Early Pregnancy Symptoms and Signs
Although most women misconstrue a missed menstrual period for being pregnant, there are other symptoms that women can experience during the early stages of pregnancy. Remembering that not every woman goes through the same signs during the beginning of their pregnancy is extremely important. Even the same women can experience different signs during a second or third pregnancy that she didn’t have during her first. The following are some of the most common pregnancy symptoms that occur during the first trimester.
Missed Period
One of the most common signs of pregnancy is the missed menstrual period. Although a woman may be pregnant, she might also experience spotting or some bleeding during the time of their expected period. This will typically last somewhere between six to twelve days after the conception occurred. When conceptions occurs, the so-called “implantation bleeding” is typically not as heavy or as long as a regular menstrual period. The bleeding that takes place during the time of the expected menstrual period occurs when the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall. This is referred to as implantation bleeding.
During pregnancy, any bleeding that occurs is generally lighter than the bleeding that takes place during a normal menstrual cycle. A woman may notice some other symptoms of early pregnancy before she even realizes that she has missed her period. However, a missed period does not automatically signify that a woman pregnant even if she has regular menstrual cycles, as physical and emotional conditions could be the cause of missed or delayed periods.
Breast Swelling, tenderness, and pain
The experiences of breast tenderness, pain, or swelling are very common signs of early pregnancy. These symptoms can be very similar to sensations felt in the breasts during the days before an expected menstrual period. Woman may also describe feelings of heaviness or even fullness of their breasts during this stage of early pregnancy. These signs can be felt as early as one or two weeks after the conceptions has occurred.
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are also very common signs that a woman is in the early stages of pregnancy. This is generally referred to as “morning sickness”, however, the nausea and vomiting can take place during anytime of the day or night. This will generally happened during the second and eight weeks of the pregnancy. Generally, women who are pregnant will begin to have nausea and vomiting around one month after the conception has taken place, but it may occur sooner in some women. Women have also reported that they have increased sensitivity to certain smells that will cause their nausea and vomiting.
Increased levels of estrogen that occur during the early stages of pregnancy are perceived to slow down the emptying of the stomach and could be related to the cause of nausea. Another characteristic of morning sickness could be a yearning, or “craving” as it’s commonly referred to, for certain smells or foods. It is not atypical for a pregnant woman to change her diet and she may even find distaste for previously favored foods. For most women, nausea and vomiting should cease during the second trimester of pregnancy.
Food Cravings
For a lot of women, the craving of certain foods is very apparent during the earliest stages of their pregnancy. These food cravings can be present throughout their entire pregnancy.
Fatigue and Tiredness
Fatigue and tiredness are very common symptoms of early pregnancy for many women. Some women have even reported being fatigued during the weeks prior to their conception. Although the cause of this fatigue has not been fully determined, many people believe that an increased level of the progesterone hormone is related. Since fatigue is a nonspecific symptom, there are a lot of reasons for women to experience it other than pregnancy.
Abdominal Bloating
Some women have experienced an increase in abdominal bloating or enlargement, but there is normally only a small amount of weight gain during the early stages of pregnancy. A weight gain of about one pound per month is typical for most pregnancies. Abdominal cramping is also something that women will experience during the first couple weeks of pregnancy, but this is also apparent during the weeks before a menstrual period.
Frequent Urination
During the early stages of pregnancy, a woman may experience frequent urination. This is very common during the night and she may leak a small amount of urine while laughing, coughing, or sneezing. This elevated need to urinate may occur per hormonal and physical causation. When the embryo has been implanted in the uterus, it can produce a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). This hormone is thought to be the catalyst of frequent urination. Later, women will experience frequent urination because of the increased pressure on the bladder due to the growing uterus.
Elevated Basal Body Temperature
A steadily elevated basal body temperature –the oral temperature that is measured first thing in the morning, before getting out of bed- is another key characteristic of an early pregnancy. This elevation in the basal body temperature can occur very shortly after ovulation and can persist over the next menstrual period.
Changes In Nipple Color
Some women may experience a changing of color around the area outside of the nipple, known as the areola. They may also see a dark line going down from the middle of their central abdomen area to the pubic area. A certain degree of darkening will occur at the nipple after pregnancy in women, but will disappear in the months after the delivery of the child.
Melasma (darkening of the skin)
During the first trimester, some women may experience what is known as the “mask of pregnancy”. This is typical of darkening in their forehead, the bridge of their nose, upper lip, or their cheeks. This darkened skin typically occurs on both sides of the face. Doctors refer to this as melasma. Women who have a family history of this are at a greater chance to experience it during the early stages of their pregnancy.
Mood Swings and Stress
Mood swings and stress are very typical signs of an early pregnancy. Many women will experience this as a symptom. Women have reported feelings of heightened emotions or even some crying spells after their conception. These rapid changes in their hormonal balance are thought to be the cause of their mood swings and stress.
