Can you tell you’re pregnant even before the missed period? What are the early signs of pregnancy to watch out for?
Before you even take the pregnancy test, you may experience some early pregnancy symptoms. However, because many of these early signs of pregnancy are similar to symptoms you experience just before your period, it can be difficult to tell the difference.
When Do the First Signs of Pregnancy Appear
Early pregnancy symptoms (such as sensitivity to scent and sore breasts) may develop as soon as a few days after conception, while other early indicators of pregnancy (such as spotting) may appear one week after sperm meets egg. Other symptoms, such as urinary frequency, usually develop a few weeks or so after conception.
However, different people experience early pregnancy symptoms at different periods. For a few weeks, you may not notice or confirm other early pregnancy symptoms. Some women have few (if any) of these symptoms until several weeks into their pregnancy. And, while many women have no early pregnancy symptoms, others experience them all.
If you’ve missed your period and are feeling exhaustion, morning sickness, spotting, and sore breasts, you should take a home pregnancy test and then go to the doctor for a blood test or ultrasound to confirm your pregnancy.
What Are the Signs of Early Pregnancy
Think you might be pregnant? Look out for these early signs from your body!
1. Missed a period
After conception, your body generates chemicals that prevent ovulation and the removal of your uterine lining. This signifies that your cycle has ended and you will not have another period until the baby is born.
Missing your period, on the other hand, isn’t usually a symptom of pregnancy. Stress, heavy exercise, diets, hormone imbalances, and other causes that cause irregular periods can all lead you to miss your period.
It’s the most obvious sign of pregnancy so if you’re unusually late it’s worth taking a pregnancy test.
2. Morning sickness — the classic sign!
Morning sickness affects everyone differently – it can be feelings of nausea or make you physically sick. It can start a few weeks after conception or even after just a few days. If you’re very lucky, you won’t experience it at all.
It’s not a very well-described symptom – it can strike at any time of day or night, not just in the mornings!
3. Peeing more often than usual
If you notice you’re constantly running to the washroom, this could be a good sign that you’re pregnant. All of the hormonal changes your body goes through during the first trimester can make toilet stops more frequent.
This occurs because you have more blood than usual. The blood flow to your body increases throughout pregnancy. Your kidneys filter your blood and eliminate waste. This waste excretes from your body as urine. The more blood in your body, the more frequently you will need to urinate.
4. Feeling tired
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One of the most common early signs of pregnancy is a feeling of complete exhaustion. It happens as a side-effect of a rise in the level of the hormone progesterone in your body.
Fatigue, like other early pregnancy symptoms, tends to improve in the second trimester. However, for many women, it returns in the third trimester.
So if there’s no other real reason for you to be so tired, check the other symptoms here to see if you could be pregnant.
5. A funny taste in your mouth
Some mums say that when they first became pregnant they got a funny taste of metal in their mouth. It may taste like you’re chewing on a mound of pennies. This can happen when you eat particular meals or at any time during the day. Other women develop an unexpected dislike for something everyday and familiar, like fish.
6. Cravings, persistent hunger, and dietary aversions
Food can be difficult to manage throughout early pregnancy. Some women have food cravings or feel always hungry. While some foods and flavours may appear delicious in early pregnancy, others may become uncomfortable. Food aversions can develop during pregnancy, making you loathe foods you previously enjoyed.
7. Changes to your breasts
The skin around your nipples is called your areola. The areola may become noticeably darker and more prominent if you are pregnant.
During pregnancy, your breasts may become painful to the touch. The discomfort may be comparable to how breasts feel before a period, although it is more severe. Your nipples may darken and expand as well.
This discomfort is very temporary and will fade as your body adjusts to the elevated hormone levels. You may also realise that your breasts have expanded and that your bra is too tight.
8. Implantation bleeding or spotting
Your fertilised egg will travel from your fallopian tubes and settle in your uterus to grow. This is known as implantation and happens between weeks 3 and 4. Implantation sometimes causes side effects, including cramps and some light spotting. Check for spots that are red, pink or brown in colour.
