How soon do you get early pregnancy symptoms?
Some of the initial signs of pregnancy that you can locate are- implantation bleeding or spotting, slight cramps, nausea, vomiting fatigue and a missed menstrual period. However, we would recommend that you get a blood pregnancy test and a urine pregnancy test done before confirming the condition.
A missed period is usually one of the first signs of pregnancy in women. However, the other signs may vary in degree and intensity from person to person. There are cases when the woman displays no outward signs of pregnancy even weeks after the missed cycle. Others may feel the signs right from the start.
The top 12 earliest pregnancy symptoms in order of appearance:
Implantation bleeding
Implantation bleeding is a phenomenon that occurs about 9 days after ovulation and 4-5 days before your next period cycle. The fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus about 6-12 days after conception. It is only after implantation that you might begin to notice the first few signs of pregnancy. Some women experience some slight cramping or even spotting in the initial days, however it is a long while before the pregnancy begins to manifest in your physical appearance. You can calculate the days when the cramping and bleeding might occur according to your body clock and then take the necessary measures. Some other signs that you might experience are morning sickness, swollen tender breasts, and heaviness and general fatigue. This is usually caused because of an increase in estrogen levels in the body that empties the stomach, leading to weakness and loss of appetite. Reduced blood sugar levels and low pressure can cause frequent fainting spells as well.
Vaginal spotting
After ovulation, the egg travels through the fallopian tubes and moves towards the uterus to attach itself to the uterine lining. The implantation occurs in 6-12 days. This process may cause slight bleeding and cramping. Visit a doctor if the signs are too uncomfortable or serious
Cramping
The cramps that pregnant women experience in the lower abdomen is very similar to menstrual cramps. Also, the spotting that you see in the initial days looks a lot like period blood. However note that spotting is lighter and often lasts only for a few days. Some women have also observed a milky white vaginal discharge during the initial weeks.
Vaginal discharge
Vaginal discharge is a white, sticky liquid type substance that is released by pregnant women because of the thickening of the vaginal walls. This discharge can continue throughout the pregnancy and doesn’t cause any harm. However if your discharge has a foul smell or leaves behind a burning sensation and causes irritation, consult a doctor immediately. This can be a result of some bacterial infection or other issues
Cervical mucus plug
Besides an increase in vaginal discharge, observing a cervical mucus plug may be among the early pregnancy signs.
Breast changes
Pregnancy also causes the breasts to get heavier and swell a bit. Breast swelling, size changes, or tenderness leads to soreness and slight pain. Fat accumulation and hormonal changes may cause varying degrees of changes in the body and that is normal
"All day" sickness, nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP)
Morning sickness and nausea are probably some of the most well-known tell-tale signs of pregnancy. However, contradictory to its name, morning sickness can happen anytime during the day. This is usually caused by an imbalance in hormones and an increase in stomach acid levels that cause vomiting and loss of appetite. Check here to assess online how severe your nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) is
Sickening scents
Some women, from the very initial stages of pregnancy, develop a sense of smell that is extremely sensitive and heightened. Some scents can become so overwhelming that they might even experience intense nausea and vomiting. This drastically alters their everyday routine and diet.
Exhaustion
Pregnancy causes random mood swings, irritation, crankiness and even constant exhaustion and as you grow bigger and heavier, it gets even worse. The increasing progesterone levels are to be blamed for this phenomenon. Fatigue usually subsides by your second trimester and can resurface later in the course of your pregnancy.
Bathroom breaks
Pregnant women constantly feel the need to urinate. These bathroom breaks can be because of the hormonal changes or simply because it’s the body’s way of self-cleaning itself and flushing out the toxins to keep you healthy. The growing uterus and swollen vaginal walls put a lot of pressure on the bladder causing the tendency to pass water increase considerably
Itching
Itching and skin irritation is another thing that pregnant women often complain about. The breasts and abdomen usually get very itchy because the skin stretches to accommodate the growing baby inside.
Changes in digestion
Pregnancy can even lead to digestion-related issues. Women often complain of constipation during their pregnancy. This can be the result of increased progesterone levels, more water absorption in the intestines, lack of iron supplements or excessive pressure on the rectum. Heartburn, acidity and bad eating habits can also cause indigestion. Consult a doctor if the problem becomes serious.
Allergies
Pregnancy also leads to a lower immunity as the body is going through hormonal imbalances. A slight change in the temperature can lead to cough and cold. Also, seasonal allergies and breathing problems are very common among women during this time. Expectant moms also have chances of getting asthma. In these cases, visit your doctor and continue with your inhaler and other meds.
Early pregnancy signs timeline
There are slight and subtle changes that occur in the female body soon after the conception of the baby. However, these changes are not very noticeable and have any physical manifestations until the first week of pregnancy. From the first week to the end of the pregnancy, you can see the physical changes the entire time.
