Thrush early pregnancy sign
Early Signs of Pregnancy | Am I pregnant?
Understanding the early signs of pregnancy
Late period, sore boobs, weird tastes in your mouth – there are a lot of early signs and symptoms that suggest you might be pregnant and you may experience very early on in your pregnancy
At a glance
- You can do a test from the first day of your missed period
- It is common to have some bleeding throughout the first few months of pregnancy
- Tender boobs and feeling nauseous are common signs of pregnancy
You may notice the very earliest signs of pregnancy within as little as one week of conception. Most early pregnancy symptoms occur within the first four weeks and first signs of pregnancy may include:
- A missed period
- Slight bleeding or cramping as the embryo implants in your uterus (implantation bleeding)
- Sore breasts that seem to be growing already!
- Extreme tiredness. .. yes, it might not just be too many late nights, after all! You may find that you're tired after a relatively 'normal' day, so listen to your body and rest up when you can
- Backache
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Top 5 early symptoms of pregnancy
- Nausea or sickness can start very early for some women – a common early pregnancy symptom will be morning sickness. This will usually start when you’re around 6 weeks pregnant. It might just be nausea but can also include vomiting and despite its name, can happen at any time day or night.
- Needing to wee more often - This is down to a combination of pregnancy hormones, a larger volume of blood in your system and your kidneys working harder
- Headaches - You may experience headaches due to the sudden rise of hormones in your body as it adjusts to being pregnant.
- Darkening of the skin around your nipples – The skin around your nipples (the areolas) will get darker. You may also find the nipples become erect and the bumps around your nipples more pronounced.
- Food cravings or aversions – It’s possible you might be put off by certain foods, especially if you’re experiencing nausea from morning sickness too! However you may also find that you develop cravings for certain foods (and perhaps strange ones!)
There are a lot more pregnancy symptoms that can be your body’s way of letting you know you are pregnant.
Period painsYou might not expect this, as you may have missed your period, but you can experience pains at the time you would expect your period. Not the most common symptom, but some women do experience it.
Tummy twinges
A slightly odd pregnancy symptom but you might feel like your muscles are almost being pinched from the inside or even stretched, you may experience this on one side of your tummy and then later on the other side of your tummy.
Bloated tummy
Caused by the pregnancy hormone progesterone, you can actually show signs of a bump before your baby has even grown. You could feel full and swollen, particularly after a meal.
Stomach cramps
Your ligaments can start stretching very early as your uterus changes shape and this can cause some to feel stomach cramps.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Even though going to the loo more often is in itself associated with early signs of pregnancy, it can also be a sign of a urinary or bladder infection. This is common in the early stages of your pregnancy due to your changing hormones. If you think you may have a UTI, visit your GP.
Thrush
We can blame the increasing level of the hormone progesterone, for thrush. A sign of thrush can be increased cervical mucus and it may be thicker and creamier. Experiencing itching, soreness, and even a stinging sensation when you wee can all be symptoms of thrush.
Trapped wind
Trapped wind can be very painful and you can experience it in very early pregnancy. Passing the wind can make you feel better instantly.
Constipation
An early symptom of pregnancy can be the onset of constipation that once again is due to changes in your hormone progesterone.
Diarrhoea
The polar opposite of constipation, you could also suffer with diarrhoea in the early stages of pregnancy.
Strange metallic taste in the mouth
Described as a sour or metallic taste in the mouth which is known as dysgeusia.
More saliva
It’s not uncommon to experience more saliva in your mouth and this can often be highlighted by a little drool on the pillow when you wake up in the morning!
Dry mouth
Where some experience excess saliva, others may have the complete opposite, a dry mouth. Try drinking more water to avoid an instance of a dry mouth.
Bleeding gums
Some can experience bleeding of the gums especially when you brush your teeth. It is the hormonal changes that make your gums more sensitive than usual to the bacteria in plaque. Make an appointment with the dentist for a hygiene check up at some point in your pregnancy to ensure your gums are in good health.
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First you want to know for sure if you’re pregnant and the best way is by doing a pregnancy test. Just buy a kit from your local pharmacist. You can do a test from the first day of your missed period. It takes two weeks from when you conceive for the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) to show in your urine, so try not to test too early. It’s possible that your first test might be a negative but if you’re displaying the common early signs of pregnancy and you’re period hasn’t arrived, you should re-test a few days later to confirm.
