It’s difficult for most women who think they may be pregnant to muster the patience needed to wait for their period. For those who would rather know as soon as they possibly can, there are very early signs of pregnancy before missed period that can at least provide some hints as early as the first week. Unfortunately, every woman is different, and for many, symptoms may not even appear for the first several months. Even women who experience some of these signs can’t be sure until a test confirms the pregnancy. Still, it can be helpful to recognize the possible early indicators.
Fatigue is one of those signs. The increase in the hormone progesterone is known to create a feeling of tiredness, and the strain pregnancy places on the body can also leave a woman exhausted. If you feel tired for no explainable reason and sleep doesn’t seem to help, then pregnancy may be a possible explanation.
Another one of the first symptoms is tenderness in the breasts. Swelling and soreness are caused by the HCG hormone that the body starts to produce at the start of implantation. Most women notice this difference three or four weeks after conception, but some claim to have felt their breasts change in the first week or two.
A change in your bathroom habits can also indicate pregnancy. As the uterus begins to swell, the pressure on the bladder can lead to frequent urination. If you suddenly experience the urge to pee more often, it could be you are indeed pregnant. Constipation, too, can be a sign. As the body begins to prepare for the growing baby, the digestive track slows down so more nutrients can be absorbed. This slow down of digestion also causes a build up of stomach acid, and the added pressure caused by the growing uterus can also lead to heartburn.
Nausea, usually dubbed “morning sickness” when connected to pregnancy, can occur any time of the day. There is no conclusive explanation for this, though most blame those increased hormones and changes to the digestive system. This common symptom can manifest as early as the first week after conception. An increased sensitivity to scents is another possible sign, and you may find some smells now make you queasy. New cravings may also develop, hitting you at odd moments.
Many women also experience cramping in these first few weeks. Spotting, caused by implantation of the fertilized egg, happens in about 30% of pregnancy. Occurring a week or two after conception, it may be mistaken for a period, but should be much lighter than a woman’s typical menstruation.
Other very early signs of pregnancy before missed period include moodiness and spells of dizziness. However, any of these signs may be caused by other factors, and unfortunately, there is no sure sign of pregnancy before a positive test result. Home pregnancy tests are usually not accurate until enough HCG has been produced to be detected, usually two weeks after conception. For most women, this happens around the same time they would be getting their period, which means these very early signs of pregnancy before missed period are their only indicators for those first couple of weeks. If you do experience these symptoms, get a pregnancy test and even if you haven’t, you still might be pregnant.
