- Spotting or Light Bleeding
- Missed Period
- Nausea or Morning Sickness
- Swollen or Tender Breasts
- Fatigue or Tiredness
- Backaches
- Headaches
- Frequent Urination
- Food Cravings or Food Aversions
- Darkening of the Areolas
- Mood Swings
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pregnancy symptoms explained
Spotting or light bleeding: This symptom is usually associated with implantation bleeding and is considered one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. The embryo usually implants to the uterine between 6 to 12 days after conception. Some women will experience spotting as well as cramping.
Missed period: A delayed or missed period is the most common pregnancy symptom leading a woman to test for pregnancy. When you become pregnant, you will not have a period.
Nausea or morning sickness: Nausea or morning sickness is the second most commonly reported first sign of pregnancy. Experienced to some degree by most expecting women, nausea typically shows up between 2 to 8 weeks after conception. Nausea can be experienced with or without vomiting. It is important to know that nausea, frequently called morning sickness, can actually be experienced at any time of the day. Similarly, it usually occurs during the first trimester and subsides after that for most women, but some will experience nausea all throughout their pregnancies.
Swollen or tender breasts: The third most frequently cited symptom of pregnancy is changes in the breasts. These changes are usually indicated by swelling or tenderness. Changes to the breasts can start as early as 1 to 2 weeks after conception.
Fatigue or Tiredness: Following conception, as early as the first week after, many women cite feeling tired as a sign of pregnancy. This fatigue is commonly experienced by those who are expecting and is recognized as a typical symptom of pregnancy.
Backaches: Lower backaches are commonly reported by women who discover that they are pregnant. This symptom can occur with the onset of pregnancy, but it is often experienced later as the pregnancy progresses. This makes it an common pregnancy symptom at week 27 to week 34.
Headaches: Experiencing headaches at the onset of pregnancy is another common early sign of pregnancy. Experts believe that the sudden rise of hormones in your body leads you to experience the headaches.
Frequent Urination: Don’t be surprised if you feel like you have to pee more often. Increase urination starts for most people between 6 to 8 weeks.
You will find that increased urination will pick back up or continue throughout your pregnancy as the expanding baby and uterus place pressure on your bladder.
Food cravings or food aversions: The reason for certain food cravings or food aversions is not known. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself drawn to something you normally do not care for, or avoiding things that you normally like. These cravings or aversions can occur early in pregnancy or anytime throughout your pregnancy.
Darkening of the Areolas: Some people lump darkening of the areolas into the symptom of pregnancy referred to as breast changes but it is a common occurrence within those who are expecting.
Mood Swings: Expecting mothers frequently experience mood swings. This is believed to be primarily caused by the hormonal changes that affect the neurotransmitters of the brain. The types of mood swings can vary from woman to woman. Some may experience elevated highs and lows, whereas others alternate between states of happiness to states of depression or anxiety.