How do know when you are pregnant

Pregnancy Week By Week | First Month Symptoms and Signs

In This Section

Month by Month
What happens in the second month?
What happens in the third month?
What happens in the fourth month?
What happens in the fifth month?

What happens in the sixth month?
What happens in the seventh month?
What happens in the eighth month?
What happens in the ninth month?
What happens in the tenth month?

What happens in the first month of pregnancy?

Pregnancy is divided into 3 trimesters. Each trimester is a little longer than 13 weeks. The first month marks the beginning of the first trimester.

What’s gestational age?

Pregnancy timing is measured using “gestational age.” Gestational age starts on the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP).

Gestational age can be confusing. Most people think of pregnancy as lasting 9 months. And it’s true that you’re pregnant for about 9 months. But because pregnancy is measured from the first day of your last menstrual period — about 3-4 weeks before you’re actually pregnant — a full-term pregnancy usually totals about 40 weeks from LMP — roughly 10 months.

Many people don’t remember exactly when they started their last menstrual period — that’s OK. The surest way to find out gestational age early in pregnancy is with an ultrasound.

What happens during week 1 - 2?

These are the first 2 weeks of your menstrual cycle. You have your period. About 2 weeks later, the egg that’s most mature is released from your ovary — this is called ovulation. Ovulation may happen earlier or later, depending on the length of your menstrual cycle. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days.

After it’s released, your egg travels down your fallopian tube toward your uterus. If the egg meets up with a sperm, they combine. This is called fertilization. Fertilization is most likely to occur when you have unprotected vaginal sex during the 6 days leading up to — and including the day of — ovulation.

What happens during week 3 - 4?

The fertilized egg moves down your fallopian tube and divides into more and more cells. It reaches your uterus about 3–4 days after fertilization. The dividing cells then form a ball that floats around in the uterus for about 2–3 days.

Pregnancy begins when the ball of cells attaches to the lining of your uterus. This is called implantation. It usually starts about 6 days after fertilization and takes about 3–4 days to be complete.

Pregnancy doesn’t always happen, even if an egg is fertilized by a sperm. Up to half of all fertilized eggs pass out of your body when you get your period, before implantation is complete.

What are the signs of pregnancy?

For a lot of people, the first sign of pregnancy is a missed period. Most pregnancy tests will be positive by the time you’ve missed your period. Other early pregnancy symptoms include feeling tired, feeling bloated, peeing more than usual, mood swings, nausea, and tender or swollen breasts. Not everyone has all of these symptoms, but it’s common to have at least 1 of them.

Was this page helpful?

Help us improve - how could this information be more helpful?

How did this information help you?

Please answer below.

Are you human? (Sorry, we have to ask!)

Please don't check this box if you are a human.

You’re the best! Thanks for your feedback.

Thanks for your feedback.

We couldn't access your location, please search for a location.

Zip, City, or State

Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code or city or state.

Please fill out this field.

Service All Services Abortion Abortion Referrals Birth Control COVID-19 Vaccine HIV Services Men's Health Care Mental Health Morning-After Pill (Emergency Contraception) Pregnancy Testing & Services Primary Care STD Testing, Treatment & Vaccines Transgender Hormone Therapy Women's Health Care

Filter By All Telehealth In-person

Please enter your age and the first day of your last period for more accurate abortion options. Your information is private and anonymous.

I'm not sure This field is required.

AGE This field is required.

Or call 1-800-230-7526

16 early signs of pregnancy

You’ve got one question on your mind: Could I be pregnant?

A pregnancy test is the only way to know for sure. But if it’s too early to take a test, you may be on the lookout for early signs – or maybe you think you’re already experiencing some early pregnancy symptoms.

Is it too early to tell if you’re pregnant? What symptoms may be the earliest signs of pregnancy? Below, we answer those questions and more.

How early can you tell if you’re pregnant?

