Do you know what the very early signs of pregnancy are? Your body is a complex machine – finely tuned and is giving off signals all the time. Pregnancy is a huge change to your body’s normal day-to-day functions and when you are with baby, your body will let you know!
Some moms-to-be will get one or two quiet signs at first, others’ bodies will scream “I’M PREGNANT” with all 10 signs at once. As hormone levels fluctuate and your body learns how to react to these changed levels, most women will experience practically all of the very early signs of pregnancy. You just need to know what the signs are.
Elevated Basal Body Temperature
A woman’s basal body temperature (the lowest body temperature attained during rest) begins to elevate after ovulation, and stays elevated past when you should have had your period. This increase in basal body temperature, usually one-half to one degree Fahrenheit, is a subtle very early warning sign of pregnancy. To get this clue, you should have some idea what your normal (non-pregnancy) basal temperature is.
Tenderness In The Breasts And Nipples
This is a classic early sign of early pregnancy – and one that often goes unnoticed. Many women attribute this tenderness to their bras or other clothing, and tend to ignore it. And, after the body gets used to the new hormone levels – the tenderness goes away.
So, you must pay close attention to what your body is trying to say – because it may stop talking after a while.
Darker, More Prominent Areolas
As your breasts change and enlarge, your areolas (the darker area that surrounds the nipple) will swell and get bigger, too. This is a very early sign of pregnancy – normally occurring around the time you expect your period. Some believe that the darker coloring of the areola helps the newborn find the nipple for breastfeeding. After pregnancy, your nipples and areolas should return to normal colors and sizes.
Constipation
This is another very subtle clue – who doesn’t get constipated at one time or another – without being pregnant? The changing hormone levels can play games with your bowels, interrupting the normal frequency and timing of your bowel movements.
Many women who are expecting just write constipation off as an unrelated issue. Like basal body temperature, paying close attention really can make a difference.
Spotting
Light to moderate spotting (commonly called implantation spotting) normally happens a week to several days before your normal period is supposed to happen. Pink or brownish spotting is common a week or so after ovulation. Sometimes, spotting can simply be a sign of an early period. If this happens, look for other signs of pregnancy or take a pregnancy test.
Frequent Urination
Another classic very early sign of pregnancy, frequent urination should be a standout. This can be one of the earliest clues – happening a week to 12 days after a rise in basal body temperature, or about six weeks into your first trimester. While rising hormone levels are partly to blame, the most likely reason you feel like you have to pee every 5 minutes or so is the fact that the amount of blood in your body increases dramatically during pregnancy. This leads to a lot of extra fluids flowing through your kidneys – therefore a lot more pee!
Nausea And Vomiting
Commonly referred to as “morning sickness,” this early sign of pregnancy usually affects most women and begins around the sixth week of pregnancy. Again, hormone levels are thought to be the main cause. Surprisingly, many doctors feel that morning sickness is a good sign that all is well with your baby’s health and development. If your morning sickness is accompanied with vomiting, be sure to stay hydrated.
Menstrual Period Missed
While there are many reasons you may miss a menstrual period – stress, illness, excessive exercise, reactions to foods or medications – this can be a classic sign of pregnancy. If your period is very regular, and you have no other obvious reason to miss one, look for other early signs you may be pregnant.
Cramping
Moderate to severe cramping can be a sign of many conditions – including pregnancy. Implantation cramping happens to a growing and moving uterus getting prepared to sustain a new life. Sometimes cramping can be a sign of constipation or gas in the bowels. Other more serious causes include miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
You shouldn’t have cramping after a positive pregnancy test – if you experience cramps with mild spotting, see your doctor to be sure all is well.
Unusual Fatigue And Tiredness
In our rush-rush modern world, it’s not unusual to be dead tired at the end of a busy day. Fatigue is different – a feeling of lethargy and exhaustion that seems to happen no matter your level of activity or time of day. The truth is, your body is working very hard to accommodate a new life. And, this work takes energy – energy that is taken from your daily activities.
If you notice some of these very early signs of pregnancy, test yourself with a good quality pregnancy test you can get at your local drug store. These home pregnancy tests have become quite accurate, normally being able to sense a pregnancy 10 to 14 days after contraception. If you get a negative, but still feel you may be pregnant – see your doctor to be sure.