In early pregnancy, rapidly increasing hormones cause a whole host of changes in your body as it prepares to carry a pregnancy. You may not notice some of the changes taking place, but others will be more noticeable. For many women, a missed period is the first sign of pregnancy, but for others that may not be a reliable indicator. Below is a list of the common early pregnancy signs, you may experience some, all or none of these symptoms. All women, and all pregnancies for that matter, are different.
Missed period
If you usually menstruate like clockwork, a missed period may be your first symptom of pregnancy. Absent periods can also be caused by illness, severe weight loss, stress and anxiety, so an absent period isn’t a definite indicator of pregnancy.
Sore breasts
Your breasts may feel tender and swollen early in the pregnancy. This symptom is very similar to the tender breasts experienced pre menstruation. This can be one of the first symptoms of pregnancy.
Nausea
Morning sickness and nausea tend to kick in around week six, however it can start as early as week four. Morning sickness can occur at any time of day. You may vomit or feel nauseous. Not all women will experience morning sickness. For those who do, the nausea usually subsides around the end of the first trimester.
Frequent urination
Needing to wee excessively is probably one of the most famous pregnancy side effects, but people often mistakenly assume it doesn’t start until later in the pregnancy. While the third trimester can be filled with toilet breaks, this is usually because with an expanding uterus and baby, there isn’t much room left for your bladder. Frequent urination can start as early as six weeks into the pregnancy, as your pregnancy hormones combine with your growing uterus, causing you to wee more.
Tiredness
Fatigue is a common early pregnancy symptom. As your body uses lots of energy for the pregnancy, and your deluge of hormones leave you feeling sleepy, it’s no wonder you’re crashing out on the sofa at 7pm. If you are experiencing fatigue, try to get as much rest as you can.
Food cravings/aversions
It’s not uncommon for women to experience strong aversions to certain foods or smells early in the pregnancy. Aversions and cravings can even occur before a missed period. Some women find that they go off tea or coffee, and become hypersensitive to cooking aromas.
Shortness of breath
If you suddenly find yourself out of puff after climbing a flight of steps, you may be experiencing the early pregnancy symptom shortness of breath. As your hormones surge during the early weeks of pregnancy, progesterone increases the amount of air taken in with each breath.
If you think you may be pregnant, the best way to find out for sure is to take a home pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests are most reliable after a missed period, so ideally you should wait until then to take one. If the home pregnancy test confirms you are pregnant, you should contact your healthcare provider.
Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.