Again, you’ll need to take a pregnancy test at the right time to confirm your hopes or suspicions. But when it comes to the first symptoms of pregnancy, everyone is different. Some people start to notice changes within a week after conception. Others might not notice anything until they miss their period.

When should you take a pregnancy test?

It’s usually recommended that you take a pregnancy test after you’ve missed your period. This is because pregnancy tests measure the level of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in your body, which is a hormone that starts to build up when you conceive. It can take around three to four weeks from the first day of your last period for there to be enough hCG in your body to show up on a test.

What are the first symptoms of pregnancy?

The most common sign of early pregnancy? A missed period.

Your menstrual cycle is your body’s way of preparing for a possible pregnancy each month. Part of that is the thickening of your uterine lining, which is where a fertilized egg would implant to begin a pregnancy.

If you’re not pregnant, your period is how your uterus sheds that extra lining. If you are pregnant, that lining stays put and you don’t get your normal flow. This is why a missed period is often the earliest sign of pregnancy.

Of course, a delayed or missed period doesn’t always mean you’re pregnant. If your body is under a lot of stress or you have a hormonal imbalance, you could be experiencing an irregular menstrual cycle.

What other symptoms can be early signs of pregnancy?

Every person – and every pregnancy – is different. So, if you are pregnant, you’ll likely experience a unique combination of common, not-so-common and sometimes overlapping symptoms. And, they may show up earlier or later than expected. Here are more than a dozen possible symptoms of early pregnancy.

1. Spotting or light bleeding

Many women are surprised to learn that spotting or light bleeding can be an early sign of pregnancy, but about one-third of women experience it. This is often called implantation bleeding because doctors believe it occurs as the fertilized egg attaches (or implants) itself into the uterine lining. This is different from bleeding that could occur from something like a miscarriage – which is usually heavier.

When does implantation bleeding occur?

Implantation bleeding typically occurs 10 to 14 days after conception, which is just before or right around the time your period is due. So, you may think you’ve gotten your period.

But implantation bleeding is a light flow, which may start and stop over a couple days. And while it can take on a range of colors, it’s more likely to be pink, brown or light red.

Your period, on the other hand, may start off light in flow and in color but after a couple days becomes heavier, changes to a crimson red color and lasts up to a week or so.

2. Lower abdominal pain or cramping

While cramps and lower-abdominal pain can signal a coming period, they can also be a sign of egg implantation.

What do implantation cramps feel like?

Implantation cramps can occur with or without spotting or bleeding, and may feel different from period cramps. For example, you might feel mild to moderate prickling, pulling or tingling that comes and goes over a few days.

But menstrual cramps can often feel like a throbbing or dull ache, and typically start a day or two before your period.

3. Higher basal body temperature

If you’ve been tracking your basal body temperature (BBT) to increase your chances of getting pregnant, you probably know that your BBT goes up slightly right after ovulation. If you’re pregnant, your temperature may remain elevated rather than dipping back down.

Of course, you could be running hot for other reasons, but if it lasts more than a few weeks, pregnancy may be the explanation.

4. Changes in cervical mucus

If you’ve already been checking your cervical mucus to figure out when you’re most fertile, here’s a reason to continue: In the first few weeks of pregnancy, the amount of cervical discharge may increase and become stickier and whiter.

5. Breast tenderness, swelling or tingling

When you’re pregnant, your body experiences big changes in hormones – specifically, increases in estrogen and progesterone – to support your growing baby. This change in hormones can contribute to many symptoms, including breast tenderness.

Oftentimes, increased breast tenderness, swelling or tingling start to become noticeable a few days before a missed period.

If you usually experience breast tenderness leading up to your period or shortly after it begins, pregnancy-related breast tenderness and swelling will likely be more intense than you’re used to and stick around. You may also experience nipple soreness.

6. Fatigue

Fatigue in early pregnancy is common, and some women might notice it before they know they’re pregnant. In fact, fatigue may set in as soon as one week after conception. This is thanks to those sudden changes in hormone levels, particularly increasing progesterone.

