Early Symptoms of Pregnancy

Although every woman is unique, there are some universal early signs of pregnancy that may be experienced to one degree or another. Some women may have symptoms right away, within a week of conception. For others, symptoms may show up weeks later or not at all. If you are sexually active and experience one or more of the following, get a pregnancy test right away. You can get them cheap at the dollar store or search online for a free testing center. Don't ignore these symptoms because they may be related to something other than pregnancy.

Read: Pregnancy Week by Week: Week One

The most common pregnancy symptom is a missed period, but spotting in between periods can also be a sign of pregnancy. Some women have a small amount of bleeding when the embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus. This is called implantation bleeding. It may last only a day or two. You may have cramping as well, but if you are in pain, it may be a sign of ectopic pregnancy and you need to let your doctor know right away. Even if you have a period, you may be pregnant. If blood flow is shorter or lighter than usual, take a pregnancy test.

Some women experience nausea, or morning sickness, early in a pregnancy. This is often experienced on an empty stomach, such as in the morning. On the other hand, some women have unusual food cravings during pregnancy. Certain smells may cause nausea as well. Foods, grooming products, or odors in the environment can affect a pregnant woman more than it would before she conceived. Smells you once found pleasant may disgust you.

Breasts are often swollen and tender during pregnancy and this can start within a week or two. The areolas, the darker skin around the nipples may get even darker. The feeling may be similar to how your breasts feel just before you start your period. If they are very uncomfortable, don't worry this usually subsides as the pregnancy continues.

With your body working overtime to make a baby, you may feel tired early on. Exhaustion may hit you suddenly, but this usually eases up after the third month of pregnancy.

A lower backache may indicate pregnancy or an impending period.

Sudden changes in hormone levels cause headaches in many women.

You may find yourself taking extra trips to the bathroom early on, and throughout, a pregnancy. This is because blood and other fluids increase during pregnancy and must be processed through the kidneys and bladder. As your pregnancy progresses, this can get worse because the growing baby presses on the overworked bladder.

Abdominal bloating may indicate pregnancy. Many women feel a tightening around the waistband long before the uterus begins to expand.

If you are charting your basal body temperature and it stays high for two or three weeks, you may be pregnant.

Read: Pregnancy Week by Week: Week One

Most women won't know right away and most symptoms won't show up until around the time of the first missed period - at least a week or two later. Take a home pregnancy test. Although if taken too early, these can give a false negative (not pregnant) result, they are usually accurate after seven to ten days after a missed period. If after a few days you still don't get your period, you can always test again. Some tests claim to be sensitive enough to detect a pregnancy the day after conception, but these are usually more expensive. If you are unsure make an appointment with your doctor or pregnancy testing center. Early prenatal care is crucial to the health of you and your baby.

If you are pregnant, check out this neat customizable Pregnancy Calendar.

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