13 Early Signs of Pregnancy – Pregnancy Symptoms

Am I pregnant or am I not?

You cannot wait till you miss your period?

You will be surprised to know that you can start feeling early pregnancy symptoms before missed period, for some as early as 10 days from the conception.

13 Early signs of pregnancy:

Here are some of the prominent early signs of pregnancy.

#1. Sore breast

Sensitive, tender breasts are one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. The nipple gets so sensitive that even a cloth brushing against it or a mere touch can make you go ouuuchh!!

This symptom can be seen as early as 10-15 days after conception. The changes happen because your breasts are preparing itself for an important role in future i.e. feeding your baby.

Your breasts are likely to get bigger as and when the pregnancy grows. The buildup of fat around the breast area, milk glands and increased blood flow is to be blamed along with the devious pregnancy hormones for all the changes.

You might feel that your regular bras are all of a sudden uncomfortable to wear. Go! shop for a supportive bra a cup or 2 sizes bigger, whatever you find appropriate.

Do not worry, this phase will pass as well, the soreness will reduce after first trimester. But you may feel a little tender on and off during pregnancy.

#2. Areola color

During pregnancy the areole darkens substantially. Areola is the brown area surrounding the nipple.

The first week signs of pregnancy can include a change in areola color and this symptom can be visible as early as a week or 2 after conception.

The bump on areola called montgomery tubercles may look more prominent in the early stages of pregnancy as your breast prepare to produce milk.

Here’s a fun fact – newborns have limited vision, but they can make out the contrast between the darkened areola and rest of the breast and it helps them to locate the nipple.

For better or worse this is one sign of pregnancy that will remain with you, the color of Areola might fade a little but will remain dark post pregnancy as well.

#3. Fatigue

Do you feel exhausted lately, like you have been working in a coal mine? Is it becoming necessary for you to sit down or you get dizzy?

Then you might be experiencing early signs of pregnancy.

In the first trimester your body produces more blood to provide nutrition to the baby. Your blood sugar level and blood pressure tends to lower down making you tired and lethargic all day.

Listen to the signs of your body and take rest as and when required. The power naps are quick and effective solution for working mom to be.

Also if this is not you first pregnancy, do not hesitate to seek help from your husband and relatives managing your first kid and household chores.

Relax ladies you will start feeling better after 2-3 months and the symptom will subside as your body gets used to the hormonal changes.

#4. Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting can be one of the earliest possible signs of pregnancy.

I started experiencing nausea 10 days before my periods were due. My husband said it’s all in my mind and as much as he regrets saying that now he accepts that some signs of pregnancy can be experienced even before the periods are due.

I speak on behalf of all pregnant nauseated ladies that this sign so far is the most challenging one.

For some, it’s just not morning sickness, it’s an all day anytime sickness. It is also common to feel a bitter metallic like taste in your mouth especially in the mornings which makes you feel all the more puckish. You tend to get oversensitive to certain smell. Anything, any smell can trigger nausea and vomiting.

If you feel nauseated with smell of the food, let somebody else do the cooking. The smell from tempering process (tadka) is one of the most common triggers for Indian expecting females.

Try eating in small portions at regular interval. Also avoid water before or after your large meals. This symptom is likely to go away after your first trimester and might return back in 3^rd trimester, as you get ready to deliver. For some unlucky ones, they feel the signs throughout the pregnancy.

#5. Mood swings

Mood swings are incredibly common in early weeks of pregnancy and it’s easy to mistake it as a premenstrual syndrome.

As your body prepares for the baby, your mind goes on a roller coaster ride. It’s common to feel extreme emotions in early pregnancy because of changes in hormones.

I cried profusely when a character from that boring soap opera died and sometimes when I laugh I cannot stop myself. Once I was laughing a lot and then went on to cry like a baby, such are your emotions during pregnancy.

There is anxiety, there is fear and there is the stress of baby’s upbringing and all these emotions can be quite over whelming.

