Introduction
Pregnancy is a wonderful journey but the few days before taking a pregnancy test can be anxious especially if you are trying to conceive for too long. You are always looking for signs and symptoms to know if you are actually pregnant.
Finding out the very early signs of pregnancy can help expectant mothers be prepared for the upcoming changes and be ready to tackle them. Early pregnancy symptoms before a missed period may be confusing as both PMS and early pregnancy symptoms are alike including bloating, mood swings and abdomen cramps.
The most common question asked by those who are trying to conceive is, when do pregnancy symptoms start? Pregnant mothers usually start to have noticeable early pregnancy signs and symptoms around 4 weeks of conception.
But how to know if you are pregnant? Continue reading to know more about late period symptoms, early pregnancy symptoms, and when to take a pregnancy test.
What are the Most Common Early Pregnancy Symptoms?
Although the early signs of pregnancy might vary from person to person, there are a few common early pregnancy symptoms that most pregnant mothers have including:
Missed or late period: A missed or late period is a common sign of pregnancy. It is recommended to take a pregnancy test after 7 to 10 days of missed period to confirm pregnancy.
Spotting: Light bleeding or spotting is a common pregnancy symptom that some expectant mothers misinterpret as periods. Spotting can be caused due to various factors including implantation and hormonal changes.
Morning sickness and nausea: Morning sickness and nausea are the other two common conception symptoms that most pregnant women experience. Although it is called morning sickness, it can happen at any time and not just in the morning.
Breast tenderness and enlargement: Swollen, tender and enlarged breasts with dark nipples is yet another common early pregnancy sign.
Unusual fatigue and tiredness: Fatigue and unusual tiredness is another common symptom pregnant mothers experience.
Frequent urination, especially at night: Even before a week of missed period, most pregnant mothers might experience frequent urination, especially at night.
Food cravings or aversions: Food cravings and food aversions tend to develop even before a missed period. Craving for a specific food and disliking foods that you used to enjoy otherwise is a common pregnancy sign.
White discharge: White discharge is common during the menstrual cycle, and an excess amount of white discharge with no foul smell that occurs a few days after ovulation could be a sign of early pregnancy.
Week-by-Week Breakdown of Early Pregnancy Symptoms
One question that almost all expectant parents have is: what are the symptoms of early pregnancy. The direct answer to this question is, Not all early pregnancy symptoms develop around the same time frame. Here’s a week-by-week breakthrough of how a pregnant mother’s body changes each week during early pregnancy:
1 Week Pregnancy Symptoms Before Missed Period
Pregnancy Symptoms (Week 1-2)
Week 1 of pregnancy is actually your menstrual days that is from day 1 to day 14 of your menstrual cycle. Although you might not be actually pregnant in the first two weeks of pregnancy, doctors experts calculate pregnancy from the first day of last periods to estimate the gestational age of the fetus.
Ovulation usually happens around the 14 th day of the menstrual cycle. If you have unprotected intercourse at the time of ovulation, the chances for the egg to be fertilized by the sperm leading to pregnancy are higher.
No visible symptoms yet: At 1 to 2 weeks of pregnancy, there won’t be any noticeable symptoms as you might not be pregnant yet.
Fertilization occurs: The released egg during ovulation is viable for up to 24 hours after ovulation and sperm can live up to 5 days in a female reproductive tract. If you have unprotected intercourse at the time of ovulation, the chances of conception is higher.
Pregnancy Symptoms (Weeks 3-4)
Once the egg is released from the ovary, it travels to the fallopian tube and it waits for the sperm to fertilise it. After fertilisation, the egg travels back to the uterus and attaches itself to the wall of the uterus after around 6 days of fertilization leading to pregnancy.
The usual 4 weeks pregnant symptoms are also similar to the first trimester pregnancy symptoms for most expectant mothers. For some, the symptoms may start to fade after the first trimester and for some, the symptoms may persist throughout the course of pregnancy.
Hormonal changes begin: Hormonal changes begin right after conception for most pregnant mothers. The hormones estrogen and progesterone start to rise along with the HCG hormone(Human chorionic gonadotropin).