7. Frequent urination

If you’re making more trips to the bathroom than usual around the time your next period is due, it may be a sign of pregnancy.

Certainly, your drinking habits play a big role in how many times you pee in a day. However, pregnancy increases the amount of blood in your body, which gives your kidneys more fluid to filter and more waste to get rid of.

So if you’re pregnant, you may notice you’re peeing a lot more – a symptom that can start early on and (unfortunately) last throughout your pregnancy.

8. Nausea or vomiting

Morning sickness might be the most well-known of all pregnancy symptoms, taking the form of food aversion or nausea, and even vomiting for some. This symptom can set in as early as two weeks after conception, which is around the fourth week of pregnancy and right around the time you’d miss your period if you were pregnant.

But some may not experience nausea or vomiting at all. And despite its name, morning sickness can actually happen at any time of the day or night.

9. Darkening areolas

When you’re pregnant, your areolas (the areas round your nipples) will likely grow and darken. Usually, these changes are gradual and continue throughout pregnancy. However, some women notice these changes really early on in combination with other symptoms.

10. Bloating or constipation

We all experience bloating or constipation from time to time, but both are quite common during pregnancy. Once again, those changing hormones are the culprit. They slow down digestion, which can cause a buildup of air in the gut and lead to constipation.

Early on, bloating or constipation may be mild and accompanied with other pregnancy symptoms. But – as a heads up – if you really are pregnant, these symptoms may stick around throughout your whole pregnancy.

11. Metallic taste in your mouth

Many women report a metallic taste in their mouth during pregnancy. Once again, hormones are to blame – specifically, estrogen.

Typically, this symptom (as well as changes in taste overall) is common in the first trimester but may occur at other times too – including before a missed period.

12. Sensitivity to smell

Many women report that sensitivity to smell was one of their first signs of pregnancy. In fact, as many as two-thirds of women become more sensitive or reactive to the smells around them during pregnancy.

And oftentimes, this heightened sense of smell can stick around through the first trimester or beyond, and contribute to other symptoms such as nausea, and food cravings or aversions.

13. Mood changes

From a stressful day at work to the natural wonders of your menstrual cycle, there are a lot of things that can affect your mood. But changes in mood are very common during pregnancy – and they may be especially noticeable early on as your body gets a sudden burst of estrogen and progesterone.

If you are pregnant, any mood changes you’re experiencing are likely coupled with other symptoms such as fatigue or nausea. You may feel more sensitive or weepy. Or perhaps your fuse is a little shorter and you’re more easily annoyed.

14. Headaches

Headaches are a part of life. They come with colds and allergies. They come with stress or fatigue, or when you cut down on caffeine to help prepare your body for pregnancy. But they can also come with pregnancy.

Headaches can happen thanks to the increasing blood volume and hormonal changes that occur in early pregnancy. You can also get headaches if you’re dehydrated as a result of nausea.

15. Dizziness

As blood flow increases during pregnancy, blood pressure can also decrease and lead to dizzy spells. Usually, dizziness is more of a second trimester symptom, but some women may notice it very early on, too.

16. Nasal congestion

A lot of people are shocked to learn that nasal congestion can be a pregnancy symptom. You may wonder if you’re coming down with something or your allergies are acting up. But if you’re noticing a stuffy or runny nose along with other pregnancy signs, you might be taking a pregnancy test in the near future.

The mucous membranes in the nose are also affected by hormones and increased blood flow throughout your body. This can cause blood vessels to swell, resulting in congestion and even sneezing.

Could you have early pregnancy symptoms and not be pregnant?

Yes. As we’ve mentioned, many early pregnancy symptoms can overlap with symptoms of other conditions, especially premenstrual symptoms. So, the best way to know if the symptoms you’re experiencing are pregnancy related is to try to relax and patiently wait until it’s time to take a pregnancy test.

When should you see a doctor about a new pregnancy?

