15 Early Signs of Pregnancy

It is important to note that some people will have a lot, a few or even no symptoms in early pregnancy. If you are wondering if you could be pregnant, take a test! It is important to get prenatal care started right away to ensure a healthy pregnancy. In no particular order here is a list of 15 early signs of pregnancy:

1. Implantation Bleeding and/or Cramping:

Spotting may occur when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. Implantation bleeding usually occurs anywhere from 6 to 12 days after ovulation. This bleeding is usually much lighter than your period. It doesn’t last as long and happens earlier than your expected period. It is not uncommon for women to experience some cramping. This sign gets missed when women believe they have started their periods. It is often not till after pregnancy is confirmed they have that ah ha moment and realize what this was. If what you think is your period is short, light and maybe came early perhaps you should consider taking that pregnancy test after all.

2. Fatigue:

Many women report being exhausted in early pregnancy. Hormone levels rising, especially progesterone makes you tired. Your blood pressure tends to drop in early pregnancy because blood vessels dilate. Lower blood sugar levels are also going to make you feel extra sleepy. I can remember very early on having such a heavy feeling in my head, there was almost nothing I could do to keep my eyes open. If there is one thing I know it’s that making a human is hard work.

3. Swollen or Tender Breasts

The increasing hormone levels can make your breasts tender. Women will also describe their breasts as being fuller or simply feeling heavier. This is also a common symptom many women have before their period arrives which is often why this sign gets missed and chalked up to an impending aunt-flo. Before I got a positive pregnancy test I remember my boobs feeling slightly different, just a tad bit heavier. I have never experienced any breast changes before a period so this was a bit of a red flag for me.

4. Nausea (“Morning Sickness”)

Let’s rename this as all day sickness as it can happen any time of day. Although no one seems to know for sure it is most likely caused by rising levels of hormones. The thought of certain or for that matter all food can send you running the to washroom. Although for some this is not as extreme and can just be a bit of nauseous feeling that passes fairly quickly. This is probably the symptom most people think of when it comes to pregnancy as we see this played out on television and movies all the time. The movies “What to Expect” and “Knocked up” come to mind.

5. Cravings and Food Aversions

If food that you normally love are turning you off, or if you are having cravings for specific foods you may want to take a pregnancy test. For me this did not show up until after a positive pregnancy test. I remember living off of grilled cheese and tomato soup for several weeks. Meat was not something that I had any no desire to consume early on either. Luckily for me this symptom came and went very quickly.

6. Mood Swings

The increasing hormones can also reek havoc on your mood, making you overly emotional. If you find yourself going from happy go lucky to crying over that commercial with the cute baby in the diaper commercial because life if just so precious it may be time to take a pregnancy test. Again, this symptom is one some women experience just before their periods arrive.

7. Raised Basal Body Temperature

This is your oral temperature that you take first this in the morning before you even get out of bed. After you ovulate your temperature ever so slightly increases and stays that way until your next period, if you have conceived it stays elevated. If you have been actively trying to conceive you likely know a lot about this. Many people use this as a tool to confirm that they have ovulated. This requires a great deal of diligence before you even have a morning coffee. I never tried this method as I found it just sounded to tedious, although many people have great success.

8. Dizziness or Faintness

In early pregnancy blood pressure drops as blood vessels dilate which can make you feel lightheaded. This may also be caused by the fact that blood sugar levels are low.

9. Frequent Urination

Making extra trips to the washroom? Often people think its not until later in pregnancy that they will have more of an urge to pee, but it can actually start very early. In early pregnancy your body is producing extra fluid, which can have your bladder working in over drive. For me this was a big one. I was up several times through the night. Which was totally out of character for me. This symptom did seem to fade away for me late in the first trimester. It did return in the second trimester.

10. Backaches

Relaxin is the hormone responsible for loosening up the ligaments, to prepares  your body for deliver.  Later in pregnancy the weight gain will also contribute to your backaches.

11. Darkened/Larger Areola

The area surrounding the nipple may get darker and larger. This happens in preparation for breast feeling. For me this symptom did no creep up until after I had a positive pregnancy test. It was something that was a gradual change for me, I didn’t just wake up and say whoa, it was ore of a I think something might be different as a analyzed my self in the mirror.

12. Constipation

Hormones cause your intestinal tract to slow down. This happens to make sure you are getting every bit of nutrients out of your food. This can cause a bit of a back up for you. So if things seem to have come to a standstill perhaps its time to take a pregnancy test. Drinking extra fluid and consuming foods high in fiber will be important if you run in to this problem.

13. Super Smell

Many women will have a heightened sense of smell, which may exasperate any morning sickness you may be experiencing. It is thought that this may be a protective mechanism to prevent women from ingesting something that could be harmful.

14. Metallic Taste (Dysgeusia)

It is not clear what actually causes this but many women report having a metal or sour taste in their mouth. Thankfully most people find this symptom does go away and does not last the entire pregnancy.

15. Missed Period

For some people this is one of the most obvious early signs of pregnancy. Well that’s if you have a regular cycle. If your period is late it is definitely time to take a test. For me this was not a big indicator, as I have Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and never new exactly when my period would arrive.