At what time do the first signs of pregnancy appear

The answer to the question when the first signs of pregnancy appear is quite ambiguous, because some women do not feel any signs at all during the first few weeks. At what week do the first signs of pregnancy appear in others? When do the first signs of pregnancy appear after conception? Symptoms of very early pregnancy (such as breast tenderness) may appear before a missed period, as early as six to seven days after conception, while other early signs of pregnancy (such as spotting) may appear about a week after ovulation. We will tell you more about the first signs of pregnancy before menstruation and when the signs of pregnancy appear. nine0013

What are the earliest signs of pregnancy?

The first signs of pregnancy in the early stages:

• delayed menstruation - 29%;
• nausea - 25%;
• mood swings - from 14 to 23%;
• breast changes - 17%;
• pain in the lower abdomen - 15%;
• depression - 15%;
• fatigue, drowsiness - 13%
• decrease in immunity - 6%;
• the first signs of pregnancy - discharge or implantation bleeding - only 3%. nine0027

Physiological first signs of pregnancy

What are the very first symptoms of pregnancy?

The most common physiological signs of pregnancy include:

• Tender and enlarged breasts. Signs of pregnancy in the first days after conception include breast changes (1-2 weeks after conception). The area around the nipples, called the areola, may also darken.
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• Drowsiness and fatigue. Fatigue is also among the signs of pregnancy in the first days after conception. During early pregnancy, levels of the hormone progesterone rise dramatically, which can cause drowsiness.
• Nausea with vomiting. When do these signs of pregnancy appear? Morning sickness, which can appear at any time of the day or night, often appears between the second and eighth weeks after conception. nine0027
• Dizziness and fainting . This may be due to dilation of blood vessels, lowering blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
• Spasms. Some women experience symptoms of pregnancy in the early days, such as mild uterine cramps.
• Headaches and back pains. Many pregnant women complain of frequent headaches, while others experience back pain.
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• Insomnia - another first sign of pregnancy before the test. Causes can include stress, physical discomfort, and hormonal changes.
• Change in taste preferences. Like most other symptoms of pregnancy, these eating habits can be attributed to hormonal changes.
• Temperature. Early signs of pregnancy include fever (37-37.5).
• Delayed menstruation. How long does it take for the first signs of pregnancy to appear? If you are of childbearing age and a week or more has passed without your expected period, you may be pregnant. However, this symptom can be misleading if you have an irregular menstrual cycle.
• Bloody discharge - the first signs of pregnancy . This bleeding, known as implantation bleeding, occurs when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, approximately 10 to 14 days after conception. nine0027
• Bloating, heartburn. Hormonal changes can cause problems with the stomach and esophagus - these are common signs of pregnancy at 2 weeks.
• Constipation . Hormonal changes cause the digestive system to slow down, which can lead to constipation (signs of pregnancy after a delay).
• Frequent urination. You may urinate more than usual, which is a common sign of pregnancy at 5 weeks. During pregnancy, the amount of blood in the body increases, causing the kidneys to process excess fluid that enters the bladder. nine0027
• Runny nose. The appearance of this symptom is associated with excessive production of the hormone estrogen.
• Exacerbation of chronic diseases. This is a sign of pregnancy after ovulation.
• Increased salivation. Also associated with hormonal changes.
• Sense of smell enhancement . Signs of pregnancy in the first two weeks may cause sensitivity to certain smells and the sense of taste may change. nine0027

Emotional first signs of pregnancy

The first signs of pregnancy before the delay (the earliest signs of pregnancy) include psycho-emotional symptoms.

1. Mood swings.
2. Irritability.
3. Vulnerability, tearfulness.
4. Capriciousness.
5. Depression.

These are all emotional signs of early pregnancy that many women report. They describe feelings of heightened emotion or even bouts of crying, which are associated with rapid changes in hormone levels in the body. Also, signs of pregnancy at week 4 can make you feel PMS-style cranky. In addition, about 15% of women suffer from depression or anxiety during pregnancy. And after childbirth, these conditions suffer even more. In this case, it is better to seek help from a doctor. nine0013

Do everything you can to improve your mood: get plenty of rest, eat well, get enough sleep, do things you love, and pamper yourself.

However, be aware that mood swings can be caused by a number of conditions other than pregnancy.

