Entering motherhood is one of the most beautiful phases in a woman’s life. If you have been trying to conceive, especially for the first time, you will be impatient and start to search about the early symptoms of pregnancy. Early detection of pregnancy will ensure that you get proper care for yourself on your gestational journey and will also ease some of the unpleasant experiences of pregnancy.

Early pregnancy symptoms are your body’s way of alerting you about what is happening inside. From the moment of fertilization, your body undergoes a rush of changes due to the alterations in the hormone levels. For women who are regular in their monthly cycle, missed periods is one of the first clear signs of early pregnancy. But until you’ve produced a positive pregnancy test, there’s no way to know for sure you’re expecting.

So, if you are impatient to wait for the official pregnancy test, here are a few clinical signs and symptoms of pregnancy before a missed period that may signal you’ve conceived.

  1. Tender breasts

    Some women may experience breast tenderness or sensitivity or a tingly feeling in their breasts. These changes can occur as early as two weeks after fertilization. It is one of the most commonly reported symptoms of pregnancy. These changes are due to the dazzling hormonal duo of estrogen and progesterone which work quickly to prepare your breasts for breastfeeding. In addition to breast tenderness, you may also experience darkening of the nipples and areolas, growth and stiffening of the nipples.

  2. Frequent urination

    For many women, frequent urination can be an early symptom of pregnancy. The increased hormone levels after fertilization will stimulate your kidneys to filter out the extra waste more quickly. Additionally, when the uterus begins to expand, it will put pressure on the urinary bladder which in turn increases the urination frequency.

  3. Nausea

    Most pregnant women experience slight nausea with or without vomiting during the early pregnancy period. This is commonly known as morning sickness, though it’s not restricted to a particular time of day. The cause of this symptom is not clear, but it is likely to be the result of the increase in circulating hormones. Morning sickness usually subsides when you enter the second trimester. During this time, you can develop an aversion from or craving for certain food items.

  4. Mood swings

    Some expecting woman will experience rapid mood fluctuations during their early pregnancy. The surge of estrogen and progesterone can increase the number of neurotransmitters (chemical mood regulators) in your brain, which increases the likelihood of mood swings.

  5. Occasional spotting and cramping

    A small amount of spotting can be one of the first signs of pregnancy. This is known as implantation bleeding. Implantation is a process where the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall. It usually occurs six to 12 days after fertilization.

    Along with implantation bleeding you may also experience abdominal cramps that are similar to those you have during your period. This cramping is caused by the expansion of your uterus as it prepares for the growth of your baby. Generally, these spotting and cramps are often mistaken for the beginning of menstruation. If the pain is severe, is accompanied by heavy bleeding or other symptoms you must consult a doctor.

  6. Fatigue and tiredness

    Fatigue and tiredness is a very common symptom of early pregnancy. The main reason for fatigue is the hormonal changes, more specifically the increase in progesterone level. Other possible contributors of fatigue and tiredness include low blood sugar, low blood pressure level or lack of proper sleep.

  7. Leukorrhea

    Leukorrhea is a mild, clear or milky discharge from the vagina. An increase in vaginal discharge after ovulation is a good sign that you’ll have a positive pregnancy test. The fluctuation in the hormonal levels after fertilization is responsible for this vaginal discharge. The amount of this discharge is likely to increase as your pregnancy progresses.

Less obvious signs of early pregnancy

In addition to the above-mentioned classic signs of pregnancy, you may also experience some peculiar early pregnancy symptoms. But these symptoms alone can’t be relied upon as a prominent indication of pregnancy.

The less obvious symptoms of pregnancy include:

  • Change of appetite
  • Heartburn and/or indigestion
  • Metallic taste
  • Elevated body temperature
  • Constipation
  • Increased sensitivity to odors
  • Lower backaches
  • Shortness of breath

You should understand that these early signs of pregnancy tend to differ from one woman to the other. Additionally, many of these early signs and symptoms are very similar to those you’d experience around the time of your period. So, keep in mind that just because you’ve experienced some of these symptoms doesn’t mean you’re expecting.

You’ll have to wait for few days till you miss your period (if you have a regular cycle) or till you do a pregnancy test. Make sure you see your doctor as soon as you confirm that you’ve conceived.

Reference:
  1. Symptoms of pregnancy: What happens first? https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/symptoms-of-pregnancy/art-20043853. Accessed on: 17-09-2020.
  2. Early signs and symptoms of pregnancy. https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/early-pregnancy/early-signs-and-symptoms-pregnancy. Accessed on: 17-09-2020.
  3. 15 early signs of pregnancy. https://www.aspirelaconia.org/post/15-early-signs-and-symptoms-of-pregnancy . Accessed on: 17-09-2020.
  4. Signs of Pregnancy: Could I Be Pregnant?. https://www.lamaze.org/signs-and-symptoms-of-pregnancy . Accessed on: 17-09-2020.
  5. Signs & symptoms. https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/am-i-pregnant/pregnancy-symptoms . Accessed on: 17-09-2020.
  6. Pregnancy – signs and symptoms. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/pregnancy-signs-and-symptoms. Accessed on: 17-09-2020.

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