Early Pregnancy Symptoms You Should Know

Every woman needs to know about early signs and symptoms of pregnancy

Introduction

You can determine if you are pregnant with pregnancy tests or ultrasound scan. However, certain signs and symptoms are indicative of early pregnancy. Early symptoms of pregnancy include missed period, fatigue, morning sickness, vaginal discharge and smell sensitivity, among others.

It is important to note that your first week of being pregnant is based on your last menstrual period. Though it may not have been obvious you are pregnant, week 1 of pregnancy starts from your last menstrual period.

Symptoms of early pregnancy vary in frequency, duration and intensity.

You can calculate your expected date of delivery using the first day of your last menstrual period. However, you may not have symptoms in the first few weeks of pregnancy. Yet, these first few weeks count towards your 40-week pregnancy.

Many early pregnancy symptoms may be similar to discomforts during pre-menstrual period.

Summary of early signs and symptoms of pregnancy starting from last menstrual period

Timeline of Signs and symptoms of early pregnancy

Week-1 to 4 – mild cramping and spotting

Week-4 – missed period, fatigue

Week-5 – fatigue

Week-4 to 6 – nausea, breast pain and tingling sensation, frequent urination, bloating

Week-5 to 6 – motion sickness

Week-6 – mood swings, temperature changes

Week-8 – high blood pressure

Week-9 – extreme fatigue and heartburn

Week 8 to 10 – faster heartbeat

Week-11 – breast and nipple changes, acne, weight gain

Week-12 – pregnancy glow

Here are 16 signs and symptoms of early pregnancy

1. Missed period

Missed period is perhaps the most obvious symptom of pregnancy. At the completion of implantation, your body begins the production of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG is a hormone that causes the ovaries to stop release of mature eggs each month. Additionally, it helps maintain the pregnancy.

It is important to note that four weeks after conception, you will most likely miss your next menstrual period. If your menstrual period is irregular, it is best to confirm with pregnancy test.

You can take the test at home using your urine. Most home tests detect hCG from eight days after a missed period. If you are pregnant, hCG level can be detected in urine using a pregnancy strip.

I will advise that you take a pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy status. If positive, you will need to speak with a doctor or a midwife about pre- and ante-natal care. In addition, if you are taking any medications, ask your doctor about their safety for your baby.

2. Pregnancy glow and acne

‘Pregnancy glow’ occurs commonly during early pregnancy.

During early stages of pregnancy, blood volume and hormone levels increase, pushing more blood through your vessels. As a result of this, the body’s oil glands begin to work overtime.

Many people refer to you having pregnancy glow when your skin appears flushed and glossy.

This flushed, glossy appearance is due to increased activity of your body’s oil glands.

You may also develop acne while pregnant.

3. High body temperature

The basal body temperature may rise in response to changes in internal milieu, among other factors. For example, a higher body temperature may be a early sign of pregnancy.

Also, your body temperature can increase easily in hot weather or during exercise. At this time, all you have to do is drink more water and exercise cautiously.

Additionally, always keep your bedroom cool during while pregnant to help lower your high body temperature.

4. Fatigue

Fatigue is a common symptom at any time during pregnancy but is commoner in early pregnancy. It is a feeling of exhaustion, occurring when your progesterone levels rise.

An increase of your progesterone levels may cause you to feel exhausted and sleepy.

It goes without saying that in the early weeks of your pregnancy you can feel exhausted. However, you can mitigate against this by getting enough sleep.

5. Cramps and spotting

Cramping is a normal part of early pregnancy. It occurs as a result of normal physical changes your body undergoes as it prepares to carry your body.

All body changes between week 1 and week 4 of gestation, occur on a cellular level. At this time, the fertilized egg develops into a blastocyst – a group of cells filled with fluid. The blastocyst further develops into body parts and organs of the baby.

After conception, the blastocyst implants in the uterine endometrium at about week 4. This may cause mild bleeding known as implantation bleeding, sometimes mistaken as a light period.

Early signs of pregnancy due to blastocyst implantation include:

• Bleeding lasting less than three days and requiring no treatment.
• Spotting color of pink, brown or red.
• Bleeding that is comparable to regular menstrual period.
• Pain that may be mild, moderate or severe. Evidence shows that some women have spotting associated with tummy cramps.

Implantation bleeding can be worsened by smoking, use of illicit drugs, or excessive drinking of alcohol. These risky behaviors are associated with heavy bleeding, so you should avoid them.

6. Faster heart rate

Your heart may beat faster and harder at about weeks 8 to 10. Arrhythmias and palpitation commonly occur in pregnancy due to hormone changes.

An increase in blood flow may occur later in pregnancy due to the fetus. If you have increased heart rate, it is ideal to start managing it before conception.

Your doctor can help you with low dosages of drugs if you have a heart problem.

A pregnant woman sharing her experience of mild pregnancy symptoms with the partner

7. Early breast changes including aching, growing and tingling breasts

Between weeks 4 and 6, breast changes occur. During this period, you will experience swollen and tender breasts due to changes in hormones.

The development of tender and swollen breasts gradually disappears after a few weeks following the adjustment of your body to the hormone changes.

Breast and nipple changes may also occur about week 11. Your breasts continue to grow due to hormones. The area around the nipple known as the areola may grow larger and change to a darker color.

If you have had acne bouts before your pregnancy, you may have breakouts of acne.