There are some other factors to think about, including:
Still having periods
It’s surprisingly common to have ‘break-though’ bleeding or ‘implantation’ bleeding during the first few months of pregnancy. It’s thought this could be due to the egg implanting in your uterus or the hormones that regulate your period being higher. It even means some people don’t realise they’re pregnant for a while. Always, get it checked out though, to make sure there isn't a problem.
Contact your doctor’s surgery if you think you’re pregnant
The first thing you need to do is to contact your doctor’s surgery, who will make an appointment with the appropriate health professional. This is often a midwife who can get you registered with the maternity services in your local area. They are a great source of information and support if you’re ever unsure of anything during your pregnancy.
Mixed emotions are normal
Finding out you’re pregnant is huge! You might feel wildly excited one minute and terrified the next, and your partner might be on a roller coaster too. Not only are you processing major news, but your body is changing fast and dealing with a riot of new hormones. So if you’re feeling a bit all over the shop, it’s perfectly normal!
Keep taking folic acid
Taking folic acid during pregnancy helps lower your unborn baby’s risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects. The Department of Health recommends you take a daily 400 micrograms (mcg) supplement three months before conception, ideally, and up to the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Wait to tell people
The nanosecond you find out you’re pregnant you’ll probably want to call everyone you know, share it on every social media channel you have, and sing it from the rooftops - and you absolutely can. But many people play it safe and wait until their first scan at around 12 weeks before sharing their fantastic news.
Avoid alcohol
It’s best that you avoid drinking alcohol if you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant. This is because alcohol passes from your blood through the placenta and to your baby, potentially affecting their development and even increasing the risk of miscarriage early on. If you’re already displaying the early signs of pregnancy then you should be avoiding alcohol.
Which symptoms indicate a twin pregnancy?
The likelihood of conceiving twins is higher if there is a maternal history of multiple pregnancies, though whether the father’s family history plays a role is uncertain. What the experts do know though is that if you already have non-identical twins, triplets or more, then you are five times more likely to carry multiples in your next pregnancy.
With a twin pregnancy your hormone levels will be higher than those with a single pregnancy, so you are more likely to suffer morning sickness, but there are things you can do about it. The main cause of morning sickness is low blood sugar, so eating little and often is a good way to maintain your sugar levels.
Inevitably, there are aches, pains and discomforts along the way because of the sheer scale of the task you are accomplishing. If any symptoms worry you, talk to your doctor or midwife so they can reassure you or look in to things further.
Next steps in your pregnancy
Finding out you’re expecting a baby or twins can be a big surprise. Some parents are delighted with the news, whereas others may be anxious at how they will cope. However you feel, remember many parents have not only survived the experience, but thrive with a newborn or twins.
Seeing your babies at the first ultrasound can really help you digest the news and make it all feel more real. Getting practical and making plans can really help you feel in control of the situation.
For more information on how your baby is developing and changes to your body, track your pregnancy week by week.
Found this helpful? Read more on:
- Week 1 pregnancy
- Increase your chances of getting pregnant
- Signs that you're ovulating
- Calculate your due date
41 early signs & symptoms of pregnancy before you've taken a test
"The exact symptoms – and the severity of them – will be different for everyone but there are certainly a large number of early signs of pregnancy that are worth looking out for. "
The main signs broadly fall into 11 main categories, each affecting different physical areas of your body (such as your breasts, your head or your tummy) or different emotions you may be feeling.
Before we start, though, a little word of caution: some of these early pregnancy symptoms are tantalisingly similar to those you get when you're pre-menstrual or when you’re having your period – which means it can be tough to tell whether your body's actually telling you you're pregnant or not.
Here is our list of the 41 earliest and most common symptoms and signs of pregnancy...