Breast changes start: Breast changes such as soft, tender breasts with sensitive and dark nipples can occur from as early as 1 to 2 weeks of implantation.
Mild cramping possible: During implantation, there are chances for the mother to have abdominal cramps varying from period-like cramps to mild abdominal discomfort.
Early fatigue sets in: Fatigue or unusual tiredness usually starts from around the 1st week of conception, usually caused due to hormonal changes, especially progesterone levels.
Weeks 5-6
At around 5 to 6 weeks of pregnancy, most expectant mothers would have had a missed period along with few oher early pregnancy symptoms including:
Morning sickness begins: Morning sickness typically starts at 6 weeks of pregnancy, and for some pregnant mothers, it can last throughout the first trimester, and for some, it can even persist throughout pregnancy.
Frequent urination starts: Frequent urination is yet another common symptom of pregnancy that usually starts in the first few weeks of pregnancy due to hormonal changes.
Food aversions develop: Aversion towards certain foods is another pregnancy symptom that arises at around 5 to 6 weeks of pregnancy. This symptom is also majorly caused by hormonal changes in the body.
Emotional sensitivity increases: Emotional sensitivity, mood swings and anxiety are also common during pregnancy and it can also be due to hormonal changes.This symptom usually arises from as early as 6 weeks of pregnancy.
When do Pregnancy Symptoms Start?
Usually, pregnancy symptoms start after at least 4 weeks of gestation, that is, 2 weeks of having unprotected intercourse.
While some women might notice valuation cramps and spotting during implantation, others do not have visible early symptoms of pregnancy till they miss a period.
HCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin) also called the pregnancy hormone is the main cause for pregnancy symptoms including nausea, and mood swings. The timeframe that this hormone surges in the body varies from person to person and this is the reason Why some women don’t feel symptoms in the first week.
How to Differentiate PMS Symptoms from Pregnancy Symptoms?
It is quite difficult for PMS and early pregnancy symptoms as most symptoms are alike. But if you keenly notice and keep track of all your symptoms, you can distinguish period and pregnancy symptoms.
Top 5 Uncommon or Weird Early Pregnancy Symptoms
Apart from the usual and common pregnancy symptoms that lot of us are aware of, there are a few uncommon and weird 1st month pregnancy symptoms pregnancy symptoms that one needs to be aware of including:
Metallic taste in mouth: A weird metallic taste in mouth that is usually difficult to explain is yet another common pregnancy sign that can occur even before a missed period.
Heightened sense of smell: A sudden heightened sense of smell to foods and other fragrances is a weird yet common pregnancy sign.
Nasal congestion: Nasal congestion or pregnancy rhinitis is a common condition that is typically caused due to hormonal changes in the body. According to NCBI, It is said that around 30% of pregnant mothers experience this condition.
Vivid dreams: A pregnant mother experiences hormonal changes and she also goes through a roller coaster of emotions leading to vivid dreams which is yet another weird symptom of early pregnancy.
When to Take a Pregnancy Test?
Couples who are actively trying to conceive often have questions like: how to know I am pregnant? And they alway look for early signs of pregnancy before missed period.
But apart from all the signs and symptoms of early pregnancy, the best possible way to know if you are pregnant is by taking a pregnancy test. To get accurate results from a pregnancy test, it is important to know when to test pregnancy after a missed period.
Healthcare experts recommend taking a pregnancy at least after 7 to 10 days of your missed period to get accurate results.
Apart from that, there are a few other things one must keep in mind before taking a at-home pregnancy test including:
There are a few things to keep in mind in order to get accurate pregnancy test results with home pregnancy kits.
- Take the test at least after a week to 10 days of your missed periods. This is because pregnancy kits work by detecting HCG hormone in the blood which surges during pregnancy. In some cases, the body might take a few days to show the HCG surge in urine. Hence it is important to wait for at least a week after your missed period.
- Take the test with the first urine of the day. This is because, as the day progresses, we tend to drink more water and fluids leading to diluted HCG content. This can also result in inaccurate results. Hence it is suggested to take the test with the first urine of the day.
