Am I Pregnant 12 Pregnancy Signs And Symptoms To Look For
Have you been experiencing bodily changes? Do you think you may be pregnant? This can be a puzzling time as it is. To add to the confusion, many pregnancy signs and symptoms can have causes unlinked to pregnancy.
You should know that the early signs of pregnancy tend to differ from one woman to the next. Of course, your best bet is to take a pregnancy test as soon as possible. But paying attention to early symptoms of pregnancy is also important. With that in mind, consider these 12 early signs of pregnancy.
Tender Tingly Darker More Sticky Out Nipples
Your nipples may also change significantly during the early weeks of pregnancy. Your nipples may begin to ache, tingle or protrude more than usual, says midwife Ellie. The areoles the dark circle around your nipple may also become even darker and larger.
Tender nipples were the first sign for Tamarabell on our forum. I started to get a feeling I was pregnant about 1.5 weeks before I was due on, so pretty early, she says. I had really tender nipples and sort of butterflies in my tummy for a few days. My test came up positive the week before I was due. The doctor didnt believe it and made me do another one. I just sort of knew that something was different!
Whod have thought wed ever get excited about sore/dark nipples! adds lynz_81, whos been pregnant before. Be warned: they will only get bigger and darker now!
When To Take A Pregnancy Test
A pregnancy test measures the amount of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin hormone in the urine. This hormone is only present when a woman is pregnant. As the egg grows into an embryo, the cells that surround it and later become the placenta produce hCG.
Planned Parenthood indicate that it is best to take a pregnancy test as soon after a missed period as possible. A pregnancy test may return a positive result as early as 10 days after a person has had sex without contraception. However, it typically takes about 3 weeks before theres enough hCG in the urine to produce a positive pregnancy test.
There are many affordable and reliable pregnancy tests available over-the-counter or online. A home pregnancy test can tell whether you are pregnant in a few minutes, with most claiming to offer almost 99% accuracy .
To help ensure an accurate result, the best time to take a pregnancy test is 1 week after a missed period. Results of a pregnancy test are either positive or negative.
If a woman takes the pregnancy test earlier than 1 week after a missed period, it may give a negative result, even if the person is actually pregnant.
If a person believes they are pregnant despite a negative test result, they should repeat the test after 1 week.
To avoid a false negative result, check the pregnancy tests expiration date, and carefully follow the written directions.
You May Like: Can Sea Moss Help You Get Pregnant
Frequent Urination And Incontinence During Early Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your body increase the amount of blood it pumps. This causes the kidney to process more fluid than usual, which leads to more fluid in your bladder.
Hormones also play a large role in bladder health. You may find yourself running to the bathroom more frequently or accidentally leaking.
Are Home Pregnancy Tests The Best Way To Check For An Early Pregnancy
Home pregnancy tests are generally very reliable. These tests involve urinating on a small test strip and then waiting for a symbol to appear in the result window. This window will usually show a test image . This symbol appears first and means that the test is working. Always check the packaging and instructions of your test to make sure it is working correctly. Within a few minutes, the test will show either a positive result or a negative result. Some digital tests will display a word or phrase .
Blood tests for a possible pregnancy are done in your healthcare providers office. This version of the test looks for hCG in your blood. You still need to wait for hCG to build up in your body before taking this type of pregnancy test. Your healthcare provider may recommend this option in some cases. Call your provider if you suspect youre pregnant and discuss the best type of test.
Recommended Reading: Can You Smoke Weed When Pregnant
Early Signs Of Pregnancy Before A Missed Period
Although every woman is different, these early symptoms can first appear before you even miss your period.
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.
Smell sensitivity
A heightened sense of smell is an early pregnancy symptom that makes previously mild odors strong and unappealing. Since it’s one of the first symptoms of pregnancy many women report, babies might be in the air if your sniffer’s suddenly more sensitive and easily offended.
Breast changes
Tender, swollen breasts and darkening, bumpy areolas are among the breast changes you might experience early in pregnancy. The hormones estrogen and progesterone deserve most of the credit for this early pregnancy symptom. The breast tenderness is pain with a gain, though, since it’s part of your body’s preparation for the milk-making to come.