YOUR BREASTS
1. Sore, sensitive, heavy boobs
Soreness or tenderness in your breasts can be one of the very earliest pregnancy symptoms. "Changes to the breasts can actually start as early as 1 to 2 weeks after conception," says Dr Larisa Corda, obstetrician, gynaecologist and IVF consultant. "Pregnancy hormones can make breasts swollen and sore. Or they may feel heavier or fuller or more tender to touch. "
It's certainly a symptom many of the mums on our forum recognise. "I started getting really sore boobs and sore nipples 7 to 10 days after my last period finished," says DemWatson. "I thought it was due to my period because I was also experiencing cramping. I took a pregnancy test around 2 weeks later and it was positive!"
"I tested because I had really sore boobs," adds ErinDsoontobeB. "They were that sore, I had to wear a bra in the bath!"
- Breasts feeling sore? Find out more – including tips to help relieve the pain
2. Veiny boobs
This is one of the early pregnancy signs BabyC2017 picked up on. "My boobs are SO veiny," she said. "They are usually big but the veins are never prominent. Now I can clearly see them – like someone drew on me in blue pen!"
"Yes, the veins in your breasts may look more pronounced," confirms Ellie Cockburn, a midwife at the world-famous The Portland Hospital. "This will be due to the blood flow to the breasts increasing. "
For Jo1311, her veiny boobs were definitely a sign of positive news: "I got veins on my boobs and my nipples changed colour. I tested and got a BFP [Big Fat Positive test result]."
3. Tender, tingly, darker, more 'sticky out' nipples
Your nipples may also change significantly during the early weeks of pregnancy. "Your nipples may begin to ache, tingle or protrude more than usual," says midwife Ellie. "The areoles – the dark circle around your nipple – may also become even darker and larger."
Tender nipples were the first sign for Tamarabell on our forum. "I started to get a feeling I was pregnant about 1.5 weeks before I was due on, so pretty early," she says. "I had really tender nipples and sort of butterflies in my tummy for a few days. My test came up positive the week before I was due. The doctor didn’t believe it and made me do another one. I just sort of knew that something was different!"
"Who'd have thought we'd ever get excited about sore/dark nipples!" adds lynz_81, who's been pregnant before. "Be warned: they will only get bigger and darker now!"
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4. Late or missed period
Being late or missing your monthly period is the most well-known early sign of pregnancy – and for 1 in 3 women, says the American Pregnancy Association, a missed period is still their 1st pregnancy symptom.
There are plenty of other symptoms in our list that you may notice before you miss your period but, as Dr Larisa Corda says, "this is the one that prompts most women to get a pregnancy test.
"Be warned though that not all missed or delayed periods mean you’re pregnant. Sometimes weight changes, hormone problems, stress or recently coming off contraception can affect your periods and possibly lead to you missing a period or having a delayed period."
More like this
And of course, for many of us, late and irregular periods can be the norm – which is why it's useful to know other symptoms.
Saying all that, if your period is unusually late, it's time to take a pregnancy test.
- Find out how early you can take a pregnancy test
- Late period but negative pregnancy test? Why you could actually be pregnant
5. Feeling a bit sick
Probably the most talked-about symptom is, of course, morning sickness. You can actually start feeling queasy from as early as 2 weeks of pregnancy, due to changes with your hormones.
That's certainly what happened to mamapink on our forum: "The first symptom I had was starting to feel slightly travel sick when in the car or on the bus."
Not every pregnant woman feels sick, and not every pregnant women who feels sick actually throws up. "But about 9 in 10 women will either suffer from vomiting or nausea, and this tends to last until about 12 weeks," says Rachel Heathcock, an antenatal teacher at the NCT.
There is no conclusive research explaining to why morning sickness happens but, says Dr Amin Gorgy, "it is widely considered to be brought on by the sudden increase of hormone levels in your body – specifically the levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) – that are required to develop the placenta. "
"And despite its name," adds Dr Amin, "morning sickness isn’t exclusively confined to the morning. It can strike at any time of the day or night."
"I had morning sickness very early on, at about 3 weeks," says Bride-carly-barley, "and my tastes changed. I couldn’t eat anything strong-tasting and the smell of my husband making his morning coffee made me want to be sick!"
To combat the sickness Dr Amin advises eating little and often. “And ensure you keep up fluid intake. In extreme cases, anti-sickness medication can be prescribed.”
- Find out more about when morning sickness starts and how long it lasts
6. Spotting or light bleeding
It’s not unusual at all to have light spotting or bleeding in early pregnancy – in fact, it can occur in around 20% of pregnancies.
