7 Signs You’re Pregnant

Am I pregnant? This is a common question, especially among first-time moms. In this post, we’ll discuss the 7 signs you’re pregnant.

I remember the first time I got pregnant like it was yesterday!  

My husband and I had been trying to conceive for about 6 months after stopping birth control. I had been anxious and excited to finally be able to run into the room with a pregnancy test in hand to say “I’m pregnant!”

To my surprise, when I finally did become pregnant, I missed all the signs.

It wasn’t until someone told me I was pregnant that I began thinking about some of the odd things going on with my body. Even then, I didn’t feel pregnant.

But my 2nd experience was completely different! In fact, I’m pretty sure I felt the moment I conceived my baby, but that’s a whole other story.

The purpose of this post isn’t about me though. I want to help you understand the signs that you may be pregnant. Plus, things to think about before jumping to the conclusion that you’re pregnant because these signs can be symptoms of other things going on.

How Early Do Pregnancy Symptoms Start?

Most women won’t experience pregnancy symptoms for several weeks. However, some women can experience early signs of pregnancy in about a week.

Some early pregnancy symptoms may include:

• implantation bleeding around 6 to 12 days after conception
• cramping
• nausea can occur as early as 2 weeks after conception
• breast swelling or tenderness may be noticed as early as 1-week post-conception

If you believe you’re pregnant but aren’t experiencing pregnancy symptoms, it could be too early and that’s okay!

What Does Early Pregnancy Feel Like?

Depending on how early or how sensitive your body is to the changes you’ll experience during pregnancy, early pregnancy may not feel different. 

Many women don’t realize they’re pregnant at all very early in their pregnancies!

Sometimes you don’t see the signs or feels the symptoms of pregnancy until 6 weeks or later.

In the next section, we’ll discuss some of the most common signs of pregnancy.

7 Signs You’re Pregnant

Keep in mind that these are the most common signs you’re pregnant. There are other, less common signs and it can depend on your body and how it reacts to the changing hormones.

And, just because you experience any of these signs, it doesn’t automatically indicate that you are pregnant. Read on to find out more.

Missed Period

Missing your period is the most common sign or indication of pregnancy.

However, there are a variety of other things that can cause a late or missed period. These include stress, illness, weight fluctuations, etc.

If missing periods is a normal occurrence for you, it can also be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition in which periods can occur months apart. 

This means that without examining everything you’re feeling or taking a pregnancy test, a missed period, alone, does not automatically determine that you’re pregnant.

Changing Breasts

Another important sign of pregnancy is the change in the size and feel of the breast immediately after conception. 

Breasts may begin to enlarge to get ready for breastfeeding. Some women have claimed that their breasts became sensitive or they experienced a very sharp, twinkling sensation. 

Nausea

Another very common symptom of pregnancy is nausea and vomiting. This nausea is also known as morning sickness. 

Morning sickness can start as early as 2-weeks after conception, however, most women will begin to experience it around week 5 or 6.  

The degree of nausea and vomiting differs from person to person. 

Generally, you can expect morning sickness to ease up or disappear shortly after the first trimester.

Fatigue

It’s common for pregnant women to experience tiredness and fatigue. 

Generally, you can expect to feel the most exhaustion in the 1st and 3rd trimesters of your pregnancy.

Check out What to Expect to learn more about pregnancy fatigue and tips for handling it.

Frequent Urination

Frequent urination is also a common symptom among pregnant women within 2-3 weeks after conception. This is caused by the pregnancy hormone hCG, which increases blood flow to your pelvic area and kidneys.

The added pressure on your bladder from your growing uterus and baby results in less room for urine storage, therefore you’ll find that you need to relieve yourself more often.

When your baby drops toward the end of the third trimester, you’ll notice a need to go more often.

Cravings and Aversions

A drastic change in taste and smell is yet another sign of pregnancy.

You may find that you’re craving foods you wouldn’t normally eat or begin to feel nauseated around smells you normally like.

Emotional or Moody

As your body begins to change and hormones kick in, you may find that you’re extra moody.

You may become more emotional, cry about weird and random things, or get extra snippy.  

With the flood of changing hormones and added fatigue, these signs of pregnancy are normal.

So, Are You Pregnant?

Although many of the above signs can indicate that you are pregnant, they do not confirm pregnancy.

You can confirm pregnancy by using an over-the-counter home pregnancy test from the store. These tests detect the level of HCG in your urine.  

Believe it or not, the cheap dollar store tests can work as well as the more expensive brands.

 If you receive a positive result from your home pregnancy test, it is recommended that you make an appointment with your doctor to confirm the pregnancy and to start your prenatal appointments. 

Like the home pregnancy test the office urine test also confirms pregnancy by detecting the level of HCG in the urine. 

Once your provider confirms your pregnancy by urine sample, you’ll likely be requested to do a blood test for further confirmation.

After a period of 4 to 6 weeks, the obstetrician can confirm the pregnancy by a physical examination. The thickening of the vaginal tissues, softening uterus, fetal pole, and heartbeat can confirm a viable pregnancy.

Did You Get a BFP?

If you recently took a home pregnancy test or confirmed your test with your doctor, check out this pregnancy due date calculator to find out your estimated due date.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice regarding pregnancy. 

Before beginning any treatment regimen or taking any medication, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor for advice and/or determine the best course of action for the situation.