Influence of early pregnancy on daily routine

Early signs of pregnancy, mainly those that bring discomfort, can cause a change in daily routine. Here are some tips on what you can do with some of them:

1. In case of toxicosis, avoid too hot or too cold food - this provokes an attack of vomiting. Eat often - at least 5-6 times a day, but in small portions.
2. For nausea or vomiting, try ginger, chamomile, or vitamin B6.
3. Drink plenty of water, in small sips between meals, to replenish lost fluids. Teas, juices, fruit drinks are also suitable.
4. For back pain, wear shoes or shoe insoles designed for pregnant women and avoid high heels. Sleep on a firm mattress. nine0027
5. For chest discomfort, wear a special bra that supports enlarged breasts.
6. For constipation, eat more fiber-rich foods such as wheat bran and fresh vegetables and fruits.
7. If you suffer from headaches and mood swings, try stress reduction techniques such as yoga or meditation.
8. Be outdoors more often, at least half an hour a day. This helps to reduce the symptoms of toxicosis, calm the nervous system. nine0027
9. Maintain your daily physical activity for as long as it is convenient for you to perform certain activities.
10. Eat a balanced diet with enough proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Important! All these tips are advisory in nature, be sure to consult your doctor if you encounter discomfort.

What to do if you notice early signs of pregnancy

To make sure the signs of pregnancy are accurate, you can use the following methods to diagnose early pregnancy:

1. Donate blood for hCG. This method can be used a few days after conception. This type of pregnancy test is done using a small sample of blood that is analyzed in a hospital. It determines whether there is a pregnancy hormone in your body and in what quantity. Its accuracy is 99%.
2. Use a test strip. It can be used at home from the first days of delay. To determine pregnancy, dip the reagent area of ​​the test strip into the urine. Accuracy: 9nine%. You can buy Evitest or HomeTest test strips in our pharmacy.
3. Use jet or electronic test. They can be used at home a few days before your expected period. You need to remove its protective cap, substitute the test under the stream of urine for 10 seconds, and after 3-5 minutes get the result. Accuracy: 97%. In our pharmacy you can buy Evitest or Alpe inkjet tests.
4. Get your first ultrasound. You can use this method at 3-4 weeks from the start of a missed period. At this time, ultrasound will show the very fact of uterine pregnancy, and the place of attachment of the fetal egg is also determined. Accuracy: 100%. nine0057

Help Doc.ua: you can make an appointment with a gynecologist on the website.

Which signs of pregnancy can be trusted and which not?

You can listen to the short version of the article. If it's more convenient for you, turn on the podcast.


The most reliable signs of pregnancy are a positive blood test for hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and an ultrasound confirming the fact of conception. But sometimes you want to clarify the situation before going to the doctor or pharmacy. And this can really be done with high accuracy if you know which symptoms and in what period to pay attention. nine0013

At what time do the first signs of pregnancy appear? or “we slept together, and after three days morning sickness appeared and everything became obvious” - this is something like an urban legend. They have nothing to do with science.

The earliest signs of pregnancy appear at best 6 days after conception. And it's not for all women.

The reason is physiology. For a pregnancy to occur, the egg must meet with the sperm in the fallopian tube. This should happen within one or two days after ovulation - the maturation of the egg in the ovary. The fertilized egg then travels to the uterus to attach to it. nine0013

This process takes at least a few days - on average, from 6 to 10. Moreover, until the egg begins to fix itself in the endometrium lining the uterus, no changes in well-being can be noticed. Simply because they are not and cannot be.

Actually, it is the implantation (introduction) of the embryo into the wall of the uterus that doctors consider the beginning of pregnancy. And this is logical. If a woman is taking oral contraceptives or has an intrauterine device, implantation will not occur. Accordingly, pregnancy will not occur and will not be able to make itself felt with any symptoms. nine0013

Conclusion: it is useless to look for signs of pregnancy earlier than 6 days after unprotected intercourse. But after this period, you can already begin to listen to yourself.

Which Early Signs of Pregnancy You Can Trust

There are traditional signs of pregnancy related to well-being: morning sickness with or without vomiting, painful breasts, changes in taste… And most of them are really worthy of attention.

Patricia A. Yost

OB/GYN, MD

Even if you feel a little different than usual, it's enough to suggest pregnancy.

But at the same time, these symptoms may have other causes. The real signs of pregnancy manifest themselves in strictly defined terms - this is due to the physiology, which we talked about above.

Therefore, if any change in your health seems suspicious to you, be sure to check how much time has passed since the alleged conception (or the first day of the last menstruation - the so-called obstetric period is counted from it). nine0013

Here are the most common and reliable symptoms that you are pregnant. Not all of them may be present specifically for you. But the more of them, the higher the likelihood that you are in a position.