Dr Larisa explains the science behind it: "This is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy and is usually associated with 'implantation bleeding' – when the fertilized egg or embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus. The embryo usually implants between 6 to 12 days after conception.
"Not all women will get spotting though, so don’t worry – it’s not a reflection of how successful the implantation has been!"
Forum mum xFran82x says she had implantation bleeding 8 days after ovulating. "I had some watery pink discharge when I wiped a few times," she says, "and then found 2 dots of brown blood on my pants. I tested the next afternoon and got a faint positive result."
And it was similar for BabyGirlsMummy: "I had a regular 28 day cycle and the implantation bleeding was about a week before I’d have expected my period. Mine was some pink cervical mucus for a couple of days – enough that I needed a panty liner."
If you do bleed, our expert say you should definitely get anything unusual checked out by your doctor. "In most cases, spotting is nothing to worry about," says Dr Amin, "but it can be a sign of something more serious like an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. If you experience any bleeding that’s not normal for you, seek immediate medical attention. "
- Got some spotting? Find out how long it can last
7. Period-like pains
This is a confusing symptom, as it can happen exactly around the time that you would expect your regular period pains. If you’re hoping you might be pregnant and then start feeling menstrual-type cramps, this may be a sign of pregnancy rather than your period. However, it’s one of the less common symptoms.
"These can often happen with spotting – are are also the result of the embryo planting into the wall of the womb," explains midwife Ellie Cockburn.
Forum mum firsttimemum88 felt these pains at 5 weeks. "I’m having pains like I do on my period," she said. "I found everyone says it’s normal. A hot camomile tea helps."
8. Stomach cramps
Rather than period-style pains, some women experience a bit of tummy cramping. This may be due to your ligaments starting to stretch as your uterus (womb) starts to change shape.
"At around a week after I would have ovulated, I got sharp stomach pains like a stabbing pain," describes forum mum gsmummy55. "Around the time of my missed period, I felt tired, with cramps, and needed the loo more. And a week after that, I started being sick!”"
- Find out more about cramps in early pregnancy
9. Tummy twinges, pulling and pinching
These are some of the terms our mums use in our forum when describing the sometimes curious feelings many of us have in our stomachs in early pregnancy.
It might feel like your muscles are being stretched or even pinched from inside, and can seem to be on either side, as forum mum Louis2 who is 5 weeks pregnant, describes. "For the past few days," she says, "I have been having a few lower abdominal twinges, often on one side, but occasionally on the other."
"I had abdominal twinges at approx 5 weeks and panicked," adds xxmrsjohnstonexx. “But the doctor said it was just everything stretching and changing and not to worry.”
10. Bloating
"Bloating is a lesser known pregnancy symptom but it definitely can occur," says Dr Amin. And, if you find you've got a bloat bump way before any kind of baby bump, it's probably all down to pregnancy levels of the hormone progesterone.
"Progesterone can cause bloating by allowing the smooth muscle in the walls of the bowel to relax," explains obstetrician Dr Claire Hein. "Hormones often have several effects – some of them less desirable than others!"
"I had bad bloating in the 1st trimester,” recalls forum mum Kelmo. "I could easily pull off looking 5 months but it did ease around 12 weeks."
- Pinpoint the foods that are pregnancy bloat villains
YOUR BODY 'DOWN THERE'
11. Needing the loo more often
If you're pregnant, the loo may become your new best friend over the next few months. One Taiwanese study found that 'urinary frequency' – aka needing to pee a lot – affects 77% of pregnant women.
At the very beginning of pregnancy, it's not the pressure of your growing baby on your bladder that's causing you to wee a lot (that particular pleasure comes later!). Instead, it's pregnancy increasing the blood flow to your kidneys by 35% to 60% – and because it's the kidneys job to produce urine, that means more urine collecting in your bladder.
As mum-to-be lunar eclipse says on our forum, it can get a bit much, especially at night. "I'm 5 weeks and peeing at least 3 to 4 times every night. I’ve not got a decent sleep for about a week now. It surely can't get worse – I'll be sleeping on the toilet!"
