Am I Pregnant? 13 Early Signs of Pregnancy

If you’re trying to get pregnant, the wait from possible conception to seeing those longed-for two blue lines is a time of nervous anticipation, impatience, and anxiety. 

Early signs of pregnancy differ from woman to woman. And every pregnant woman experiences her pregnancy symptoms at different times. 

Some women feel intuitively that their body is changing before they realise they are pregnant. Other women won’t know until they miss their period or do a pregnancy test.

What are the pregnancy signs in the first week?

So, I think I might be pregnant. What should I look out for? 

After conception, fertilisation and implantation things start to happen quickly in your body. Some pregnancy tests can detect hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) hormone levels as early as one or two weeks after conception. And your body could show first signs and symptoms of pregnancy at around the same time. 

1.     Spotting: Some women notice very light ‘implantation bleeding’. This might be as little as a spot or two of blood, or some pinkish discharge over a few days. 

2.     Mild cramping: Women may experience minor cramps or discomfort in the lower abdomen, back or pelvis area when the embryo attaches to the uterus lining.

3.     Tender breasts: Breasts sometimes feel swollen or sore to the touch due to hormonal changes. They may also tingle, or veins may be more visible through the skin.

4.     Missed period: If your periods are regular and you skip a period, or your period is a week or more late, you should do a pregnancy test. 

5.     Nausea: Morning sickness with nausea, and sometimes vomiting, is a common pregnancy symptom during the first trimester. Feeling nauseous can start as early as a few weeks after conception for some women.

6.     Headaches: Mild headaches, sometimes accompanied by dizziness, are due to hormonal changes and the increase in blood pumping around your body.

7.     Raised basal body temperature (BBT): A consistently high BBT for 18 days or more may be an early sign of pregnancy.

8.     Heightened sense of smell (hyperosmia): Sensitivity to smells and strong odours is one of the first indicators of pregnancy in many women. 

9.     Metallic taste in mouth: Some women experience a strange metallic taste in the mouth (as if you have licked a pocketful of coins!) in early pregnancy. This seems to disappear after the first trimester.

10.  Intense fatigue: Higher levels of progesterone can mean extreme tiredness and exhaustion. This is a common sign of pregnancy during the early months.

11.  Frequent urge to pee: If you find you need to rush to the bathroom more often, and you have other pregnancy symptoms, it may be time to take a pregnancy test. 

12.  Bloated feeling: Some people have a feeling of fullness, or bloating, like having a gassy stomach, in the first weeks after conception. 

13.  Food cravings: An unexplained need for salt and vinegar crisps with caramel ice cream? Bizarre food cravings are a pregnancy symptom hallmark.

How do I know for sure that I’m pregnant?

You may experience all, or some, or just one of these early pregnancy symptoms (most likely the missed period!) but this doesn’t mean a more, or less, healthy pregnancy. Just remember not to compare your own experience to anyone else’s early pregnancy journey. 

A positive pregnancy test, taken at least one week after your period is due, and those two all-important blue lines, is the only way to know for sure that you are pregnant.

I have a positive pregnancy test… Now what?

If you have missed your period and your at-home pregnancy test is positive, the next step is to make an appointment to see your doctor. If you aren’t yet taking folic acid, start taking antenatal vitamins now. 

These early months will see vital developments for you and your baby. Rest, when possible, eat a well-balanced diet, drink plenty of fluids, say goodbye to alcohol and smoking, and let the news sink in…