Your areolas may get darker and increase in diameter. You’ll also likely start to notice tiny bumps growing in size and number on your areolas. These bumps, called Montgomery’s tubercles, were always there, but now they’re gearing up to produce more oils that lubricate your nipples once baby starts nursing.
Fatigue
Implantation bleeding
Changes in cervical mucus
Frequent urination
Mood swings
Early Pregnancy Signs And Symptoms
A number of symptoms begin in the early stages of pregnancy:
Don’t Miss: What Month Should I Get Pregnant
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.
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 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.
Your doctor will take your blood pressure during your first visit to help establish a baseline for a normal blood pressure reading.
Recommended Reading: When Is Getting Pregnant Most Likely
When Pregnancy Is Unintentional
If you had unprotected sex or a contraceptive failure and fear you could get pregnant, emergency contraception is an option. Commonly called the “morning-after pill,” medications are available over-the-counter that can prevent pregnancy if taken within five days of having unprotected sex.
The sooner you take these medications, the more effective they are in preventing an unintended pregnancy. These medications do not cause an abortion, but rather prevent a pregnancy from being established.
What Causes Early Pregnancy Symptoms
Different symptoms can have different causes, but most of them basically boil down to the fact your body is being flooded with hormones. Hormonal changes can cause you to feel sick, weepy, tired, sore, and more. Also, the increase of blood in your body can contribute symptoms like frequent urination and feeling, ahem, frisky.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Rid Of Acne After Pregnancy
Symptoms To Have Checked Out
With all of the changes going on in your body during pregnancy, you may wonder whats normal and whats not. In many cases, that odd twinge is not a cause for concern. However its also important to understand that your risk for miscarriage is the highest during the first trimester. Here are a few symptoms that do always warrant a call to your doctor:
- Fever over 101.5 F, chills and/or backache
- Severe puffiness in the hands/face
- Vision disturbances
If you experience any of the above symptoms, call your doctors office right away. If you dont get someone on the phone within a few minutes, head to the nearest ER.
How Soon Do Early Pregnancy Symptoms Start
Some women may experience early signs and symptoms within the first weeks of pregnancy in the first trimester, while others may develop symptoms later on in the pregnancy. The first signs and symptoms of early pregnancy can also be similar to symptoms experienced prior to the menstrual period, so a woman may not recognize the symptoms as related to pregnancy.
Recommended Reading: How Long After Removal Of Nexplanon Can You Get Pregnant
Increased Heart Rate During Early Pregnancy
Around weeks 8 to 10, your heart may begin pumping faster and harder. Palpitations and arrhythmias are common in pregnancy. This is normally due to hormones.
Increased blood flow due to the fetus happens later in pregnancy. Ideally, management starts before conception, but if you have an underlying heart problem, your doctor can help supervise low dosages of drugs.
How Can You Really Tell If You Are Pregnant
Unfortunately, these symptoms aren’t unique to pregnancy. Some can indicate that you’re getting sick or that your period is about to start. Likewise, you can be pregnant without experiencing any of these symptoms.
Still, if you miss a period or notice any of the tip-offs on this list, you might want to take a home pregnancy test – especially if you’re not keeping track of your menstrual cycle or if it varies widely from one month to the next. If your home pregnancy test is positive, make an appointment with your health care provider. The sooner your pregnancy is confirmed, the sooner you can begin prenatal care.
If you are worried about possible early symptoms of pregnancy, you can put your mind at ease with a pregnancy test. More than just a pregnancy symptom, this is scientific proof positive of whether you are expecting a baby or not.
Pregnancy tests work best if you wait to take them until at least a day or two after you miss your period. Even if the pregnancy test result is negative you should try it again a few days later to be sure.
To help you on your journey to conceiving, you can take prenatal vitamins and supplements that will keep you in good health and ease some of the less-than-pleasant side effects of pregnancy. Medically reviewed by Dr Sam Hay.
