When Do The First Signs Of Pregnancy Occur

Signs And Symptoms Of Pregnancy

Signs and symptoms of pregnancy are common, benign conditions that result from the changes to the body that occur during pregnancy. Signs and symptoms of pregnancy typically change as pregnancy progresses, although several symptoms may be present throughout. Depending on severity, common symptoms in pregnancy can develop into complications. Pregnancy symptoms may be categorized based on trimester as well as region of the body affected.

How Far Along Are You

Knowing how far along you are in pregnancy is helpful for both you and your healthcare provider. Your provider will use this information to check on your babyâs growth and development, keep an eye on your health, and schedule tests and exams.

The weeks of pregnancy can be grouped into three trimesters:

• First trimester: 1 to 13 weeks

• Second trimester: 14 to 27 weeks

• Third trimester: 28 to 40-42 weeks .

Check out the illustration below to see how far along you are in your pregnancy:

Treatment For Morning Sickness

Your doctor may prescribe supplements or medications to alleviate nausea and to help you retain foods and fluids. Medications your doctor may prescribe include:

• antihistamines: to help with nausea and motion sickness
• phenothiazine: to help calm severe nausea and vomiting
• metoclopramide : to help the stomach move food into the intestines and help with nausea and vomiting
• antacids: to absorb stomach acid and help prevent acid reflux

Do not take these medications on your own without first talking with your doctor.

Some people find that alternative remedies may also help relieve morning sickness. Make sure you only try these after first discussing them with your doctor. These remedies include:

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Changes In Cervical Mucus

Have you become a student of your cervical mucus? Then check it out now: If it becomes creamy and stays that way after ovulation, its a good sign youll have a positive pregnancy test.

As your pregnancy progresses, youll also notice increased vaginal discharge, called leukorrhea. This thin, milky-white discharge is normal and healthy, but speak to your practitioner if it appears lumpy or thick.

What Else Could Be Going On

Keep in mind that many of these symptoms can also be the signs of other conditions, such as your period being ready to start or a hormonal imbalance. They also can result from stress or occur when you change birth control pills, so they dont always mean that youre pregnant. Be sure to see your doctor if you suspect that youre pregnant.

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What To Do When Your Period Is Late

If your period is more than a week late and you got a negative pregnancy test, you may want to check in with your health care provider to be safe.

If your practitioner rules out any other possible concerns, it’s fine to sit back and go with the flow . Every woman skips a period now and then, especially if she’s under stress or has been sick. Relax and do what you can to ease anxiety by eating right, getting enough sleep and exercising.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

Missed Period Is A Sign Of Pregnancy

Of course, missing a period is one of the most common symptoms of early pregnancy or implantation. For women who have regular menstrual cycles, missing a period will usually prompt them to get a pregnancy test.

There can also be other reasons, apart from pregnancy, that cause you to miss a period. Dr. Pagano says that stress, losing or gaining a lot of weight, fatigue, or hormonal problems can also affect your menstrual cycle. However, if your period is late and you have other signs of implantation, then you should get a pregnancy test.5

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Do All Women Get Early Pregnancy Symptoms

Even if youre bloated, nauseous and are experiencing breast changes, you might not necessarily be pregnant. At the same time, you may not have a single noticeable symptom but then end up spying two telltale lines or a plus symbol on your home pregnancy test.

Yup, just as every woman is different, so is every pregnancy, which means you may feel several early symptoms or none at all.

Common Early Signs Of Pregnancy

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Are Your Boobs Feeling More Tender

• A: Ouch! Theyre so sore, though my period is due soon.
• B: No, they feel pretty normal.

If you answered A: Both PMS and an early influx of pregnancy hormones can cause this symptom, so give it a few days. If your period doesn’t show up, its time to pee on a stick.

If you answered B: Lucky you this symptom is no joke for many women. And, again, not all moms-to-be experience breast tenderness or changes so early on.