- Peed off with peeing? What's normal in pregnancy – and what you can do about it
12. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Confusingly, frequent trips to the loo can also be a sign of a urinary or bladder infection. And even more confusingly, both can be more likely when you’re pregnant due to your changing hormones.
"Reduced immunity during pregnancy, even in the early stages, can be responsible for an increased susceptibility to urinary tract infections," explains midwife Ellie Cockburn.
Common signs of a UTI include stinging when you wee, sharp, low abdominal pain and, sometimes, a little blood in your wee. You should see your GP if you notice any of them but it's not something to worry about because it's easily treated – as forum num Chloe123 says: "I had several UTIs throughout early pregnancy. They are very common. The sooner you get a wee sample to your GP, the better so then they can treat you for it."
- Why it’s important to treat a UTI when you’re pregnant
13. Trapped wind
Not as funny as it sounds. In fact, not funny at all – trapped wind can give you a painful bloated feeling in your stomach or under your ribs, even in very early pregnancy.
"Shifting hormones during the first trimester can interfere with normal digestion, causing trapped wind," explains midwife Ellie.
Over on our forum, mum-to-be Overjoyed was absolutely not overjoyed by her trapped-wind symptoms. "I suffered terribly with this for about 2 weeks," she says. "It was agony one night and I thought it must be a test to see how I might cope with contractions!"
Of course, trapped wind can also become passed wind, as in farting and burping, which can make you feel better afterwards – but may not be appreciated much by those close by!
- There she blows! How to avoid and relieve trapped wind in pregnancy
14.
ConstipationBeen regular and suddenly gone on a poo-no-show? "Constipation is a side effect of the increase in progesterone in your body, which relaxes the bowel walls and can make it harder to poo," explains midwife Ellie.
As with constipation when you're not pregnant, the solution is usually just eating more fibre, fruit and veg and keeping your water intake up.
- Bunged up? Find out which foods to eat and which to avoid
15. Diarrhoea
Yes, the pregnancy gods have a sense of humour! If you’re not constipated, you might have the runs instead. This can happen at any point in pregnancy, but is one of the symptoms several of our forum mums singled out as something they had in the first few weeks.
This time, though, we can’t blame our friendly pregnancy hormone progesterone.
"It’s actually more likely to be a side-effect of picking up a tummy bug due to reduced immunity during pregnancy," says midwife Ellie.
For HappyMrsS on our forum, certain foods caused the problem. "I worked out that there were certain foods that would cause it more than others," she says. "Chinese food went straight through me and anything that was quite rich did the same. It stopped at around 10 weeks I think."
Neenawneenaw agrees: "I had diarrhoea through the 1st trimester which really freaked me out, as usually I have IBS with constipation. But it was fine, and of course had no ill effect on the baby."
- Stop the trots: what to try when you’re pregnant
16. Change in cervical mucus
Some of our forum mums find their cervical mucus changes – and they seem to have more mucus than usual.
In very early pregnancy, your mucus may seem to be thinnish and slippery for longer than usual (its texture changes across your normal monthly cycle) and it will then thicken due to the increase in progesterone.
For forum mum Blue_Gecko, this thickened mucus was one of the clearest early signs she was pregnant. "The cervical mucus was creamy and quite heavy," she recalls. "It felt quite moist down there."
Cervical mucus is usually a pale white/yellow colour but don’t worry if you see a brownish discharge: this is also common. It’s usually harmless, but if you’re worried, have a chat with your GP.
17. Thrush
Thrush is another pregnancy symptom that is affected by the increasing level of the hormone progesterone – and research reported in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology suggests that, during pregnancy, women are twice as likely to develop thrush than at any other stage in their life.
A sign of thrush can be increased or thicker cervical mucus – but this is also a sign of early pregnancy, so permission to be confused! Thrush does have other symptoms, too, though, including itchiness and soreness, and possibly a stinging sensation when you wee.
On our forum, CupcakeLadyJ is a sufferer. "I am only 4 weeks and I have got thrush," she says. "It feels uncomfortable more than itchy – like a niggle I can feel down below!"
- Check which anti-thrush medication is safe to take
YOUR SLEEP
18.
TirednessFrom feeling a bit rundown to experiencing complete fatigue (here at MFM we call it 'pregxhaustion'), unusual tiredness can be a very early sign that you’re pregnant.