Recommended Reading: How To Boost Chances Of Getting Pregnant
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
When Can I Take A Home Pregnancy Test
Although you may start to feel early pregnancy symptoms before your period, most women have to wait for an average of two weeks from the time they ovulate for a positive home pregnancy test result. Home pregnancy tests measure levels of human chorionic gonadotropin in your urine.
This placenta-produced hormone makes its way into your urine almost immediately after an embryo begins implanting in your uterus, between six to 12 days after fertilization. You can start using most home pregnancy tests as soon as hCG can be detected in your urine and hCG levels usually arent high enough to be picked up by a home pregnancy test until your periods expected.
Cant wait until then? Some HPTs promise 60 to 75 percent accuracy four to five days before you expect your period. Wait until your period and the rate jumps to 90 percent wait another week and the results are 99 percent accurate.
Know that false negatives are much more common than false positives, so if the time for your period comes and goes without your monthly flow, check in with your health care provider. Either way, youll want to get a blood test to confirm your pregnancy status.
No matter what symptoms you’re having, the only way to know for sure that you’re pregnant is to make an appointment with your OB/GYN.
Recommended Reading: What To Do If You Are Trying To Get Pregnant
Change In Cervical Mucus
Some of our forum mums find their cervical mucus changes and they seem to have more mucus than usual.
In very early pregnancy, your mucus may seem to be thinnish and slippery for longer than usual and it will then thicken due to the increase in progesterone.
For forum mum Blue_Gecko, this thickened mucus was one of the clearest early signs she was pregnant. The cervical mucus was creamy and quite heavy, she recalls. It felt quite moist down there.
Cervical mucus is usually a pale white/yellow colour but dont worry if you see a brownish discharge: this is also common. Its usually harmless, but if youre worried, have a chat with your GP.
Raised Body Temperature During Early Pregnancy
A higher basal body temperature may also be a sign of pregnancy. Your bodys core temperature may also increase more easily during exercise or in hot weather. During this time, youll need to make sure to drink more water and exercise cautiously.
Fatigue can develop any time during pregnancy. This symptom is common in early pregnancy. Your progesterone levels will soar, which can make you feel sleepy.
You May Like: How Safe Is An Iud Against Pregnancy
So When Will You Show
When do you start showing in pregnancy? For first-time pregnancies, the baby bump may appear during the second trimester, at 1216 weeks. Those with a narrow body frame and little fat tend to show sooner. For people who are curvy or heavier, the baby bump may be more pronounced late in the second trimester or in the third trimester.
There are several factors that impact when a pregnancy becomes visible to the world. They include weight, age, and the number of babies being carried.
Back Pain And Headaches
Pregnant women have historically reported back pain and headaches, though this varies from person to person. The spine can become misaligned during pregnancy due to the increase in weight, and poor posture and pelvic changes can contribute to low back pain and headaches. Reducing stress, stretching the low back, using a warm compress, and correcting postural changes can prevent pain during your pregnancy.
Recommended Reading: What To Do With Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy
Light Bleeding Or Spotting
Implantation bleeding is the light vaginal bleeding that typically occurs about 10 to 14 days after conception. It shouldnt cause anything more than mild spotting, which you may notice in your underwear. Implantation bleeding can also be accompanied by mild cramps that resemble the cramps of menstruation.
If the bleeding is heavy or if the cramping is severe, contact a health care provider for advice.
Along with light bleeding, some people notice white, milky vaginal discharge. This is completely normal and is the result of increased development in the lining of the vagina. The discharge may continue throughout pregnancy and does not usually have any other symptoms. Seek a health care providers opinion if the discharge smells bad or is accompanied by itching. You may need to be treated for a bacterial or yeast infection.
When Can You Do A Pregnancy Test
A very sensitive pregnancy test can be used to get an accurate result even before you miss your period.
This means you can get a positive result as early as eight days after conception.
You should try to do a pregnancy test about 21 days after you last had unprotected sex, or from the first day of a missed period.
You can do a pregnancy test on your urine at any time of the day, it doesnt have to be in the morning.
Don’t Miss: Can I File For Child Support While Pregnant