It’s important to open up to your spouses and share your feelings with them. Also take a break now and then and indulge yourself in a nice pedicure or prenatal massage. Keep yourself occupied and stay positive. After all your emotions and behavior affects your baby’s development. So all you lovely ladies SMILE!

#6. Constipation

It is common to feel gassy and bloated in pregnancy. That’s because pregnancy brings a hormonal surge that can slow down your gastrointestinal tract.

Since you are nauseated, you tend to drink less fluid and also your baby puts pressure on the rectum causing constipation.

It is important during this time to eat fiber rich food and though you might not like it but you have to keep a check on your water intake. If drinking water is a problem, try to substitute it smartly by drinking coconut water, butter milk, lemon water etc.

• Must read:  Ideal food chart for a pregnant woman

Isabgol (Psyllium seed husks) comes in different flavor and they are easily available in any Indian drug store, it is safe to take a spoonful with water every day.

You can also read about the remedies for constipation during pregnancy.

#7. Frequent urination

Are you getting up thrice in a night because you cannot stop your urge to urinate?

The increased blood flows makes the kidney produce more urine soon after conception. Also as and when your uterus grows it puts pressure on the bladder making you rush to wash room more often.

Do not try and restrict your fluid intake, it is very important to stay hydrated at all times of pregnancy. Try drinking more fluid in day time and cut back before your bed time. This symptom is common to first and third trimester both.

#8. Heartburn

No, it’s not burning sensation in your Heart. When acidity runs up from your gut and creates irritating feeling in your chest and up is heartburn.

This symptom is as good as the morning sickness symptom. The hormone progesterone is responsible for this in early stage of pregnancy, and may continue up till your last trimester.

I strongly recommend antacid (elaichi flavor worked for me) ONLY under your gynecologists’ prescription.

Avoid foods that you feel triggers the sensation.

#9. Implantation bleeding

Some ladies can experience light cramping and implantation bleeding and this is also an early sign of pregnancy. Implantation bleeding occurs when the fertilized egg is attached to the uterine wall. This light spotting lasts normally just for a couple of hours and in rare cases this light pinkish or brownish spotting may last for 1 to 2 days.

This process occurs so close to the date of your regular periods that often it is confused for a regular period.

• Must read: Is spotting normal during pregnancy?

#10. Food cravings or aversions

It is common at this stage to crave for certain foods. For some the smell and sight of certain kind of edibles can cause irritation and aversions.

It may also happen that your favorite food suddenly becomes the most stomach-turning food item.

Some pregnant ladies have completely weird pregnancy cravings too.

#11. High basal body temperature

If you are charting your basal body temperature, you can see that it will be high during ovulation and will stay high till your period. If the basal body temperature is staying high beyond your period date and you have missed your periods too, then yes this is also a sign that you are pregnant.

#12. Increased sense of smell

One of the early changes that pregnancy causes is the increased sensitivity to smell/odors. You tend to get oversensitive to certain smell. Anything, any smell can trigger nausea and vomiting.

If you feel nauseated with smell of the food, let somebody else do the cooking. The smell from tempering process (tadka) is one of the most common triggers for Indian expecting females.

#13. Missed period

A missed period is the best indication to tell if you are pregnant or not. If you are not able to find out if you are pregnant with the above symptoms, wait till you have missed your period and take a home pregnancy test.

So these were the symptoms during early stages of pregnancy.

You may feel some of the symptom, all, or might not feel a single one.

I strongly feel that you should trust your instincts when it comes to the question Am I pregnant or not?

You can also read about the Pregnancy Symptoms Before Missed Period.

If you are not able to find out if you are pregnant with the above symptoms, wait till you have missed your period and take a test.

An hcg blood test report is more accurate than a home pregnancy test kit. If you get a negative and still feel these symptoms take the test after a week again.

Hope this article on early signs of pregnancy was informative. Luck and Baby Dust to all you lovely ladies.