"Extreme tiredness often comes as a shock but is a completely normal symptom of early pregnancy," says Dr Amin Gorgy. "During the 1st trimester, your body’s hormone levels skyrocket and the rise in progesterone can really have a significant impact on how you feel. Feeling tired is a sign that you need to slow down and rest up."
Forum mum-to-be Yummymummyalli found the exhaustion hits her most at the start of the day and when she's finished work. "I am exhausted when I wake up," she says, "but sort myself out by the time I get to work. Then by 7pm I’m tired again. I've been going to bed 1 or 2 hours earlier than usual."
- Combat pregxhaustion: midwife tips that help
19. Sleeplessness
If it’s not tiredness you're feeling, then maybe it’s the opposite and you just can't get to sleep in the first place. The cause? Yep, experts believe it’s changes in our hormones (those hormones have a LOT to answer for).
For poor forum mum-to-be EvelynsMummy6390 insomnia has been really quite debilitating. "My first hint of being pregnant was that I just couldn’t sleep one night," she says. "Right now it’s past 4am and I've been in bed since about 9pm as I was so tired. Slept an hour and PING! awake and can't get comfy."
Meanwhile Lauri27 says she initially blamed her insomnia on anxiety and excitement at finding out she was pregnant. "I am 4 weeks and only just found out I was pregnant," she says. "I haven’t been able to sleep for the last 2 nights and thought I was just nervous. I didn’t know this was a thing!"
20. Vivid dreams
"Some just-pregnant women mention experiencing strange or unusually vivid dreams," says midwife Ellie Cockburn. "This is not so much a symptom of pregnancy as it is of all the emotions and natural anxiety around becoming a parent."
And as some of our forum mums share, the dreams really can be unusual!
"I dreamt I bought my older daughter a baby goat, as there is a little grey one at our local open farm that she absolutely adores. But it was white and I was so worried that she wouldn’t like it, I woke up crying!" says 3-little-princesses.
One of Critters-Mum-Claire-21 was particularly vivid: "I dreamt last night I had a 4 ft 11in baby and the only thing I could get to fit him was a red velour jumpsuit!"
- Find out what your pregnancy dreams might mean
YOUR HEAD
21. Headaches
"Headaches can certainly be an early sign of pregnancy," says Dr Larisa Corda. Although more common during the latter part of your first trimester and then into your second, she says headaches can start earlier and are (you guessed it!) due to the change in hormones in your body.
For forum mum RedBrown28, they were definitely there at the start. "I had headaches for about a month in early pregnancy," she says. "It was a nightmare as I normally never get headaches. Thankfully they did pass and, by about 15 to 16 weeks, they were nowhere to be seen."
"They were torture," agrees Happy-Mrs-S. "I phoned my midwife in tears. She told me that they are very common in early pregnancy and caused by all the hormones. She told me to make sure I drank as much as I possibly could and, as it was summer, I tried to get extra liquids from eating lots of melon and ice lollies, too."
- Check out which headache painkiller is safe to take in pregnancy
22. Feeling dizzy
Dizziness and feeling faint is more commonly reported as a 2nd and 3rd trimester symptom but it's definitely not unknown as an early-pregnancy sign – and for forum mum Supersquish it was the clincher.
"I was queuing in Primark," she says, "and felt faint all of a sudden, and it suddenly hit me! I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God!’ and dropping my items and running to Boots for a test! I knew it was going to be positive."
And it was!
- Is that faint feeling a lack of iron?
YOUR MUSCLES & JOINTS
23. Backache
Back pain, particularly in your lower back, is an early symptom pinpointed by several of our mums – even right at the beginning of pregnancy.
"I had lower backache about a week before my period was due," says forum mum-t0-be xlittlemissx.
"It is caused by ligaments in the body becoming softer and stretching, which can put a lot of strain on the lower back," explains midwife Ellie.
"In addition," says Dr Larisa, "constipation, which is common in early pregnancy because of the effect of pregnancy hormones on the gut, can also cause backache too."
Forum mum-to-be nikkiandneil was suprised to get early backache. "'I’m only 5 weeks!" she says. "I have been having backache every day for the last week and a half. It usually eases off if I move about, though."
