Hey there! If you’ve found yourself on this post I’m guessing you might be asking yourself a pretty important question… am I pregnant?
Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also be filled with uncertainty, especially in the early weeks. Many women experience pregnancy symptoms before a missed period, while others may not notice anything until several weeks later.
If you’re trying to conceive, waiting for that missed period can feel like an eternity.
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But did you know that your body can show signs of pregnancy even before your period is due? While a missed period is one of the most obvious signs of pregnancy, there are other signs and symptoms that may indicate you are pregnant before a positive pregnancy test. (Be sure to read our post about pregnancy tests, too!)
[*Hey, mama… Have you downloaded our free guide yet? “The Ultimate Guide to Natural Pregnancy Remedies” It’s jam-packed with awesome tips and advice to help you tackle those pesky pregnancy discomforts using natural remedies.*]
These early signs can be easy to miss or dismiss as something else, but being in tune with your body can give you a clue that you might be pregnant. In this blog post, we will discuss 22 early signs of pregnancy that you can look out for, so you can have a better idea of whether you might be expecting a little one. From the small, subtle changes in your body to more obvious symptoms that scream… “baby on board!”, we’ll cover it all.
Keep in mind that not every woman will experience these early pregnancy signs and symptoms. Some women may be able to check 5, 10, or maybe even all of these symptoms off the list while other women might not experience a single one. Every woman is so beautifully unique and your pregnancy journey will not be the same as any other woman’s. With that said, let’s get started!
[Related post: When Can I Take a Pregnancy Test?]
20 Early Signs of Pregnancy Before Missed Period
- Fatigue: Feeling tired or exhausted, even after getting enough rest. This is caused by the increased production of progesterone in the body. Progesterone levels start to increase after implantation (roughly 7-10 days after ovulation).
- Nausea: Feeling queasy or sick to your stomach, sometimes accompanied by vomiting. This is often referred to as morning sickness, but it can occur at any time of the day.
- Bloating: Feeling full, gassy, or swollen in the stomach area. Another symptom thanks to our favorite hormone, Progesterone. Progesterone can cause the muscles in the digestive tract to relax, which can slow down the movement of food and waste through the intestines. This can lead to constipation, gas, and bloating.
- Implantation Cramping: Some women experience mild to moderate cramping, similar to menstrual cramps, when the egg implants in the uterine wall. This is roughly 7-10 days after ovulation.
- Spotting: Light bleeding or spotting can occur when the fertilized egg implants in the uterus.
- Mood swings: Fluctuations in hormones can cause mood swings, irritability, and emotional changes early in pregnancy.
- Breast changes: Tender, sore, or swollen breasts, along with darkening of the nipples and areolas, can occur due to hormonal changes. Breast tenderness is the most commonly reported early pregnancy symptom and up to 70% of women experience breast tenderness in early pregnancy.
- Headaches: Hormonal changes can also cause headaches, which may be more severe than usual.
- Constipation: As mentioned with bloating, slower digestion and increased progesterone levels can lead to constipation.
- Frequent urination: The uterus and baby are not large enough to put pressure on the bladder yet (this will make you have to pee often later), but the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) produced by the placenta after a fertilized egg implants in the uterus is responsible for those bathroom trips early on. As the placenta develops, hCG levels increase rapidly, which can lead to increased blood flow to the pelvic region and increased urine production.
- Dizziness: Changes in blood pressure and circulation can cause dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Heightened sense of smell: An increased sensitivity to smells, including those that were previously unnoticeable or pleasant.
- Metallic taste: Some women report a metallic taste in their mouth during early pregnancy. This taste can also be accompanied by an aversion to water.
- Acne: Hormonal changes can cause acne breakouts or excessively dry skin.
- Vivid dreams: Changes in hormone levels can also cause vivid or unusual dreams.
- Vaginal discharge: An increase in vaginal discharge, sometimes accompanied by mild itching or irritation, can occur in early pregnancy. The discharge may appear milky white, thin, and mild-smelling. Some women may also experience an increase in the amount of discharge.
- Gum bleeding: Increased blood flow to the gums can cause bleeding and swelling.
- Changes in libido: Changes in hormone levels can affect sex drive and desire.
- Hot flashes: Some women may experience hot flashes or sudden waves of heat from changes in estrogen levels.
- Cold-like symptoms: Increased blood flow to the nasal passages and hormonal changes can cause congestion and stuffiness.
- Pica: This is when you crave non-food items and can become dangerous if acted upon and you consume harmful substances. While it’s not entirely clear why this happens, some women experience cravings for non-food items during early pregnancy, such as ice, dirt, or chalk.
- Increased body temperature: Some women may notice that they feel warmer than usual during early pregnancy. This can be due to hormonal changes and increased blood flow. A fever, however, is not a normal symptom of early pregnancy and might indicate an infection or other underlying issue.
It’s important to remember that these “two week wait symptoms” can also be caused by other factors and do not necessarily indicate pregnancy.
If you think (or hope) you might be pregnant, it’s definitely best to take a trusted pregnancy test and consult with a healthcare provider as this is the only way to know for sure if you are expecting!
Jess
