How to Know if You are Pregnant: Early Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms
93For many women, the two weeks (or so) between ovulation and their expected period are very stressful. If you are trying to conceive and hoping that your "Aunt Flo" will stay away for the next year or so, or if you are sexually active and hoping to not become pregnant, this time period can put you on edge. Sometimes it seems as though every twinge is a symptom of something bigger, probably pregnancy. If you're like me, you could buy stock in pregnancy tests, which sit waiting until the day of testing. You might keep a calendar or a chart. You're on the edge of your seat, maybe even biting your nails. "Am I pregnant?" You ask yourself time and time again and until you can pee on that little stick, there really doesn't seem to be a solid answer.
I have been pregnant four times, and I can honestly state that the truth of the matter is that most pregnancy symptoms are also signs that your Aunt Flo is going to show up any day. This can be confusing and disconcerting for most women. The only cure is to pee on a stick and/or get a blood test done by your doctor.
I will, however, guide you through some of the most significant signs that you might be pregnant.
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For Those who are Casually Trying to Conceive or Not Preventing Pregnancy
The following symptoms apply to those who are casually trying to conceive as well as to those who are using fertility charting.
Please keep in mind that pregnancy doesn't begin until implantation and that your hormones won't be rising enough to produce symptoms until your fertilized egg has implanted on the uterine wall. Implantation usually occurs roughly 6-12 days after ovulation. If you don't know when you ovulated, you will find it much more difficult to follow your symptoms! Charting is always a good idea, even if you are trying to prevent pregnancy!
I am placing these symptoms in order from most obscure to most well known. You may learn a thing or two!
- Stuffy Nose
Most women don't know that a stuffy nose is a symptom of pregnancy, but it can be! Keep in mind, however, that a stuffy nose can also be a sign of allergies or illness and needs to be considered in conjunction with other symptoms.
- Metallic Taste in the Mouth
Dry mouth, with a metallic taste, can be a symptom of pregnancy. In most cases where I have known a woman to have this symptom she has later tested positive for pregnancy! Keep in mind that some medications might contribute to this symptom as well.
- Dark Blue Veins in the Breasts
Consider your breasts. Are there dark blue veins? Most of the time these veins will be prominent and puffy if you are pregnant, but this can also be a symptom of your menstrual period, so please be aware of your cycles!
- Increased Sensitivity to Odors
Your sense of smell may increase when you are pregnant!
- Implantation Cramping and/or Bleeding
Usually this is just light spotting but the cramping can be quite painful. Implantation bleeding occurs for a day or two when the fertilized egg implants on the uterine wall.
- Headache
Headaches are very common in early pregnancy, but this can also be a sign of illness, stress or a coming menstrual period. If you suspect you might be pregnant, please do not take aspirin or NSAIDs for your pain! Stick with Tylenol, which is safe during pregnancy!
- Fatique
Fatigue is very common early on in a pregancy as well as during the third trimester. If you are feeling frequently very tired, then you could be pregnant!
- Morning Sickness
If you find yourself becoming sick to your stomach, this can also be a sign of pregnancy. This symptom can show itself as early as the day of implantation! Remember, too, that feeling sick could also be a sign of illness.
- A Missed Menstrual Period
In most cases, a missed period is an indication that you are pregnant. However, there are other aspects that can affect this, including stress and simply "getting older." Women in their thirties tend to experience lengthening cycles, and it is possible to have an occasional anovulatory cycle (which means you might need to have your period jump-started medically).
For Those who are Charting
If you have been charting your cycles while trying to conceive, you will have further indications of your fertility and your possible pregnancy. If you are serious about becoming (or not becoming) pregnant, you should consider purchasing a Basal Body Thermometer (BBT) and taking your temperature every morning at the same time. Your basal temperature is taken when you are at rest and have been sleeping for at least three hours. Your temperature should be taken before you speak or rise in the morning. Temperatures can be taken either orally or vaginally.
See below for resources for trying to conceive and pregnancy.
If you have been charting your fertility, you probably have a good idea of how basal temping works, but I will cover the subject in brief:
- During your menstrual period and the follicular phase of your cycle (while your follicles are developing and preparing to release an egg), your temperature remains fairly low and, if you are healthy, stable.
- A few days prior to ovulation, you will begin to see some egg white cervical mucous. This is a sign that you are fertile and could become pregnant. Resources at the end of this article.
- When you ovulate, your temperature will most likely drop, and then rise sharply. If you are using a charting program like Fertility Friend, you will notice that after two or three days, you will see red cross-hairs, indicating the date on which you ovulated.
- After you have ovulated, your temperature will usually continue to rise for several days.
- If an egg has been fertilized, it will implant. When the egg implants on the uterine wall, you will usually see a profound drop in your temperature that will last for only one day.