1. Mild cramps in the lower abdomen

• Onset : 6-12 days after conception (4-5 weeks after last period).

When a fertilized egg implants in the wall of the uterus, some women experience mild spasmodic pain in the lower abdomen. It can last 1-2 days until the implantation process is completed. These sensations are also enhanced by increased blood flow to the uterus. nine0013

However, pain in the lower abdomen often also occurs before menstruation, when the uterus is preparing to reject the thickened endometrium that is not needed this time. If you are not pregnant, after a couple of days these cramps will end with menstruation. But if the stomach hurt and stopped and menstruation did not come, you should be wary.

2. Spotting spotting

• When appears: 6-12 days after the expected conception, that is, on the days of the expected menstruation (4-5th week from the beginning of the last menstruation). nine0027

The process of egg implantation in the uterine wall can be accompanied not only by pain, but also by the so-called implantation bleeding. It is small and usually consists of small, light red or brownish discharge that stops within a couple of days.

Sometimes women overlook this symptom, thinking it is simply too weak menstruation. But menstruation cannot be "too weak", this is important. If the monthly bleeding of your usual volumes did not come after the spotting discharge, you are most likely pregnant. nine0013

3. Heavy, painful breasts

• When appears: 6-12 days after conception (4-5 weeks from the beginning of the last menstruation).

This is how the mammary glands react to hormonal changes in the body that begin after the implantation of the egg. This is a fairly common and characteristic symptom. According to a survey conducted by the American Pregnancy Association, for 17% of women, swollen breasts were the first sign of their new condition. nine0013

At the same time, breast enlargement and soreness can also be associated with approaching menstruation - the so-called premenstrual syndrome.

4. Unmotivated weakness, fatigue

• When appears: 6-12 days after the expected conception (4-5 weeks from the beginning of the last menstruation).

During and after egg implantation, the body begins to produce progesterone, a hormone that helps maintain pregnancy. A side effect of its increased level is sudden weakness, drowsiness, laziness, unwillingness to do anything. Later, when the female body adapts to the changed hormonal background, vigor will return. But at the very start of pregnancy, weakness is most noticeable. nine0013

However, concluding that you are pregnant just because you suddenly want to crawl under the covers and do nothing is not worth it. Unmotivated fatigue can have dozens of different reasons - from banal overwork or ordinary SARS to much more dangerous diseases. Keep monitoring your condition.

5. Delayed period

• When appears: about 14 days after conception (weeks 5-6 from the beginning of the last period) with a normal 28-day cycle. nine0027

Absence of menstruation is the key and most understandable sign of pregnancy. Nearly 30% of women surveyed by the American Pregnancy Association said it was what made them take the test.

Nevertheless, a delay in menstruation is still not an unambiguous sign. It can be related to a host of other factors besides pregnancy: stress, weight loss, exercising too intensely, jet lag, certain medications.

6. Nausea (early toxicosis)

• When appears: about 14 days after conception (weeks 5-6 from last period).

They like to show this sign in films so that the viewer understands that the heroine is pregnant. But nausea appears no earlier than 2 weeks after conception. Scientists do not fully understand what this process is connected with, however, they suggest that this is the body's reaction to a changed hormonal background.

If you feel sick 3-7 days after sexual intercourse, it is more likely to be digestive problems, rather than early toxicosis, because at this time the level of hormones does not change significantly. nine0013

7. Sensitivity to smells

• When appears: about 14 days after conception (weeks 5-6 from last period).

This symptom is caused by the same hormonal changes as nausea. Sometimes it appears even before the delay of menstruation. For example, you become unbearable smell from smoking colleagues. Or he begins to feel sick from the aroma of his favorite flowers, perfumes, dishes. This is a good reason to at least buy a pregnancy test. nine0013

8. Bloating and constipation

• When appears: 6-12 days after conception (4-5 weeks from the beginning of the last menstruation).

Progesterone causes some muscle relaxation. This also applies to the muscles of the intestines. For this reason, the digestive process slows down, feces remain in the intestines longer. Which often causes a bursting sensation in the abdomen and constipation.

However, be aware that bloating and constipation can have dozens of other causes besides pregnancy. Therefore, it makes sense to consider this symptom only in combination with others. nine0013

9.

Frequent urination
• When appears: 14-21 days after conception (5-6th week from the beginning of the last menstruation).

In the first weeks of pregnancy, the body actively produces the hormone hCG. It increases blood flow to the pelvis, causing women to run to the toilet more often.