Increased Oil In Your Skin

Some women experience more oil production from their sebum glands, thanks to hormone fluctuations. Also, more blood volume can increase the secretion of oil. You may be especially prone if you already have oily or combination skin.

This can have some unwanted side effects, such as acne. But along with acne, increased oils can also make your face look like its glowing.

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How Does Early Pregnancy Feel

Can the woman feel the onset of pregnancy? Yes, and No! Some say that they can feel pregnant within days of conception. Others do not feel pregnant even weeks after a positive test. Pregnancy symptoms differ between persons, and the same person may have differences between pregnancies! Set the mind and heart at rest through a home pregnancy test. The test kits are available without a prescription at the medical store.

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. This is also a great time to start looking into educational resources like the myHealthyPregnancy app.

At the first prenatal visit, youll get a physical exam and other tests to make sure everything is looking healthy, and youll learn about the rest of your prenatal appointment schedule. Youll also get to talk through any expectations and questions you have, such as which foods to eat and avoid while pregnant.

Questions or concerns about your symptoms? Our 24/7 nurse line is free for our members and patients.

Positive pregnancy test? Schedule a visit.

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Are There Pregnancy Symptoms At 1 2 Or 3 Weeks Pregnant

Your journey through pregnancy has officially begun, but as mentioned above, youâre not actually pregnant yet. This is a difficult concept to grasp at first, and many people wonder if there are any symptoms during the first 72 hours of pregnancy. Again, because of the way pregnancy is calculated, you wonât feel any symptoms of being pregnant during those first three daysâor possibly three weeks. But after two weeks, an exciting series of events starts to take place inside your body:

• Egg release. One of your ovaries will release an egg around 14 days after the first day of your last period .

• Fertilization. The egg will travel down one of the fallopian tubes, where it may unite with sperm. If they find each other, theyâll join up in a fallopian tube to create a single cell called a zygote in a process called fertilization. This process determines the sex of a baby.

• First DNA. The zygote carries chromosomes from the egg and sperm and sets the first building blocks of your future babyâs genetic makeup.

• Development. The zygote then moves down the fallopian tube and toward the uterus as it starts dividing into a larger group of cells. Cells will continue to divide as your baby develops over the course of your pregnancy.

Feeling Sick During Pregnancy

You may feel sick or be sick. This is commonly known as morning sickness, but it can happen at any time of the day or night.

Morning sickness symptoms usually start when youre around 4-6 weeks pregnant

If you’re being sick all the time and cannot keep anything down, see a GP.

You may have hyperemesis gravidarum, a serious condition in pregnancy that causes severe vomiting and needs treatment.

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While Every Person Is Different Here’s When You Can Tentatively Expect Breast Tenderness Nausea Fatigue Frequent Urination And Other Signs Of Pregnancy

You received a positive pregnancy test, and now you’re waiting for the telltale signs you’re expecting. So when do you start having pregnancy symptoms like nausea, vomiting, bloating, constipation, and fatigue?

As it turns out, every person is different, says Marra Francis, M.D., an OB-GYN in Woodlands, Texas, and an author of the Mommy MD Guides. Some never experience the typical early signs of pregnancy, while others feel immediate changes in their body. And you can’t use previous pregnancies as a guide either symptoms might appear at different points in every gestation, adds Dr. Francis.

To give you a basic guideline, we rounded up nine common early pregnancy symptoms and their typical start time. Remember to take this estimated schedule with a grain of salt, though, and ask your doctor about any concerns.

How Do I Work Out My Due Date

Most babies are born about 38 weeks after conception. Since many women ovulate and conceive about 2 weeks after their last period, this is often about 40 weeks since the beginning of their last period. Thats why people often talk about pregnancy lasting for 40 weeks.

Women with a regular 28-day cycle can calculate an estimated due date for their baby by counting 40 weeks from the first day of their last period. This may not be so simple or accurate in other situations, such as if you have long or irregular cycles, dont remember when you had your last period, or if you became pregnant while taking contraception that affected your cycle.

