Too Early To Test?

By Jennifer Nelson

Here are nine subtle clues that you might be pregnant.

Before my first pregnancy, I enjoyed a glass of wine with dinner and an occasional big, juicy chili dog. But even in those very first days after I conceived, the wine tasted flat and the hot dog repulsed me. Fast-forward a few weeks. With a positive pregnancy test in hand, I realized that my body knew I was pregnant before my mind did. Of course, the earliest symptoms of pregnancy wax and wane and are different for each woman; in fact, some women may experience (or notice) none of them. But several can crop up well before you even miss a period. If you're the impatient type, here are the most common early-pregnancy clues to look for.

Clue 1: Breast tenderness

Your breasts may be extra tender as early as a week or two after conception. “You’re making so much estrogen and progesterone in early pregnancy that the glands in the breasts start growing,” explains Jasbir Singh, M.D., an OB-GYN at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie in Texas. This hormone surge causes breasts to retain more fluids and feel heavy, sore or more sensitive than normal PMS tenderness.

What to do Buy a very supportive bra.

Clue 2: Implantation bleeding

When the fertilized egg implants into the plush lining of the uterus about six to 12 days after conception, spotting-light vaginal bleeding-may occur. This is harmless, but if you suspect you're pregnant, let your doctor know, just in case it's something else. (If the bleeding occurs as late as 12 days after you conceive, you may think it's your period.)

"In the first trimester, bleeding should be evaluated for three things in particular-miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy or certain types of infections," Singh says. "Implantation bleeding is sort of a diagnosis of exclusion. That means we rule out the bad things before we can determine this is what it is."

What to do Call your doctor if you notice any bleeding.

Clue 3: Fatigue

During the first few weeks, your body is working 24/7 behind the scenes to support the pregnancy, and fatigue is a normal response. The extra progesterone produced after conception causes your basal body temperature to rise, which in turn contributes to a lack of energy, explains Karen Perkins, M.D., an OB-GYN with A Woman’s Choice at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Your heart also pumps faster, as it has to deliver extra oxygen to the uterus; this, too, can make you feel tuckered out.

What to do “Take prenatal vitamins early on, eat a healthful diet, drink plenty of fluids to keep your blood pressure high enough, and rest when you can,” Singh says.