the foundation for clear skin.
- Invite some friends over and have a face mask party! Many acne home remedies are easy to whip up using items you probably already have in your kitchen.
How Early Do Pregnancy Symptoms Start
One of the earliest signs of pregnancy is implantation cramping and/or implantation bleeding. This occurs when the blastocyst implants in the uterus, often 6-11 days after conception. Some women may also experience mood swings and/or headaches, but its important to note that some women dont experience any of these things when theyre pregnant.
You May Like: How Will You Know If You Are 1 Month Pregnant
Morning Sickness Nausea And Vomiting During Early Pregnancy
Nausea and morning sickness usually develop around weeks 4 to 6 and peak around week 9.
Although its called morning sickness, it can occur anytime during the day or night. Its unclear exactly what causes nausea and morning sickness, but hormones may play a role.
During the first trimester of pregnancy, many women experience mild to severe morning sickness. It may become more intense toward the end of the first trimester, but often becomes less severe as you enter the second trimester.
Feeling Nauseous And Sick
Morning sickness affects everyone differently. It can be feelings of nausea or make you physically sick, and it can start a few weeks after conception or even after just a few days. If youre lucky, you may not experience morning sickness at all.
And dont be fooled by the name morning sickness can strike at any time of day or night, not just in the mornings!
Also Check: How Do I Know If I Am Pregnant
Sickness Nausea And Vomiting
If youre sitting in meetings fighting the urge to vomit, youre definitely not alone. About 50% to 80% of pregnant women will throw up or feel nauseous . That can start happening any time from two to eight weeks after you conceive your baby.
The most likely cause is fluctuating levels of pregnancy hormones .
Oh, and the term morning sickness is a bit misleading too. Nausea or vomiting can happen at any time during the day .
A small number of women might find themselves with a severe form of nausea and vomiting called hyperemis gravadarum . HG can lead to pregnancy complications like dehydration, weight loss and electrolyte imbalance so you might need to be admitted to hospital .
How To Tell If You’re Pregnant Right Away
The only way to tell if youre pregnant right away is by taking a home pregnancy test according to its instructions. Waiting can be difficult, but you can usually take a test three to four days before a missed period though youre more likely to get a false negative if you test too soon. If its negative, wait a couple more days and test again if Aunt Flo doesnt come to visit.
Be sure to test first thing in the morning, when your urine and the hormone that the test is measuring are most concentrated. If you see a line indicating a pregnancy, youre almost certainly pregnant . Pregnancy tests with false positives are rare.
Don’t Miss: How To Dress When Pregnant
Had A Positive Pregnancy Test
If youve taken a pregnancy test thats shown a positive result, you should book an appointment to see your GP, wholl be able to give you advice about how to look after yourself during early pregnancy and fill you in on what happens next.
Discovering youre pregnant can be a really exciting time. It can also be a very daunting one. However youre feeling about it, telling someone you trust who can come with you to the doctors can help make things feel more manageable.
Morning Sickness Or Nausea
That telltale, queasy feeling known as morning sickness can hit you at any time of day and it typically begins when you’re about 6 weeks pregnant, though it can vary and strike even earlier. For most women, nausea starts by week 9.
Hormones, mainly increased levels of progesterone , can cause the stomach to empty more slowly, resulting in this early pregnancy symptom resembling seasickness.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Pregnant With Thyroid Problems
How Early Can I Take A Pregnancy Test
You can get a reliable positive result using a home pregnancy test from the first day of your missed period. However, some tests can be used as early as 4 or 5 days before your period is due. Check the packaging of your test to find out when it can be used.
If you have regular periods, you’ll probably know when your next period is due. If you’re not sure, it’s best to wait 3 weeks after you think you may have conceived before doing a test.
Changes In The Breasts
Breast changes are among the most common early signs of pregnancy. Because our hormones change rapidly after conception, this will cause breasts to feel full and become sore, swollen, tingly, and tender not long afterward. In addition to this symptom of pregnancy before period, your areolas, which is the area around the nipple, may get darker. Little bumps may appear on the areolas as well, signifying the glands that will lubricate your nipples for nursing. Many factors play into breast changes, but know that if these changes are caused by early pregnancy, it will take some time to adjust to the changes in your hormone levels.
Read Also: Can I Get Wic While Pregnant
Are Itchy Boobs Or Nipples A Sign Of Pregnancy
The short answer is no. By themselves, itchiness on the breasts is not a documented sign of pregnancy.
That said, some women report breast itchiness in addition to other symptoms.
There are many changes that happen in the breasts during pregnancy, and some of them happen quite quickly after conception. This includes the enlargement of the breasts, which may lead to the sensation of itchiness in some cases.
What are the early signs and symptoms of pregnancy?
Sensitive Breasts And Darker Areolas
During these first two weeks, it’s normal for breasts to get more sensitive due to the increased production of hormones that stimulate breast glands, preparing them for breastfeed. There is also an increase in breast volume, because the mammary glands start to develop to support the needs of the baby after birth.
Women may also notice alteration in the areolas, which tend to get darker due to the increase in blood flow to the area.
Recommended Reading: When Do You Start Getting Morning Sickness During Pregnancy
Feeling Like You Look Different
You know sometimes you go to the store and it feels like everyone is staring at you? If you start feeling like this and you may be pregnant, it might be time to take a test. You might not be able to pinpoint exactly why you feel different but if you get that weird sensation that you are suddenly the centre of attention, it may be for a very good reason.
Going To The Toilet A Lot
When youre pregnant, the urge to wee will come over you often, sometimes even leaking out before you get there.
This happens as your body pumps more blood than normal when youre pregnant. That means the kidney processes more fluid than usual, leading to more fluid in your bladder .
In the later stages of pregnancy, youll run to the loo even more often because of the increased pressure of your babys head .
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Heartburn Being Pregnant
Tips To Prepare For A Second Pregnancy
Given that youre already a parent, you probably have less time to think about your needs. Here are some general tips for self-care during your second pregnancy.
- Make time to rest. If a midday nap sounds like mission impossible, try getting to bed an hour earlier.
- Eat well drink plenty.
- Keep up on your prenatal visits. Taking care of yourself means youll be able to take better care of your children.
- Document your pregnancy. This is a trip that you want pictures of, and life is only going to get busier.
- Remember to have date nights with your partner. Youll both benefit from reminding yourselves of your shared goals.
- Carve out one-on-one time with your firstborn so they can get the attention and affection they need and deserve.
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.
- Avoid standing for long periods.
- Exercise gently and regularly .
- Lie down to rest with feet elevated, when you can.
- Try massaging your legs.
Recommended Reading: What Doctor Do You See For Pregnancy
What Is The Best Way To Confirm Pregnancy
The best way to confirm pregnancy is to do a blood test measuring the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone.
- Women can also take a home pregnancy test. Home pregnancy tests are fairly reliable but may occasionally be a false-positive. This can occur for a number of reasons, including having a chemical or ectopic pregnancy or even taking certain medications.
- Following a positive home pregnancy test with a doctors visit for a urine or blood test to confirm the pregnancy is the best way to confirm a pregnancy.
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.
You May Like: What Is Safe To Take For Sinus While Pregnant
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.
