Early Pregnancy Symptoms
by Anna
What are the clearest early pregnancy symptoms? Maybe it’s been a long road to conception and you want to know now! Perhaps you’re not ready and feeling worried you are pregnant? Your body will give you many early signs of pregnancy. This article explores 8 common symptoms, so you can read your body more easily.
1) Breast tenderness
This is often one of the most
instantaneous indications you’re pregnant. Although similar to
pre-menstrual soreness, many women find their breasts more painful,
feeling heavier and simply more intense than usual. I certainly did! My
rather large mammaries felt like weighty tender melons within a week of
conception. Plus they felt uncomfortable when hugging someone within
two weeks of conception. My nipples gradually darkened too.
2) High temperature readings
If you have been charting your temperature to determine the day of
ovulation, this is a simple way to know if you’re pregnant. If your
temperature stays up for longer than 15 days after ovulation, you may
well be pregnant. I’ve been charting temperature and vaginal mucus
changes for years… when I finally got pregnant, my temperature did a
beautiful curve rise after ovulation and stayed up – text book perfect!
3) Positive pregnancy test
Most pregnancy tests may show a positive result on the first day of the
missed period, but may show up as early as four days before that. The
‘you’re pregnant’ line may be very faint if you do have an early test.
I’ve done more pregnancy tests than I can count, and it’s hard to be
patient! This time I couldn’t quite wait until my period was due, so
took a test a couple of days before that. Initially there was only one
‘not pregnant’ line, so I thought it was negative again. I left it and
came back in a while, only to find a faint positive result. In my case
this was whooooppeeeee!
4) Morning Sickness
Although not usually an extra early pregnancy symptom, some women start
to feel ‘queasy’ as early as 2 weeks after conception. I think morning
sickness should be renamed more appropriately ‘all-day sickness’,
because each woman may experience different timing and intensity. It’s
been worst for me in the afternoons. 70% of pregnant women feel
nauseous at some point, and usually symptoms fade by 16 weeks.
5) Food aversions and cravings
These are common early signs of pregnancy, often kicking in at a
similar time to the nausea. Just thinking about eating certain foods
can make your stomach turn, while another current favourite may be all
you can think of. I regressed to childhood comfort foods; mashed
potatoes and simple flavours. Fancy Asian flavours I’d usually enjoy
were out. Some of my health food fanantacism gave way to a more gentle
approach; just giving my body what it asked for each day.
6) Exhaustion
Within the first few weeks you may feel like getting through an
ordinary day is like completing a triathlon. Take it as easy as
possible. Being rested may also help reduce nausea. I like to have a
power nap after lunch, and find I’m better equipped to cope with the
rest of the day.
7) Emotional rollercoaster rides
Sometimes no matter how well you’ve slept, how happy you are to be
pregnant, how beautiful the weather is, your hormones play havoc with
your mood. In the first trimester these emotional ‘crises’ can feel
much more intense than normal ups and downs. They come out of no-where
and make you feel like an irrational wet-rag. Some women get grumpy,
some women get sad, sometimes both at the same time. An understanding
family or partner who recognize ‘It’s not you; it’s your hormones’ is
helpful. There is a lot going on inside your body and hormones are the
magic wand making it all happen.
I find myself crying about nothing I can explain, feeling vulnerable
and insecure when usually I’ve got it all organized. Being pregnant can
feel confusing!
8) Just knowing
A common very early pregnancy symptom, (not very scientific this
one), is just knowing that you are pregnant or that something feels
different inside. Some mums-to-be even say they knew at conception that
it was an extra special moment.
Remember, each woman will experience a different selection of these early pregnancy
Symptoms. It’s a unique journey and listening to your body/s messages
is part of the fun. Not all the symptoms are pleasant, but they are all
part of this miracle of creation. If you do happen to be pregnant,
celebrate and enjoy your body’s signs that something wonderful is
unfolding inside you.
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