If you’ve taken a pregnancy test and it’s positive, go ahead and make your first prenatal visit right away. This is also a great time to start looking into educational resources like the myHealthyPregnancy app.

At the first prenatal visit, you’ll get a physical exam and other tests to make sure everything is looking healthy, and you’ll learn about the rest of your prenatal appointment schedule. You’ll also get to talk through any expectations and questions you have, such as which foods to eat and avoid while pregnant.

Questions or concerns about your symptoms? Our 24/7 nurse line is free for our members and patients.

Positive pregnancy test? Schedule a visit.

90,000 first signs of pregnancy in the early stages

Basket

0 ₽

Basin

0 ₽

Publication date: 05/17/2021

For pregnant and nursing for stress -sister

Article

Svetlana Bukharova,

Nutritionist, fitness instructor

12 years of experience. Diploma of Medical Education: DVS 1724848

All authors

Contents of the article

How to understand the first signs of pregnancy without a test
Signs of pregnancy in the early stages will help determine the measurement of basal temperature
Pregnancy symptoms - "Grandma's" methods of determining
Determining pregnancy by changing the state of health and mood
Ask an expert on the topic of the article

Since ancient times, women have been looking for ways to find out about pregnancy earlier. Documents found during the study of the Egyptian pyramids (1370 BC) describe this method of early detection of pregnancy: a woman should urinate on barley and wheat seeds. If the grain sprouted shortly thereafter, the woman was considered pregnant. The method was tested by modern scientists in 1963, and it turned out that such a text is really effective in 70% of cases. This is due to an increase in the level of estrogen in the body of the expectant mother, which is excreted along with urine and accelerates the process of grain germination.

And at the end of the 17th century, the so-called "olfactory" method was popular. They set fire to a cloth soaked in women's urine. If the woman did not like the smell formed during burning, it was concluded that the lady was in position. However, there are many such methods, many of them have been tested for centuries and have the right to exist. In the article we will talk about the most effective testless methods for determining the "interesting position" - both medical and folk. The latter do not guarantee 100% reliability, since they do not have scientific justification and confirmation, but they will help not to delay a visit to the gynecologist.

How to understand the first signs of pregnancy without a test

Medical methods are the most reliable in determining pregnancy without a test. If you suspect that you are in an interesting position, go to the antenatal clinic. The gynecologist will examine you and direct you to donate blood for the hCG hormone.

HCG

Blood should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach. The concentration of chronic genadotropin increased throughout pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilized, the indicator is 0-5 mU / ml. If the gestational age is from one to two weeks - 25-156 mU / ml.

Ultrasound

From the seventh day, the fact of conception can be determined by ultrasound. Ultrasound is needed not only to confirm pregnancy. The doctor will also determine the condition of the reproductive organs, the location of the embryo, and exclude an ectopic pregnancy.

No time to read long articles? Follow us on social networks: listen to the video in the background and read short notes about beauty and health.

Megapharmacy in social networks: VKontakte, Telegram, OK, Viber

Signs of pregnancy in the early stages will help determine the measurement of basal temperature

This method is called by gynecologists one of the most reliable. At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, the basal temperature (BT) is kept at around 36.5 - 36.7 ° C, rises to 37 ° C by ovulation. In the event that there was no conception, after the cessation of ovulation, BT again decreases to average values. If you are pregnant, the temperature will be kept within 37 ° C.

How to measure basal body temperature?

A conventional thermometer is inserted into the rectum or vagina. The procedure should be carried out every day at the same time in the morning, without getting out of bed. When measuring temperature:

Stay in the same position in which you woke up
Measure BBT 5-8 minutes
Write down the values (with date and time)

Important! During the period of determining the basal temperature, it is advisable not to smoke or drink alcohol.

Pregnancy symptoms - "Grandma's" methods of determination

You can determine pregnancy without a test using folk methods. They are affordable, harmless to health and help you get quick results without leaving your home.

How does iodine help determine pregnancy?

