The symptoms of pregnancy are not alike for every woman. Each and every mom to be, experiences different signs of pregnancy. In fact, your own pregnancy symptoms can actually be extremely different from one pregnancy to another. The symptoms can occur unsystematically, can be subtle, and sometimes may not be obvious.
pregnancy symptoms are varied which occur absolutely randomly. There is no particular time or specific duration of pregnancy symptoms. The signs of pregnancy generally differ from woman to woman in their duration, occurrence and intensity. The best way to learn about your pregnancy is by doing a home pregnancy test.
But before you opt to take the test, here is a checklist of early signs of pregnancy. However, please remember these pregnancy signs are only a guideline you may not experience all of these symptoms in your early pregnancy except the first one.
1. Missed Period
Perhaps the most obvious early symptom of pregnancy is when you’ve missed your period. This possible sign of pregnancy is often what causes women to search for more details about the other pregnancy symptoms.
Some women might only experience a much lighter period compared to their usual. You might not experience any of the pregnancy signs listed below until around the time you notice you’ve missed your monthly cycle.
2. Changes in your Breasts
When you are pregnant your breasts become very sensitive. In early pregnancy the breasts usually get tender, swollen, and sore. It can be painful even when you touch them slightly. The breast tenderness is one of the most common and noticeable sign of early pregnancy. They will also seem to be budding up.
If you are pregnant you can easily detect this sign as your nipples will turn sore and will become extra sensitive. The color of the nipples may also become dark.
3. Elevated Basal Body Temperature
The body’s basal temperature (the lowest body temperature that happens during rest) begins to elevate after ovulation, and stays elevated beyond your next expected period. Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the ovary and pushed down the fallopian tube and is ready to be fertilized by a sperm.
The implantation of a fertilized egg normally takes place 6 to 12 days after ovulation – that’s about two to three weeks before the next period is missed. This one-half to one degree Fahrenheit increase in basal body temperature is a subtle early warning sign of pregnancy. This change in basal body temperature, which is measured by a special, more accurate thermometer, can happen as early as two days after ovulation. And, that can be two weeks before you notice a missed period.
4. Abdominal cramping and bloating
Some women may experience feelings of abdominal enlargement or bloating, but there is usually only a small amount of Weight gain in the first trimester of pregnancy. In this early stage of pregnancy a Weight gain of about one pound per month is typical. Sometimes women also experience mild abdominal cramping during the early weeks of pregnancy, which may be similar to the cramping that occurs prior to or during the menstrual period.
5. Slight bleeding or cramping
Sometimes a small amount of spotting or vaginal bleeding is one of the first symptoms of pregnancy. Known as implantation bleeding, it happens when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus — about 10 to 14 days after fertilization. This type of bleeding is usually a bit earlier, spottier and lighter in color than a normal period and doesn’t last as long. Some women also experience abdominal cramping — similar to menstrual cramping — early in pregnancy.
6. Mood swings
The flood of hormones in your body in early pregnancy can make you unusually emotional and weepy. Mood swings also are common, especially in the first trimester.
7. Sensitivity to odors and “Going off” certain things
Most of the women experience a heightened sense of odor early on in the pregnancy. It is a stage where you cannot tolerate the usual fragrances around you. Suddenly few familiar smells will become extremely unbearable and even some of your favorite Foods may become less appealing. The smell of coffee or tea, tobacco smoke or fatty Foods will put you off easily.
8. Frequent Urination
An early symptom of pregnancy that others may notice you experiencing is frequent trips to the restroom. Your family or friends may comment that you seem to be going off to the ladies room quite often lately. One cause of this pregnancy symptom is that the swelling uterus can put pressure on your bladder.
Also, pregnancy causes extra body fluids to be processed by your kidneys and bladder. That means more trips to the restroom. Sorry to have to say this, but this symptom of pregnancy may remain constant for nine months.
9. Food Cravings, or Aversions to Foods
A well-known cliché is the pregnancy sign-symptom of craving certain Foods or unusual combinations of Foods. For example, one woman said she craved midnight snacks of warm peach pie topped with vanilla ice cream. Everyone has a funny story about food cravings.
Taking a good pre-natal vitamin supplement and a pure fish oil capsule may ease some cravings and help prevent extra Weight gain … and of course prenatal vitamins and fish oil are often doctor recommended for the health of your baby.
Less well known but equally common pregnancy signs are aversions to certain Foods. You may find that some Foods you previously enjoyed are no longer appetizing. One woman told us she had always liked pizza, but couldn’t stand it at all while she was expecting. Just the smell of it made her feel nausea. This problem may come and go for some women. For others it could last throughout pregnancy.
10. Fatigue And Exhaustion
There is a big difference between fatigue and tiredness. Feeling tired and sleepy after a long day’s work is completely normal and expected. Sleep, which usually happens after tiredness, is the remedy for a body needing rest, as sleep allows the body to repair itself and ready itself for another hard day.
Fatigue, on the other hand, is not a normal bodily function and is usually a sign of some other condition. Technically speaking, fatigue really has nothing to do with a tired body, as sleep will not normally resolve fatigue. Fatigue can be a sign of disease such as certain cancers, auto-immune disorders and a host of other conditions – including pregnancy.Fatigue can also be a sure sign of an early pregnancy, usually occurring during the first trimester and often partially blamed on a dramatic rise in the level of the hormone progesterone. pregnancy also can put a huge strain on every bodily function – it’s no wonder that you may feel totally exhausted before the day is through.
11. Morning sickness
Most of the women face morning sickness which is a sure sign of pregnancy. Often in the morning, if you feel like vomiting then it is a sign of pregnancy. Feeling weak, nausea, dizziness and vomiting sensations are sure signs to prove that you are pregnant.
12. Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are also common in early pregnancy. Traditionally referred to as “morning sickness,” the nausea and vomiting associated with early pregnancy can occur at any time of the day or night. Its typical onset is anywhere between the 2nd and 8th weeks of pregnancy. Most women who have morning sickness develop nausea and vomiting about one month after conception, but it may develop sooner in some women. Sometimes women report an increased in sensitivity to certain odors or smells that can sometimes cause nausea and/or vomiting.
13. Constipation
Another subtle and often overlooked pregnancy clue is constipation – defined as less that three bowel movements per week. Who doesn’t get constipated at one time or another – without being pregnant?
The constantly changing level of the hormone progesterone, which slows down the movement of food through your digestive system, can wreak havoc with the frequency and timing of bowel movements. Many women who are pregnant but don’t realize it may just write constipation off as an unrelated, and irritating issue. Like changes in the breasts, paying close attention here really can make tell a story.
14. A positive pregnancy test
Taking a home pregnancy test is probably the only way to ascertain and confirm a pregnancy. A test that comes out positive can be taken as a confirmation of pregnancy. The home pregnancy test kits are very sensitive and accurate and the results are quite reliable. However, you have to wait till after a week of your missed period to take this test and get accurate results.