Signs And Symptoms Of Pregnancy

While pregnancy tests and ultrasounds are some of the sure shot means to find out whether you’re expecting a child or not, there are specific symptoms of pregnancy that you can watch out for to get your result. 

So what are these possible early signs of pregnancy? Here we bring you 15 early pregnancy symptoms that you must know to detect your pregnancy. Keep on reading to find out. 

15 Signs of Pregnancy You Must Know

If you’re expecting a child, you could notice the following signs and symptoms of pregnancy:

1. Spotting and Cramping

The fertilised egg attaches itself to the wall of the uterus a few days after conception. This is called implantation. There may be spotting at this time, and you may even experience cramps. Many women may mistake it as a PMS sign, thinking that their period is going to start. However, note that implantation bleeding doesn’t last too long and is very light compared to menstrual bleeding.

2. Extreme Fatigue

Unexplained tiredness is one of the first symptoms of pregnancy after sex. It can be unlike anything you’ve felt before. Sometimes the tiredness is so extreme that you can hardly get up on  your feet. It can also make you terribly sleepy. This happens due to  high levels of progesterone in the body due to pregnancy. It could also be because of low blood sugar and low blood pressure that occurs due to the changes happening in the body.

3. Nausea and Vomiting

Due to the sudden rise in hormones during pregnancy, you may feel extremely nauseated, and even have bouts of vomiting. Though this is generally called ‘morning sickness,’ it can happen at any time of the day or night! If you want, you can suck on a boiled sweet just before you get out of bed in the morning to reduce morning sickness symptoms.

4. Dizziness

During pregnancy, your r blood vessels dilate, leading to low blood pressure. This might cause you to feel faint and dizzy.

5. Changes in the Breasts

Your breasts might start swelling and feel tender, painful or tingly because of all those hormones surging around your body. The areola (the area around the nipples) may darken too.

6. Urge to Urinate Frequently

Your uterus starts growing and exerts pressure on the bladder, forcing you to visit the toilet more often!

7. Constipation

The digestive system is affected and slows down a little because of hormonal changes. This might cause constipation and gas.

8. Shortness of Breath

The growing embryo needs more oxygen, and as a result, you might be short of breath even though you haven’t exerted yourself too much. You may feel better if you take slow, deep breaths.

9. Heightened Sensitivity to Smell

Some women become highly sensitive to smell during this time, and acquire a superpower to smell things that others cannot.

10. Change in Food Likes and Dislikes

You might start reacting unexpectedly to certain foods. A favourite food Might suddenly make you retch, and you might start craving foods you never really cared much for.

11. Headache

You might be prone to headaches due to the rise of hormones in the body.

12. Feeling Different Emotions

During pregnancy, your body goes through a lot of hormonal changes, and that may make you feel emotionally fragile.. If you find yourself tearing up at the slightest stimulus, don’t worry, nothing is wrong with you. This is one of the pregnancy symptoms and something you cannot help.

13. Missed Period

The one sign you cannot possibly ignore is a missed period! If you’ve missed your period and haven’t started after a week or longer after intercourse, you might be pregnant. The foetal development will take place. However, If you have an irregular menstrual cycle, ignore this as a  pregnancy sign. 

14. Bloating

During early pregnancy, hormonal imbalance in the body might make you feel bloated, similar to how you would feel during your menstrual cycle.

15. Frequent Mood Swings

you may also feel more emotional and become prone to mood swings as your hormone levels begin to rise during  early pregnancy. You might undergo depression during pregnancy as well. So, make sure to avoid overthinking during this phase.  

Some Other Pregnancy Symptoms

Missing a period is the most common indicator of pregnancy, although many women experience additional pregnancy symptoms before they miss a period.

• Hormones have a role in preparing the body for a new life. And this has an influence on the ligaments, which might stretch. Before you miss your period, your ligaments and joints may stretch, causing pain and discomfort in the spinal area.

• If you find yourself downing litres of water, don’t be shocked. Even before you miss your period, an increase in blood volume may cause you to become overly thirsty. With the rise in hormones that occurs during pregnancy, you may feel constantly hungry too.

• A rise in cervical mucus can also be a sign of impending pregnancy. The white discharge during early pregnancy or the cervical mucus thickens after fertilisation.

• You may feel some tingling sensation when you pee, as well as itching and pain around your vaginal area. You can consider this as  one of your early pregnancy symptoms.
   
• The appearance of pimples during the premenstrual period can also be an early sign of pregnancy. A rise in hormone levels following fertilisation might cause sudden acne and pimples. 

Are You Really Pregnant?

If you have had intercourse and haven’t used contraception in the past several days, you can become pregnant within 24 hours after ovulation, when the egg gets fertilised by the sperm. If a fertilised egg burrows into the uterine lining around 5 to 6 days following ovulation, then there are high chances of a confirmed pregnancy.

FAQs

Q1 How early do pregnancy symptoms start?

Early pregnancy symptoms like sensitivity to scent and sore breasts might develop a few days after conception. While other early signs of pregnancy (such as spotting) can be seen one week after implantation.

Q2 Which part of the breast hurts in early pregnancy symptoms?

During the early stages of pregnancy, the nipples get quite sensitive for many women. This might also feel discomfort in their breasts while putting on a bra or taking a shower. 

Q3 Why do I feel pregnant before my period?

You can feel a bit of morning sickness that can happen at any time, as most pregnant women will tell you. It’s also a frequent pre-pregnancy symptom before you miss your period. Your body generates more oestrogen and progesterone a few weeks after conceiving which can further lead  you to experience nausea and vomiting.

Q4 How Long Does It Take to Get Pregnant After Having Sex?

Pregnancy does not begin the day you have sex. The sperm and egg must combine to produce a fertilised egg, which can take up to six days. The fertilised egg must next fully implant in the uterine lining, which can again take three to four days.

Takeaway 

What you must remember is that these early signs of pregnancy are not unique to pregnancy. If they persist,  you need to see the doctor. Also, not every woman experiences these indicators. So even if you don’t notice any of these pregnancy symptoms, you might still be pregnant. Wait until you miss your period, take a pregnancy test to be absolutely sure, and then follow up with a visit to the doctor! Also, if you’re already going through the early signs of pregnancy, then you should follow some prenatal care and get checkups from your doctor.