You can find out that you are pregnant with regular iodine.

What you need:

Napkin or sheet of paper
Plastic or glass containers
Iodine
Pipette

What to do:

Collect some urine in a container
Soak tissue/paper in urine
Lay out on a flat surface
Pipette iodine
Place a few drops on paper

Result:

If the color of the iodine has not changed or changed to a bright dark blue, there is no pregnancy.
If the iodine has changed color to lilac or lilac, you are pregnant.

Advantages of the method:

Everything you need is at hand
Early pregnancy detection

Cons of the method:

No 100% guarantee
Accurate adherence to instructions
Time limit: you only have 25 minutes for the test, then the urine becomes unusable

Learn about pregnancy with baking soda

What you need:

Soda
Urine
container

What to do:

Collect about 150-200 ml of morning urine in a container
Pour 1 teaspoon baking soda into the urine

Results:

The mixture bubbles and hisses, which means that the acidity is normal. you are not pregnant
Soda settled on the bottom, which means that my acidity is lowered. There is a high probability that conception has occurred.

Advantages of the method:

Cheap
Accessibility

Cons of the method:

Efficacy not confirmed by studies
May give a false result (due to the composition of the urine)

There is another method to test for a possible pregnancy, which does not require "chemical experiments". It consists of palpation of the pulse on the abdomen. Place your fingers on your abdomen two fingers below your navel. During pregnancy, the blood supply to this area increases, the pulse becomes more frequent and well audible.

Feeling and Mood Changes in Pregnancy

There are several symptoms in early pregnancy before your period that might suggest you are pregnant before you see your doctor or buy a test. Listen to your body. You are probably pregnant if:

No menstruation
Feeling dizzy, there is a veil before the eyes
Body temperature rises to 37 - 37. 5°C for a long time
Stuffy nose
Enlarged, swollen breasts, the color of the nipples changed, they became hypersensitive
Feeling of heaviness and pain in the navel, in the lower abdomen
You feel sick, your sense of smell and touch are acute
Overweight
Frequent mood swings, tearfulness
Weakness, increased drowsiness
Gastronomic "shifts" - the desire to "taste" unsuitable for food substances, such as chalk. Cravings for salty, sweet, sour
A sharp decrease or increase in sexual desire

There are many ways to determine pregnancy without a test, but you should not rely only on physiological changes occurring in your body and "grandmother's" tests. Finding out that you may soon become a mother is best from a gynecologist. Only a specialist will be able to prevent abnormalities in the development of the fetus and determine an ectopic pregnancy, if any. Modern diagnostic methods are very effective, and using them you can endure and give birth to a healthy baby.

Sources:

Cyberleninka.ru L.A. Terebneva: The history of pregnancy tests and modern methods for determining short-term pregnancy. GBOU DPO Russian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education of the Ministry of Health of Russia
Elibrary.ru Pregnancy. Week after week. Desktop. book-calendar for expectant mothers and their caring loved ones. Glade Curtis; [Trans. from English: N.A. Shishkov]. - Ser. We are expecting a baby
Сyberleninka.ru V.E. Kupchenko: Psychology of pregnancy: main directions of research. Omsk State University F.M. Dostoyevsky
Elibrary.ru Peretyako L.P., Nazarov S.B., Fateeva N.V., Kuznetsov R.A.: Method for morphological determination of gestational age. FSBI "Ivanovo Research Institute of Motherhood and Childhood named after V.N. Gorodkov” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Rusmedreview. com N.V. Latysheva, E.G. Filatova, N.V. Naprienko: Treatment of migraine during pregnancy. FGAOU VO First Moscow State Medical University. THEM. Sechenov of the Ministry of Health of Russia

Ask an expert on the topic of article

Any questions? Ask them in the comments below and our experts will answer you. There you can also share your experience with other readers of Megasovets.