10. Increased basal temperature

• When appears: 14-21 days after conception (5-6th week from the beginning of the last menstruation). nine0027

Basal body temperature is measured in the mouth, rectum or vagina. It rises during ovulation - that is, during the period when the egg leaves the ovary into the fallopian tube. During pregnancy, basal temperature can also increase. But this happens not earlier than the sixth obstetric week.

11. Mood swings

• When appears: 7-10 days after the start of the delay of menstruation (from the 6th week from the beginning of the last menstruation).

Mood swings are caused by hormonal changes that a pregnant woman goes through. However, these changes increase gradually and become significant after a delay in menstruation. nine0013

If irritability, anxiety, tearfulness occur much earlier, most likely, it is not about pregnancy, but about banal PMS or stress.

12. Dizziness

• When appears: from 14-21 days after conception (from 5-6 weeks from the beginning of the last menstruation).

In the early stages of pregnancy, blood pressure often drops. This is due to the fact that the uterus requires more blood supply, the blood vessels dilate to provide the necessary blood flow, and the heart is not yet ready to pump the required volumes. The pressure decreases, this process is accompanied by dizziness. nine0013

However, dizziness can have other causes, including dangerous ones. If you begin to regularly “sickness”, consult a general practitioner or (if pregnancy has already been established) a gynecologist.

13. Accelerated pulse

• When appears: from the 8th to 10th week from the beginning of the last menstruation.

During pregnancy, the heart has to pump more blood - this is necessary for proper nutrition of the growing uterus and fetus. Therefore, it begins to work more actively. An increased heart rate is a common symptom in pregnant women, but it occurs already at those times when pregnancy is in most cases obvious. nine0013

But again, keep in mind that fast heartbeat (tachycardia) can also occur for other reasons - for example, with cardiovascular diseases. In any case, such conditions, if they began to manifest themselves regularly, require consultation with a general practitioner, gynecologist or cardiologist.

14. Pimples

• When appears: usually not earlier than the 11th week after the beginning of the last menstruation.

Increased blood volume and increased hormone levels increase blood flow. This leads to the fact that the sebaceous glands of the body begin to work more actively than usual. Acne is often a side effect of this activity. nine0013

However, acne has many other causes, so do not rush to write off pimples for pregnancy. You may be able to quickly get rid of them if you make small changes in your lifestyle.

Signs of pregnancy to avoid

1. Diarrhea

Liquid, watery stools are also sometimes considered a sign of pregnancy. But it's not. On the contrary, you are more likely to become constipated in the early stages of pregnancy. Exclusively for hormonal reasons, which we wrote about above. nine0013

If you do develop diarrhea, it is likely caused by other factors: you may have eaten something that was not right, or you may have contracted a rotavirus infection.

2. Abrupt changes in taste preferences

There are legends about the love of pregnant women for peaches with herring or strawberries with soy sauce. But there is little convincing scientific evidence that women experience cravings for unusual flavor combinations during pregnancy.

Rather, we are talking about some changes in appetite associated with early toxicosis and sensitivity to smells. So, you may want to give up your usual coffee or fried foods - simply because their pungent smell will become disgusting. nine0013

However, there is still a craving for non-standard dishes. As a rule, it is associated with the fact that the body of a pregnant woman is deficient in certain essential vitamins and minerals. And he tries to cover their shortage by making the hostess want chalk (this may be a sign of iron deficiency) or, for example, pickles (deficiency of some salts) with raspberry jam (vitamin C deficiency). But such food perversions occur at solid terms of pregnancy, when it is already obvious.

3. Dreams about fish and other signs

But these variants have nothing to do with evidence-based medicine at all, no matter at what moment they appear. Also, do not try to detect pregnancy with the help of fortune-telling and waving a ring on a string.

How to establish pregnancy for sure

To begin with, listen to yourself, but don't go crazy. If you have a couple of reliable signs, invest in a quality pharmacy test. With its help, you can determine pregnancy as early as 10–12 days after fertilization. nine0013

If you want to clarify earlier, take a blood test for hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). It can be done in any certified medical laboratory, and the results will be ready within a few hours.

Lia Moss

Nurse Midwife at Northwestern University School of Medicine

An hCG blood test can detect pregnancy as early as 7 to 10 days after conception. But be aware: too early testing can give a false positive result. nine0013

If the test is positive, go to the gynecologist. The doctor will conduct an examination and prescribe a follow-up ultrasound to confirm your new position.

If the tests are negative, but the symptoms of pregnancy seem obvious to you, repeat the test in 1-2 days.

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