You can relieve breast tenderness with the use of supportive, comfortable, maternity bra. Also, you can use a cotton, underwire-free bra because it is the most comfortable.

You can buy breast pads to fit into your bra and reduce friction and pain on your nipples.

8. Frequent urination

Your blood flow increases during pregnancy. The body increases the volume of blood it pumps, causing the kidneys to process more fluid than usual. This leads to more urine in the bladder.

Also, hormones play a key role in the health of your urinary bladder. For example, you may be frequenting the bathroom to urinate, or may find yourself accidentally leaking urine during pregnancy.

Therefore, take note of this symptom when pregnant and try to manage it well.

Due to urination challenges while pregnant, plan your bathroom visits to prevent incontinence. Also, due to the importance of water to overall health, drink about 300mls of extra fluids each day.

9. Bloating and constipation

During early pregnancy, bloating may occur similar to symptoms of a menstrual period.

Bloating may be due to hormone changes. These hormone changes can also slow down your digestive system, causing constipation.

Constipation is a common early symptom of pregnancy. In fact, an increase in progesterone slows down the passage of food through the intestines.

This is why some women feel constipated during early pregnancy. Feelings of abdominal bloating can also be increased by constipation.

10. Mood swings

Pregnancy increases your estrogen and progesterone levels. As a result, you may become moody and more reactive or emotional than usual while pregnant.

Mood swings are common during early pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. They may cause feelings of anxiety, irritability, euphoria and depression.

11. Headache

You may have headache during early pregnancy.

Hormone changes cause increased blood circulation, and trigger frequent, mild headache.

12. Nausea, vomiting and morning sickness

Around weeks 4 to 6 morning sickness and nausea may develop. Morning sickness, as a symptom of early pregnancy, and in spite of its name, can occur any time during the day or night.

It is believed that hormones play an important role in the causation of nausea and morning sickness.

Many women have mild to severe morning sickness during the first trimester of pregnancy. The sickness may get more intense by the end of the first trimester. But from the second trimester it often gets less severe.

You know what? Drink lots of water to stay hydrated. You can prevent morning sickness by eating saltine crackers before you are up in the morning.

Nausea, vomiting and morning sickness are symptoms of early pregnancy to look for because they are common among pregnant women.

But if the condition is not letting up, speak with your doctor.

13. Food aversions or cravings and smell sensitivity

When you are pregnant, you may not like to eat certain foods and your smell sensitivity may be high.

Also, food cravings are common. Therefore, smell sensitivity and food aversions or cravings are symptoms of early pregnancy.

Smell sensitivity may trigger nausea and vomiting. Also, it may cause you to distaste certain foods. However, there is little evidence to support the claim of smell sensitivity during the first trimester.

Research shows that pregnant women had more intense smell sensitivity during their first trimester.

A study examined the relationship between smells and pregnancy from 1922 to 2014. The researcher found that pregnant women had more intense odors during their first trimester.

A pregnant woman with mild symptoms of pregnancy

14. Weight gain

You are likely to gain more weight toward the end of your first trimester. You may gain up to about 4 pounds during the first few months of your pregnancy.

The calorie requirement for early pregnancy will increase as the pregnancy progresses. However, at the early stage, the requirement will not change much from your normal diet.

As your pregnancy progresses, your breasts, fat, placenta, uterus, amniotic fluid, and increased blood and fluid volume increase.

For example, breasts may reach about 1 to 3 pounds in weight. Uterus increases to about 2 pounds.

Also, placenta increases to about 1½ pounds. Body fat increases to 6 to 8 pounds and increased blood and fluid volume reaches about 5 to 7 pounds.

15. Dizziness, faintness and high blood pressure

During early stages of pregnancy, high or normal blood pressure may drop due to dilatation of the blood vessels. This may cause dizziness or light-head.

Faintness may also occur as a result of low blood sugar. Therefore high blood pressure, fainting and dizziness are important symptoms of early pregnancy.

It is difficult to conclude that high blood pressure in early pregnancy is due to the pregnancy. It may interest you to know that almost all the hypertension cases within the first 20 weeks of gestation are indicative of underlying problems.

High blood pressure may occur during early pregnancy or might have been present before onset of pregnancy.

During your first visit, your doctor will check your blood pressure and advise you accordingly.

To mitigate against high blood pressure during first few weeks of pregnancy, engage in pregnancy safe exercises. Always check your blood pressure regularly. Drink lots of water. Ensure you snack regularly to help prevent dizziness.

Talk to your doctor about dietary practices that can help you control your blood pressure.

16. Heartburn

During early pregnancy, hormones causes the relaxation of the valve between your esophagus and stomach. As a result, stomach acid leaks into the esophagus causing heartburn.

You should eat several small meals a day to prevent pregnancy related heartburn. After eating, stay in an upright position for an hour or more to allow for food digestion.

If you need antacids, speak with your doctor about pregnancy safe medicines for you and your baby.

Conclusion

A pregnant woman may experience all of these early signs and symptoms of pregnancy. Perhaps, she may have one or two of these symptoms.

If you have any of these symptoms and they become troublesome, speak with your doctor who will help you make a plan to offset them.

However, note that many of the symptoms that occur while pregnant and other body changes within the first trimester fade gradually by the time you get to the second trimester.

It is certain that when you talk to your doctor about any symptoms interfering with your daily life, you can find some comfort.

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