Use the due date calculator to calculate your estimated due date.

If youre not sure when you conceived, your doctor or midwife may refer you for a dating scan that uses ultrasound to estimate your due date based on your babys size.

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Benefits Of Exercising While Pregnant

If you think of exercise solely as a way to fit into a smaller pair of pants, you may need to shift your perspective now that youre pregnant.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , exercising during pregnancy can lead to a lower incidence of:

• improve postpartum recovery

Brooke Cates, prenatal and postpartum fitness expert and owner of Studio Bloom, says some exercises can be implemented in each trimester to support the body through its physical changes while preparing for an easier return to exercise postpartum.

She emphasizes a shift of focus on core and pelvic floor awareness, which can help you build a deeper core-based connection before the real changes begin to take place.

Pregnancy Symptoms In Weeks 1 To 3

It may be too early to confirm through a pregnancy test, and there will be no visible physical changes in your body yet, but you may already be experiencing some early signs that you are indeed pregnant.

• Once your period is over, you may notice your cervical mucus changes in consistency and colourâit goes from thick, sticky and creamy to thin, gooey and increases in volume as the right time for conception approaches.
• Towards the end of week 3, as your embryo implants in your uterine lining, you may notice a tiny bit of spotting, known as âimplantation bleeding.â
• You may notice your breasts are tender and swollen, slightly more exaggerated than they felt before your period.
• Some women feel mild abdominal cramps that can be mistaken for the post-menstrual syndrome , but its an early sign of pregnancy.
• You may feel more tired than usual.
• You have a weird, metallic taste in your mouth
• Your sense of smell may be heightenedâdonât be surprised if your favourite perfume suddenly doesnât smell so good!
• You may notice that it stays high if youâve been charting your basal body temperature .
• Increased sex drive is also an early sign of pregnancy.
• Some very sensitive home pregnancy tests may appear positive if you test during this time.

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Is There Any Difference Between A Boys And A Girls Pregnancy Symptoms

Studies have not provided any conclusive evidence on this matter in one way or another. However, some experts say that symptoms can vary based on the sex of the baby. Women who are carrying girls may be more likely to experience nausea, for example, while those carrying boys are more likely to develop dietary changes like food aversions and a much bigger appetite.

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Other Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy

Pregnancy brings changes in your hormonal balance. And that can cause other symptoms that include:

• Frequent urination. For many women, this starts around the sixth or eighth week after conception. Although this could be caused by a urinary tract infection, diabetes, or using diuretics, if youre pregnant, its most likely due to hormonal levels.
• Constipation. During pregnancy, higher levels of the hormone progesterone can make you constipated. Progesterone causes food to pass more slowly through your intestines. To ease the problem, drink plenty of water, exercise, and eat plenty of high-fiber foods.
• Mood swings. These are common, especially during the first trimester. These are also related to changes in hormones.
• Headaches and back pain. Many pregnant women report frequent mild headaches, and others experience back pain.
• Dizziness and fainting. These may be related to dilating blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and lower blood sugar.

A pregnant woman could have all of these symptoms, or maybe have only one or two. If any of these symptoms become bothersome, talk with your doctor about them so you can make a plan to offset them.

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What Is Happening In The Womb At 5 Dpo

At 5 DPO, if the sperm has reached and fertilized the egg, the cells within the newly formed zygote begin multiplying to create a lump of cells called a blastocyst.

These cells continue to multiply as the blastocyst makes its way down the fallopian tubes and into the uterus.

When the blastocyst reaches the uterine wall, it attaches itself to get access to nutrients through the blood. At 5 DPO, the blastocyst may either be traveling to the uterine wall or already connected to it.

If it is attached, the blastocyst has started its journey toward becoming a fetus, and pregnancy is underway.

The specific symptoms of pregnancy vary hugely from woman to woman. There is no normal, as each pregnancy is unique.

However, some of the earliest symptoms that women may notice tend to include the following:

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

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.

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