- Check for expiry date of the kit and ensure to read the label. Each and every pregnancy kit is different, and it is important to read the directions before use.
Emotional and Psychological Changes in Early Pregnancy
Pregnant mothers especially during the first trimester of pregnancy go through a lot of emotional and psychological changes including mood swings, anxiety, stress, excitement and whatnot.
Since the hormonal levels in her body constantly change, it is common to experience these changes during pregnancy.
Best Foods to Eat During the First Week of Pregnancy
When talking about pregnancy, how can we not talk about the foods to include during pregnancy and the foods to avoid during pregnancy? There are a few best food to include during pregnancy such as:
- Whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa
- Healthy fats such as ghee, butter, egg yolks
- Lean protein such as eggs, chicken, paneer, tofu
- Folate rich foods such as leafy greens, eggs, citrus fruits
- Fresh fruits and vegetables to get the required vitamins and minerals
Apart from this, it is also important to keep yourself hydrated and drink a minimum of 2 to 3 litres of water a day. Keep a water bottle near you and sip small quantities of water throughout the day instead of chugging down a whole bottle of water at once.
Top 11 Foods to Avoid during Pregnancy
There are a few foods to avoid during pregnancy to ensure the health of the mother and the fetus including:
- Alcohol/smoking
- Foods high in mercury such as shark fish, and king mackerel fish.
- Raw or uncooked meat and eggs
- Soft cheese
- Unripe papaya
- Too much of caffeine
- Artificial sweeteners
- Junk and processed foods
- Raw sprouts
- Unpasteurised milk and milk products
- Excessive vitamin A rich foods such as liver and liver related meat
FAQs About Very Early Signs of Pregnancy
1. Is Stomach Pain a Sign of Pregnancy?
Yes, mild to severe abdomen cramps is a common sign of early pregnancy and it is usually nothing to worry about.
2. How to Know You Are Pregnant Without a Test?
Although there are a few common pregnancy symptoms including nausea, mood swings, food cravings, and lower back pain that signifies pregnancy, it is important to take a pregnancy test to confirm pregnancy.
Conclusion
Pregnancy symptoms occur at different time frames and it can vary from person to person. But learning about the signs and symptoms and being prepared for them, makes it better especially if you are a first-time mom.
If you are looking for a takeaway from this blog, it should be this: Eat healthy foods and keep yourself hydrated. Limit caffeine intake and involve in some kind of physical activity for at least a few minutes.
It is extremely important to consult with your gynecologist as soon as you find out you are pregnant to ensure the health of the fetus.
For consultations with the best gynecologist in Chennai, Dr. Deepthi Jammi, contact Jammi Scans at 7338771733. Jammi Scans is one of the best gynecology clinics and scanning centers located in T Nagar, Chennai.
Chennai Women’s Clinic is now Jammi Scans
FAQ
1. 1 month pregnancy symptoms
Symptoms of pregnancy in first month includes:
- A missed period
- Morning sickness
- Mood swings
- Food aversions
- Tender breasts
- Mild to severe abdomen cramps
2. What are the 1 week pregnancy symptoms before missed period?
Although early pregnancy symptoms might not begin at the same time for everyone, there are a few common early pregnancy symptoms before missed period including:
- Nausea
- Mood swings
- Abdomen cramps
- Mild spotting
- Tender breasts
3. When to test pregnancy after missed period?
The ideal time to take a pregnancy test is, at least after 7 to 10 days of missed period to get accurate results.
4. What are the pregnancy symptoms after ovulation?
After ovulation, some women might experience abdominal cramps when fertilization occurs which happens around 12 to 24 hours of ovulation and some could even experience spotting around the time of implantation 6 to 12 days of ovulation.
5. Is stomach pain a sign of pregnancy?
Although stomach pain or abdominal cramps can be a symptom of both pregnancy and periods, if you experience cramps during the fertilization window that is 12 to 24 hours after ovulation, or during the implantation window that is 6 to 12 days of ovulation, it could be a sign of early pregnancy.
But to confirm pregnancy, it is recommended to take a pregnancy test at least after a week of your missed period for accurate results.