Each woman has a different experience when it comes to the initial signs of pregnancy. This is because there is no standard for the female body. Each woman has a different composition and different ways to react to the situation. Typically, the first signs of pregnancy are not recognized as being associated with pregnancy until after a positive pregnancy test or a missed menstrual cycle.
|
Pregnancy Symptoms |
Timing of Pregnancy Symptom |
|
Temperature drop (dip) |
Implantation day |
|
Implantation bleeding or spotting: (a slight staining of a pink or brown color) |
8-10 days after ovulation |
|
Thick White or Milky White Vaginal Discharge |
8-14 days after ovulation/fertilization |
|
Cervical mucus or mucus plug and bloody show |
shortly after implantation |
|
Lower abdominal cramps / Implantation cramps / hot flashes |
8-10 days after ovulation |
|
A positive blood hCG pregnancy test |
10 days after fertilization/ovulation |
|
A positive urine home pregnancy test (HPT) |
10-14 days after ovulation/fertilization |
|
An elevated BBT |
15+ days without a menstrual period |
|
No period. A missed menstrual period |
Your period is supposed to come 14-16 days after ovulation |
|
Nausea |
2-4 weeks after ovulation |
|
Nipple or breast tenderness |
3-4 weeks after conception |
|
Fatigue and tiredness |
3-10 weeks after conception |
|
Vomiting |
3-10 weeks after conception |
|
Food cravings |
1-2 months after conception |
|
Frequent urination |
Usually after 1-2 months |
|
Softening of cervix |
6+ weeks after LMP |
|
Constipation |
Later |
|
Lower-back pain |
Later |
|
Breast changes |
After 14 weeks |
|
Fetal heartbeat on sonogram |
8-9 weeks after conception |
|
Fetal movements |
18-20+ weeks |
How many women have typical pregnancy signs and symptoms?
These typical pregnancy symptoms that we have discussed above are not common for all women. This means that not every woman out there is going to experience the early signs of nausea or sickness, cramps and spotting. And even if they do it will not be in the same intensity. 1 in every 2 pregnant women do not have any of these conventional signs and that is completely normal.
In some women, the first week is like a breeze where they feel no discomfort at all. For others the day after ovulation, fertilization and implantation bring a lot of suffering and pain. Therefore, it is always advised that you get a proper pregnancy test done to confirm the condition and not rely on the traditional signs.
Also, note that sometimes the cramping and weakness can be because of some other medical issue or nutrient deficiency. If you feel that the condition is serious, there is no harm in getting it checked by a doctor and see if everything is alright.
Abnormal pregnancy symptoms
Pregnancy brings about a lot of changes in the body that can come in varying degrees of intensity. Amidst all these alterations, it can be difficult to pinpoint any serious complications that might have come masquerading as just another pregnancy symptom. These are some of the things that you should look out for.
These symptoms can occur either in isolation or all at once. However even if you have one of these signs, there is a chance that you are vulnerable to preeclampsia — the medical term used to denote high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Top questions about early signs and symptoms of pregnancy:
Comprehensive Pregnancy Symptoms
Pregnancy Testing
|
Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy |
Pregnancy Likely? |
|
Positive blood hCG pregnancy test |
YES! |
|
Positive urine home pregnancy test (HPT) |
YES! |
|
Gestational sac on sonogram |
YES! |
|
Fetal heartbeat on sonogram |
YES! |
|
Elevated BBT curve: 15+ days after ovulation, no period |
Highly likely |
|
BBT: Temperature drop (dip) |
Maybe |
|
No period. A missed menstrual period (amenorrhea) |
Maybe |
|
Implantation bleeding or spotting:(a slight staining of a pink or brown color) |
Maybe |
|
Lower abdominal cramps / Implantation cramps / hot flashes |
Less likely |
|
Nausea |
Less likely |
|
Just "feeling" pregnant |
Maybe |
|
Strange Cravings |
Less likely |
|
Darkening of areola (area around breast nipple) |
Maybe |
|
Changes in libido |
Less likely |
|
Nipple or breast tenderness |
Maybe |
|
Fatigue and tiredness |
Less likely |
|
Vomiting |
Maybe |
|
Food cravings |
Less likely |
|
Frequent urination |
Less likely |
|
Softening of cervix |
Maybe |
|
Constipation |
Less likely |
|
Lower-back pain |
Less likely |
|
Montgomery's Tubercules |
Maybe |
|
Skin Changes |
Less likely |
|
Fetal movements |
Maybe |
|
Enlarged Abdomen |
Maybe |
|
Change in uterine shape |
Maybe |
|
Colostrum from Breasts |
Maybe |
|
Stretch Marks |
Maybe |
|
Braxton Hicks Contractions |
Maybe |
|
Enlarging Uterus |
Maybe |
|
Palpation of the Baby |
Yes |
Swollen Legs, Ankles and Feet During Pregnancy and Postpartum