- After the drop, you should see your temperature rise and continue to do so if you are pregnant.
- If you are not pregnant, your temperature will drop below your cover line and your period will show up, beginning your next cycle.
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Did this Hub Help you to Know if You were Pregnant?
If you showed all the signs in this hub, and then took a home pregnancy test, was it positive?
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Really? I had a ton of morning sickness with my youngest. From implantation right to the day I was induced with her I was constantly sick and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
I've heard the same thing about morning sickness meaning the baby is a girl, too :)
This hub is based from your experienced being a mother woman. But sad to say I'm not yet a mother lol. I just love hearing your stories. Hope this will not scare the soon to be mom. Wink*
I *loved* my first pregnancy. It really isn't all that bad, especially if you're in good shape. I had three of my children naturally as well and the fourth was born without pain medications.
It is *never* as bad as you think it will be!
Wow I hope this is right I want to have a bay bay!
Very informative and great information for any woman who wants to get pregnant
Thank you Every Day Miracles. Gosh I hope my Moms is reading your blog. Morning sickness is very frightening when you are just a tiny little egg inside her here, but at least she knows I exist now. Wish me luck! Eggy
Once again, you have packed a lot into this hub. I am sure it is very useful to a lot of women.
I didn't know that stuffy nose could be a sign for pregnancy. Thanks for gathering all this information. I learned a lot just by reading this hub! :-)
I didn't know a few of these - great hub! My first sign was larger breasts (not veins) and my husband felt that I'd gained weight - I'm very skinny (he knew before me about my pregnancy!)
can i ask i check if i am pregnant with the used of pregnancy test aftr i missed a period and the result is negative after 5 dats of our last intercorse i used pills and after 5 days becoz i am so worrid i take another pregnancy test and again the result is negative i dont know if it is the effect of using pills and till now i dont have menstration can some one help u can answer me thru email dorizvallesta_030790@yahoo.com thanks i hope some one will help me
Thanks for the useful. I'm glad that I've come to know this truth before visiting a doctor. Well I could expect what's unexpected during the pregnancy. One may not be so nervous when handling this issue.
use i will wait longer
This is a really useful hub. I am in the waiting stage at the moment, and hoping to be expecting our second child. Thank for the hub and I look forward to reading more of them.
Very informative hub. I knew that I am pregnant 15 days after it happened. I had an IVF, after transferring the blastocyst in me I had to take a blood test 15 days later and got positive. After I knew that I am pregnant I was trying to see if i will have any symptoms but i didn't have any. I guess every pregnancy is different. Thanks for the hub.
Did any one get two positives and then negatives after but still have symptoms???
I need some advice pls.
I am hoping to get my first pregnancy but i am not sure if i am pregnant now. Last November I feel the pain cramps that first time happened to me, then after few minutes i found a spot of little blood. I was thought my period is coming but no. After 5 days it started a little bleeding in two days only its already first week December. Maybe my delayed period its only few for two days. Then now January, i feel very dizzy and very sleepy every morning i wanted only to sleep and sleep. I noticed i gain some weight that honestly didnt eat much. Then when i go out people as me "Are you pregnant" even me i feel my stomach little bit bigger than before. first week of january now but my period didn't arrived yet. Is I am pregnant? hoping people advice.
U PROBABLY PREGNANT
Me and my boyfriend have been trying for a baby, we started trying sometime early in december. My first period was due and I was a week and half late, this only lasted 2days and few spots of blood for half a day, then next month I was a week late, came on for two days again but continued spotting for two days. I'm really confused my breasts seemed bigger but now me and my boyfriend have noticed they've got smaller, I've been moody and crying over nothing basically and I'm really fed up, some days I can wee more, then some days it will be normal, I'm really confused and would be very thankfull if someone could help me!! P.s my period is due in about 2 weeks waiting is killing us!!x
I have a mouth full of phlegm before and after I eat. My period is due today and had symptoms all week, but nothing yet. Mild breast pain and backache, but nothing more than usual, although I have headaches and my ears have been popping like a sinus infection, but the stuffy nose is getting better and still no period. what do you think?
I have a stuffy nose n I'm always tired I get a lil bit nausous here and there but nothing serious my stomach gets bigger but I've had my period and I got a test from the clinic and was negative also the only thing I want to eat is junk food anything else tastes disgusting to me. Does anyone have any advice?
Great hub ever, useful as well!
Thanks for the hub. I didn't know some of those signs to look for in early pregnancy symptoms. It is very hard to wait until that day of judgement when your period is due. I enjoyed your information and I voted. We'll see within the next few days! Keep fingers crossed!!!
i have a question but first may i say ur hub is amazing
i do have quiet a few of those symptoms but am due my period this week
my finace and i are TTC and i am afraid thats a STI may affect my chances u see i have had clymidia in the past i have had it treated and learned my lesson but it was 1year before the person who passed the STI told me to get tested i am worried that it may have damaged my overies and prevent me from conceiving x any advice or suggestions welcome thank you xx
I hadn't heard of some of these signs so thanks for the article - I found it very informative.
nothing new i learned.