Headaches
Some women have reported to suffer from headaches during the early stages of their pregnancy, occurring in the weeks following their conception. This may also be caused by the changes in their hormonal levels.
Missed Period
One of the most common signs of pregnancy is the missed menstrual period. Although a woman may be pregnant, she might also experience spotting or some bleeding during the time of their expected period. This will typically last somewhere between six to twelve days after the conception occurred. When conceptions occurs, the so-called “implantation bleeding” is typically not as heavy or as long as a regular menstrual period. The bleeding that takes place during the time of the expected menstrual period occurs when the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall. This is referred to as implantation bleeding.
During pregnancy, any bleeding that occurs is generally lighter than the bleeding that takes place during a normal menstrual cycle. A woman may notice some other symptoms of early pregnancy before she even realizes that she has missed her period. However, a missed period does not automatically signify that a woman pregnant even if she has regular menstrual cycles, as physical and emotional conditions could be the cause of missed or delayed periods.
Breast Swelling, tenderness, and pain
The experiences of breast tenderness, pain, or swelling are very common signs of early pregnancy. These symptoms can be very similar to sensations felt in the breasts during the days before an expected menstrual period. Woman may also describe feelings of heaviness or even fullness of their breasts during this stage of early pregnancy. These signs can be felt as early as one or two weeks after the conceptions has occurred.
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are also very common signs that a woman is in the early stages of pregnancy. This is generally referred to as “morning sickness”, however, the nausea and vomiting can take place during anytime of the day or night. This will generally happened during the second and eight weeks of the pregnancy. Generally, women who are pregnant will begin to have nausea and vomiting around one month after the conception has taken place, but it may occur sooner in some women. Women have also reported that they have increased sensitivity to certain smells that will cause their nausea and vomiting.
Increased levels of estrogen that occur during the early stages of pregnancy are perceived to slow down the emptying of the stomach and could be related to the cause of nausea. Another characteristic of morning sickness could be a yearning, or “craving” as it’s commonly referred to, for certain smells or foods. It is not atypical for a pregnant woman to change her diet and she may even find distaste for previously favored foods. For most women, nausea and vomiting should cease during the second trimester of pregnancy.
Food Cravings
For a lot of women, the craving of certain foods is very apparent during the earliest stages of their pregnancy. These food cravings can be present throughout their entire pregnancy.
Fatigue and Tiredness
Fatigue and tiredness are very common symptoms of early pregnancy for many women. Some women have even reported being fatigued during the weeks prior to their conception. Although the cause of this fatigue has not been fully determined, many people believe that an increased level of the progesterone hormone is related. Since fatigue is a nonspecific symptom, there are a lot of reasons for women to experience it other than pregnancy.
Abdominal Bloating
Some women have experienced an increase in abdominal bloating or enlargement, but there is normally only a small amount of weight gain during the early stages of pregnancy. A weight gain of about one pound per month is typical for most pregnancies. Abdominal cramping is also something that women will experience during the first couple weeks of pregnancy, but this is also apparent during the weeks before a menstrual period.
Frequent Urination
During the early stages of pregnancy, a woman may experience frequent urination. This is very common during the night and she may leak a small amount of urine while laughing, coughing, or sneezing. This elevated need to urinate may occur per hormonal and physical causation. When the embryo has been implanted in the uterus, it can produce a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). This hormone is thought to be the catalyst of frequent urination. Later, women will experience frequent urination because of the increased pressure on the bladder due to the growing uterus.
Elevated Basal Body Temperature
A steadily elevated basal body temperature –the oral temperature that is measured first thing in the morning, before getting out of bed- is another key characteristic of an early pregnancy. This elevation in the basal body temperature can occur very shortly after ovulation and can persist over the next menstrual period.
Changes In Nipple Color
Some women may experience a changing of color around the area outside of the nipple, known as the areola. They may also see a dark line going down from the middle of their central abdomen area to the pubic area. A certain degree of darkening will occur at the nipple after pregnancy in women, but will disappear in the months after the delivery of the child.
Melasma (darkening of the skin)
During the first trimester, some women may experience what is known as the “mask of pregnancy”. This is typical of darkening in their forehead, the bridge of their nose, upper lip, or their cheeks. This darkened skin typically occurs on both sides of the face. Doctors refer to this as melasma. Women who have a family history of this are at a greater chance to experience it during the early stages of their pregnancy.
Mood Swings and Stress
Mood swings and stress are very typical signs of an early pregnancy. Many women will experience this as a symptom. Women have reported feelings of heightened emotions or even some crying spells after their conception. These rapid changes in their hormonal balance are thought to be the cause of their mood swings and stress.
Headaches
Some women have reported to suffer from headaches during the early stages of their pregnancy, occurring in the weeks following their conception. This may also be caused by the changes in their hormonal levels.