Hello friend!
You’re probably here because you think you might be pregnant, or because you’re trying to get pregnant and you’ve gone down the rabbit hole of searching for something to confirm that you should take that pregnancy test you have waiting for you underneath the bathroom sink (trust me, I’ve been there). Or maybe you’re just really curious about what women go through in the earliest stages of pregnancy. No matter your reason, I’m glad you’re here!
When my husband and I first decided that we were no longer trying to stop pregnancy from happening, every month I would go crazy a week or two before my period was due, searching the internet for some confirmation that I was feeling pregnancy symptoms. Unfortunately, A LOT of early pregnancy symptoms overlap with PMS symptoms which makes it really hard to decipher and, in many cases (like me), causes a lot of disappointment when Miss Flow arrives. After hours and hours of scouring every website possible in my trying-for-a-baby season, I’ve decided to list every symptom in one place so that you don’t have to spend hours reading different articles. I want to clarify that these are signs, not a guarantee that you’re pregnant. With that, let’s jump right in!
1. Spotting (Implantation Bleeding)
I know, confusing right? Implantation bleeding is exactly what it sounds like, bleeding caused by the implantation of a fertilized egg. It usually occurs just before or at the very beginning of your cycle (day one of your period). Not every woman gets implantation bleeding (I didn’t), but it’s usually one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. The differences between implantation bleeding and your period are:
- Consistency and color: Implantation blood is light pink or brown, thin and watery. It won’t fill a pad but will show up on toilet paper or your underwear. Your period blood will be bright or dark red, a heavier flow, and be a thicker consistency.
- It doesn’t last as long: Implantation bleeding only lasts a day or 2 at the most, whereas your period will last 4-7 days.
- Cramping: The cramping caused by implantation bleeding is very mild, whereas menstrual cramping is more intense.
Here is a short article from Mayo Clinic on implantation bleeding: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/implantation-bleeding/faq-20058257
2. Tender/Swollen Breasts
Another very early sign of pregnancy (and unfortunately a PMS symptom as well), is tender or swollen breasts. Sorry ladies, this is a symptom that doesn’t go away during pregnancy and will continue all the way into breastfeeding (if you choose to breastfeed). While PMS breasts are slightly sore and you don’t see a lot of changes, you will see a lot of changes in pregnancy. In pregnancy your areolas will look a bit larger and darker, the veins will be more prominent and you’ll go up a cup size or two. Unfortunately, the really big differences don’t become quite as prominent until the 2nd trimester, when you’ll already know about the pregnancy. However, your breasts will start to change to some degree in the first few weeks, so keep an eye out for heavier, swollen, sore breasts!
3. Cramping
You know that mild cramping feeling you get a few days before you get your period? Yep, that really sad “oh boy, my period is almost here” feeling in your uterus. You can also experience that in early pregnancy, usually around the same time you period is due. This cramping is caused by the implantation of the fertilized egg.
4. Increased Urination
Did you know increased urination isn’t only caused by the baby pushing on your bladder? It’s widely believed that urination doesn’t start until the baby is pushing on your bladder, but it actually kicks in from the get go. The hormone hCG causes your blood volume to increase, as well as blood flow to the pelvic floor and kidneys. This causes your body to get rid of waste more efficiently which translates to peeing more. Oh what fun!
5. Fatigue
Fatigue is one of those symptoms that makes life harder from the start. It can start as early as the first week of pregnancy (before you even know you’re pregnant!) and continues throughout. Thankfully, it’s less extreme after the first trimester. But if you’re feeling extra sluggish and sleepy right now, you might just have a baby on board.
6. Bloating
Just like at the beginning of your period, all those hormones can cause some bloating action.
7. Headaches/Dizziness
Your blood volume increases by 45%-60% during pregnancy. Crazy right? Unfortunately this can cause some headaches or lightheadedness in early pregnancy.
8. Heartburn
While most likely to occur later in pregnancy, progesterone can relax the the valve between your stomach and esophagus which can cause heartburn. So if you’re suddenly feeling heartburn or acid reflux when you didn’t before, it could be a sign you’re pregnant.
9. Higher Body Temperature
Your body temperature typically rises a degree or so both when you ovulate and when you become pregnant. If you’ve been tracking your temp in attempt to become pregnant, you should keep tracking it to see if it stays higher.
10. Smell sensitivity
One of the things that absolutely HAUNTED me my entire first trimester (and into my second) was smell sensitivity. For me, it made lots of things smell terrible (my refrigerator specifically, even after giving it a deep clean). I frequently would grab a smoothie from the grocery store while shopping to help keep the smells and nausea away and pay for it when I got to checkout. Some women just become sensitive to smells without having any smell aversions. This can start as early as a few days after conception meaning it can kick in before you even know you have a baby with you.
11. Nausea
This one typically doesn’t start immediately, but it can. Those hormones can make you feel real sick, real fast. Nausea can also be brought on by smell aversions and is definitely one of the worst pregnancy symptoms. Luckily, it typically goes away after the first trimester. During my first pregnancy, I was caught off guard by the fact that I started feeling nausea the day after I got my positive pregnancy test. With my second pregnancy the nausea didn’t kick in until week 6.
12. Missed Period
The symptom that everyone knows. A missed period. Did you know that you don’t actually have to wait until your entire period has passed to test? If you have a super consistent cycle, you can test as early as the day it was supposed to arrive to get an accurate result. You can even get a positive BEFORE you miss a period, the only things you have to be careful of when testing that early are false negatives and miscarriages. Before your period arrives, a test may not be able to pick up on the hormones quite yet if you don’t have enough. However some women have a lot of hCG really early and this results in an early positive. If you test early and get a positive, know that you still may get your period and lose the pregnancy. Many pregnancies are lost before they’re even known about, so keep in mind that it’s possible.
So Am I Pregnant??
If you’re experiencing these symptoms and they ARE NOT something you typically experience before your period, I’d suggest taking a pregnancy test. However, I’m certainly not a doctor, all I have is the research I’ve done online. If you want a professional opinion you should definitely ask your doctor. I hope that this post was informative and helpful for you, and if you’re trying for a baby, I’m rooting for you!
With love, Grace Hiniker