Hi, I'm a bit confused here?
Yesterday I had what was a light pink discharge when I wiped myself, this morning I woke up with brown on my tampad. I've already had my period, I'm due sometime in January. Me and my fiancé had sex around 2-3 weeks ago, I've got a stuffy nose that feels like its getting better, been feeling tired frequently & I've got veins showing on my chest, my areola, not sure how you spell it seems to be brown and it's gotten a bit bigger. I can't touch my nipples cause they become very sore. After I had the pink discharge I felt a fluttery feeling in my lower belly & then I had a faint headache that lasted for 2 seconds. Can someone tell me what this means? Could I be pregnant? Xx
So UseFull Thanks xx
you are almost pregnant. CONGRATULATIONS!
can someone explain ovulation
Ive been playing with my self everyday & my period hasnt came and its sopposed to arrive this week and im scared to be.pregnant and I had stuffy nose but cum has been coming out for days I dont know if im prgnant I took advile but it worked but im still waiting on my period and im 13
I had no kind of morning sickness my first two pregnacies but was always very tired.For the first two months i still had a cycle. Can anyone explain that? Now me and my fiance think we`re preg again because i have been extremely tired these past couple of weeks. In the past when i was preg with my two sons i took an at home test and it can back neg then when i went to my doc i was 3 months preg. So really i dont trust at home tests that much.
Hi all, my LMP was March 12th and lasted the normal 5-6 days. My next one was due April 9th (i'm fairly regular, every 28-30 days), however a day or so before i had some brown discharge and nothing more for the month of April. To date still nothing, however, today I had what appeared to be brown spotting on my underwear! I've taken 3 hpt's over the last 2 weeks, all of which returned a negative result, despite experiencing early pregnancy symptoms (from what i've read anyway) like increased vaginal discharge, metallic taste in mouth and always very tired. Have appointment with GP on Friday morning, but was just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar and could shed some light. Many thanks;)
Hi everyone,
Just read some symptoms from Hub :) Ive been TTcing now for 5 months. AF was due last thutsday, but have only had brown spotting for past 5 days, and I mean tiny, no clots etc. Anyway been feeling dizzy and queesy and liking blueberries (use to hate them) breasts are tender and my veins seem to be quite promanent. When I look back the brown spotting started 12 days after OV.
What do u think? Im bloated but -o cramps anymore.
Trying to Conceive and Pregnancy Resources
- American Pregnancy Association
The American Pregnancy Association is one of the best resources that I have found online for pregnancy, trying to conceive and parenting. The site includes their own forum and I can also personally be found there! - Fertility Friend
Fertility Friend is a site where women can create their own fertility charts and calendars, including Trying to Conceive tickers. This site additionally provides an excellent resource with their charting course, an invaluable resource for couples! - PeeOnAStick
PeeOnAStick.com is an excellent resource for women who think they may be pregnant! This site compares the various pregnancy tests that are available on the market and helps women to choose which test is most likely to give them the best results. - Early Pregnancy Tests and Ovulation Predictor Kits for Home Use
One of the various sites available for purchasing inexpensive tests online (known as IC -- internet cheapies). Sites such as this one are very convenient if you are trying to conceive and need home pregnancy tests and ovulation prediction kits bulk. - BabyandBump
Baby and Bump is a pregnancy forum based in the United Kingdom. This is a very large and exceptionally active but very well organized forum and a great resource for those who are pregnant or who are trying to conceive. Highly recommended! - American Baby Magazine
American Baby Magazine offers a free subscription to expectant mothers. If you wish to receive the paper copy of this magazine monthly, please subscribe using the link above. There is absolutely no cost for your subscription to this magazine! - Just Mommies
Just Mommies is a large pregnancy site and overly large forum for women who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or who have children. The forum is very large and can be somewhat intimidating on this site, so proceed with awareness! - Amazing Pregnancy
A complete resource for those who are pregnant or who are trying to become pregnant. This site includes many articles and tools to help you along your way, including information about cervical mucous as described in the hub above! - Bornfree! Laura Shanley's Unassisted Childbirth Page
One of my favorite websites about pregnancy and childbirth. If you discover you are pregnant and want to look into doing things differently for your benefit and the benefit of your child, check out Laura Shanley's site!
Uninvited Writer Level 4 Commenter 3 years ago
Excellent hub. I read something recently that said that if you experience a lot of morning sickness that your baby will be more intelligent :)