Share the mega tip

Like this article? Tell mom, dad, grandma and aunt Galya from the third entrance

Copy link

Guide to analogues for a subscription

subscribe to social networks and write in messages "analogues"

How to recognize pregnancy in the early stages. Infographics | INFOGRAPHICS

06.12.2013 16:09

Anna Spasvava

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

1589708

AiF

Very often, pregnancy becomes a surprise, both for the woman herself and for her environment. Some, on the contrary, plan a pregnancy for a long time and listen to all the changes in their body, sometimes wishful thinking. Our infographic will tell you how to accurately determine pregnancy in the early stages.

Symptoms of pregnancy

Well, of course, based on symptoms alone, it is impossible to accurately determine pregnancy. Although they may suggest doing a test. Let's consider the main symptoms in more detail:

1. Sensitive chest. Already a few days after conception, a pregnant woman may notice the first changes. Nipples become more sensitive than usual. This also applies to the rest of the chest. But not always sensitive breasts are a sign of pregnancy. Similar sensations can occur during ovulation or before menstruation.

2. Delayed menstruation. One of the main signs indicating pregnancy, but not 100 percent. Perhaps you are experiencing climate change, hormonal failure, or gynecological diseases. This is a serious symptom and it is better to consult a doctor. However, a delay of no more than five days is considered the norm. It can also happen that you are pregnant, but your period continues to go. Here you can only advise: after unprotected intercourse, listen to your body and take a pregnancy test.

3. Frequent urination. Is one of the symptoms of pregnancy. But it can also be a symptom of illness, hypothermia, stress, etc.

4. Darkening of the areola of the nipples. Occurs usually no earlier than two weeks later. However, darkening can be caused by the influence of sex hormones in a non-pregnant woman.

5. Increased salivation. Usually appears with nausea in the first three months of pregnancy. Also, salivation is a characteristic symptom in almost all diseases of the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and even with inflammation of the trigeminal nerve.

Types of tests

Any symptom characteristic of pregnancy may be a harbinger of a disease. Therefore, you need to listen to your body, but on the basis of symptoms alone, you should not diagnose yourself. Moreover, medicine has long allowed women to determine pregnancy with an accuracy of up to 100%. For a more effective result in the early stages, you can donate blood for the pregnancy hormone hCG (chorionic gonadotropin). Every day of pregnancy, the amount of this hormone in the body increases, but at very early stages only very sensitive tests can catch it. Pregnancy can be determined by the level of hCG in the blood within a few days after conception.

If for one reason or another you cannot go to a medical institution, then home tests will help. Of course, a few days after conception, such a test will not show anything. All tests for the determination of hCG in the urine should be done no earlier than a week before the onset of menstruation. The cheapest test strips will show a valid result only from the first day of delay. More expensive tests - inkjet or tablet, can determine pregnancy just a week before critical days. In general, in order not to guess on coffee grounds - is it too early to take a test, or is it time already - you need to know some values. Such home tests have a sensitivity of 10 to 25 Mme/ml. So the smaller the number, the more sensitive the test. For example, a ten test can show pregnancy as early as four weeks. What a week you can have is easy to calculate, you need to remember the first day of your last menstruation - this will be the starting point.

Test results

Any pregnancy test can show both a false positive and a false negative result. False-negative results are associated, as a rule, with incorrect testing, violation of the instructions. Or too short a pregnancy. It may be that the second band is weakly expressed. This is possible if you took the test before the expected delay, or if you have an ectopic pregnancy. False positive test results are rare, but possible. It can occur due to taking medications containing hCG, tumors, a recent miscarriage, etc.

Ultrasound will show the most accurate result. It will confirm pregnancy and help rule out an ectopic. You can do it no earlier than 3.5-4 weeks after conception. If you do not know when the conception occurred, then you can count about 5-6 weeks from the beginning of the last menstruation. Before this time, there is no point in going to the ultrasound. It is better to consult a gynecologist, and he will prescribe the necessary examinations in the early stages of pregnancy.

Welcome

Find us on iTunes!

Popular Posts