Though it may appear to be a bad sign, mild bleeding (spotting) can indicate that your embryo has been implanted in the uterine lining.
Several days after conception, the embryo is implanted. Implantation bleeding appears as little blood droplets or a brownish discharge from the vagina. It can begin around your regular period and linger for a few days to a few weeks. Spotting might lead some women to believe they have had a light period and are not pregnant.
9. Cramping
You may also get pains that feel like your menstruation is about to start. If your cramps are mostly felt on one side of your body or are severe, you should contact your healthcare practitioner right away. This could indicate an ectopic pregnancy or another type of issue.
10. Mood swings
As your hormone levels fluctuate, you may experience mood swings. This is typical and will occur throughout the pregnancy. However, if you ever feel nervous, depressed, or have suicidal thoughts, it is critical that you contact your healthcare professional.
11. Smell sensitivity
An early pregnancy symptom is a heightened sense of smell, which makes previously moderate scents overwhelming and disagreeable. Babies may be in the air if your sniffer becomes suddenly more sensitive and easily irritated, as it is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy that many women describe.
12. High body temperature
Ovulation causes your body’s temperature to spike—that’s why you might feel warmer during your period. Similarly, your basal body temperature rises during pregnancy. Having a temperature a little higher than normal for two weeks is a strong sign that you are pregnant.
When to Take Pregnancy Test
Of course, there’s only one surefire way to know if you’re pregnant. You can get a reliable positive result using a home pregnancy test from the first day of your missed period.
How soon will I know if I’m pregnant?
Each woman’s pregnancy is an individual experience. Some women may become pregnant within the first few days, while others may not notice anything until they miss a period. Some women do not realise they are pregnant until months following conception.
Taking a pregnancy test is the most direct approach to finding out if you’re pregnant.
When you take a pregnancy test, a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin is measured (hCG). This hormone begins to grow in your body from the moment of conception and multiplies rapidly at the start of your pregnancy.
Despite its early appearance, it takes time for your body to produce enough hCG to detect on a pregnancy test. Typically, it takes three to four weeks from the first day of your last period for your body to produce enough hCG for a positive pregnancy test.
When is it safe to take a pregnancy test?
Because the hormone hCG takes time to accumulate in your body, it’s often better to wait until you miss your period before taking a home pregnancy test. Even if you are pregnant, the test may come out negative before this point.
Could I Have Early Pregnancy Signs but Not Be Pregnant
Many early pregnancy symptoms coincide with various medical issues, as well as the normal menstrual cycle. Premenstrual symptoms can resemble pregnancy symptoms. This can make telling the difference difficult.
It is also possible to skip a period without being pregnant. This might happen if you exercise excessively, lose or gain a lot of weight, or are anxious. Breastfeeding might sometimes cause your menstruation to stop for a short period of time.
Taking a pregnancy test is the best way to find out if you’re pregnant. Consider taking a pregnancy test if you have missed a period and believe you may be pregnant.
When Should I Tell My Doctor That I Am Pregnant
If you missed your period, took a pregnancy test, and got a positive result, your next step is to contact your healthcare practitioner to schedule your first appointment.
During your appointment, your provider may inquire if you have begun taking a prenatal vitamin containing at least 400mcg of folic acid.
These vitamins are essential in the early stages of pregnancy because they aid in the formation of your baby’s neural tube. The neural tube develops into the brain and spine. Many healthcare experts advise all women who may get pregnant to take folic acid at all times.
A preconception appointment with your healthcare practitioner is a wonderful place to start if you are planning a pregnancy. A preconception appointment is especially critical if you have a chronic illness or other medical disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, or lupus.
Your provider will discuss any current medical issues, as well as your general health prior to pregnancy, at this session. This visit is designed to put you in the best possible position for a new pregnancy.
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Updates by Matt Doctor
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