Pregnancy Symptoms

Even as early as just a few days after conception, some women may begin to notice the earliest signs that indicate they’re pregnant. If you are especially attuned to your body and it’s signs and feelings, you may be able to spot some of these early signs that may indicate you’re pregnant.

Light bleeding, or spotting
You may notice some light bleeding or spotting within one to two weeks of conception as the newly formed embryo implants itself into the uterine wall. Some women may also notice cramping during implantation, similar to cramping felt during ovulation or menstruation.

Late periods
One of the most common signs of pregnancy, and one of the easiest to detect, a delayed period is a prime indicator of pregnancy. While some women may have light bleeding or spotting during their first period following conception, others will have no period symptoms at all.

Tender or swollen breasts
As soon as one or two weeks after conception, some women may begin to feel a heaviness, tenderness, or swelling in their breasts. When pregnant, these changes can occur as a result of hormonal shifts that occur in the early stages of pregnancy. Many women also feel some tenderness or swelling of their breasts during menstruation, and these symptoms can also occur as a result of birth control medication.

Fatigue
As early as a week after conception, you may begin to feel an increased level of fatigue, which occurs as your body’s hormone production shifts and your body adjusts to pregnancy. This symptom can also occur as a result of menstruation in some women.

Nausea
Arising as a result of hormone production that occurs during pregnancy, this symptom is well known and usually occurs within two weeks to two months of conception. Because many women go through their entire pregnancy without feeling any nausea, you may be pregnant even if you don’t feel this symptom.

Changes in cervical secretions
Just as with ovulation, pregnancy can also cause changes in vaginal secretions. Because many women are unfamiliar with the cycle of changes of these fluids, this symptom is often overlooked. Many women do not experience any changes in vaginal secretions, and some changes may occur as the result of an impending period.

Need to urinate
Many women may experience the need to urinate more frequently; however, this symptom usually does not occur until six weeks to two months into the pregnancy.

Headache
Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can cause headaches, and some women may begin to experience these headaches as early as two week following conception. Headaches can also occur as the result of menstruation, an increase in stress, illness, and a host of other reasons; therefore, a headache by itself is not considered a good indicator of pregnancy.

Backache
As a result of changes in your uterus early in your pregnancy, you may experience a dull lower backache, similar to a backache experienced during or near menstruation.

Darkening Nipples
The area round your nipples, called the areola, may become darker in some women during pregnancy. This symptom usually only occurs after several weeks of pregnancy. Similarly, some women also experience a dark line extending from the navel to the pubis. This line, called the “linea negra,” usually occurs once the belly begins to grow, and may not occur in all women.

Food Cravings
Like morning sickness, food cravings are one of the most exploited pregnancy symptoms, often referred to in books, movies and television shows. While some women may crave specific foods during all or part of their pregnancy, many women will experience no cravings at all. So while this symptom may be well known, it is not considered a good indicator of pregnancy.

“Feeling” Pregnant
Some women – especially those who are “tuned into” their body’s cycles and feelings – may report that they “feel” pregnant soon after conception. This feeling can vary from one woman to another, and many women who have been trying to conceive unsuccessfully may also report “feeling pregnant,” even though they are not.

While pregnancy can explain all of these symptoms and conditions, many of them can arise as a result of other conditions or issues, including stress, fatigue, excessive weight loss, strenuous exercise, hormonal imbalance, and even serious health conditions or illness. If you believe you may be pregnant – and especially if your period is 10 or more days late – it’s probably a good idea to take a pregnancy test, and to see your doctor or health care provider if the results are negative, to ensure a more serious medical condition is not causing pregnancy-like symptoms.