- Read the best mum tips for soothing aching pregnancy backs
24. Achy hips, legs and arms
Yep, it’s not just your back – your hips, legs and even arms may also ache at different times during early pregnancy due to hormone changes.
“Yesterday I had a achey left leg and an achey right arm and I was like, ‘Am I falling to pieces?’ And then this morning I got a BFP [Big Fat Positive test]. At least I know why!” says Sparkling_DiamondButton.
"Yes," says Dr Larisa. 'It's those pregnancy hormones loosening up your ligaments and joints to prepare for accommodating your growing baby."
25. Leg cramps
Studies, such as this 2006 one in the Journal of Reproduction & Infertility, suggest that between a third and a half of pregnant women experience leg cramps in pregnancy – although usually not until they're well into their 3rd trimester.
Early cramping does happen but it's not often as severe as the cramping you may experience later on (there's something to look forward to!)
They are plenty of theories as to why leg cramps happen in pregnancy – from vitamin deficiencies to electrolyte imbalances – but no one's come up with the definitive answer yet.
- Hop? Stand on a cold floor? Best tips for relieving leg cramps
YOUR MOUTH
26. Sour or metallic taste
Forum mum sealeyB says she had a "really metallic taste" in her mouth very soon after ovulation and "it didn't go for 2 weeks". And she's definitely not alone in experiencing this early pregnancy symptom.
"Experiencing strange tastes, known as dysgeusia, is one of the lesser-known but actually quite common early pregnancy signs," says Dr. Amin Gorgy. And, once again, pregnancy hormones are the culprit.
The metallic taste symptom can vary in its intensity but it's definitely sour. "It’s as if I have sucked 2p pieces!" says forum mum-to-be Deli3.
- Could there be other reasons why you have a strange taste in your mouth?
27. Food tasting 'wrong'
Dysgeusia can affect you in early pregnancy is other ways – going off previously favourite foods and drinks because they don't taste 'right' any more.
"My first sympton was an aversion to Diet Coke which I normally love! It just seemed to taste funny," says forum mum-to-be Hushpuppy.
"I had a problem with coffee," recalled fellow forum mum bev6. "It tasted stronger, if not bitter, and I could not drink it. I also had a horrible film in my mouth that I could not get rid of - it lasted for weeks”
28. Excess saliva
Another weird one – you may find you have more saliva in your mouth or notice a bit of drooling when you fall asleep!
The medical term for this one is 'ptyalism' and experts believe it happens because your body knows it is pregnant and the nerves that control salivation are more stimulated than usual.
29. Dry mouth
Then again, you may get the opposite to excess saliva: a dry mouth. And, along with that, you may find you’re more thirsty than usual, which is normal but, very occasionally, can be a sign of gestational diabetes.
When mum ILOVECUPCAK3S discovered she was pregnant – very early on – dry mouth was one of the many symptoms she experienced. "I had headaches, really spotty skin, low, mild period-like pain, restless sleep, dry mouth, hot flushes, tiredness, crying all the time, sore boobs and major bloatedness." Almost a full house there, ILOVECUPCAK3S!
30.
Bleeding gumsNot a pretty symptom but, from fairly early on in pregnancy, when you brush your teeth, you may find a bit of blood on your toothbrush or in the sink when you spit out.
This is all due to a combo of pregnancy hormones and more blood pumping around your body, making your gums swell.
But even if it’s uncomfortable, it’s best to brush your teeth more, not less according to the experts. “Many people think they should stop brushing if they have bleeding gums but this isn’t the case,” says Janet Clarke from the British Dental Association. "Brush more and make an appointment to see your dentist about it,”
- What you should know about looking after your teeth in pregnancy
31. Increased sensitivity to smells
This is a big early sign for lots of our forum mums. Can you suddenly smell damp? Does your pet have a new whiff about them? And have you started thinking your partner could do with a good wash and a splash of cologne?
Oh yes, your sense of smell may be so heightened that you can smell things that you didn’t even know had a smell, as MadForNO5 experienced: “Seven days after ovulating, I started to get a strong sense of smell. I could smell absolutely everything!"
The downside? The slightest odour can make you feel queasy.
32. Stuffy or runny nose
"I have a runny nose and I'm sneezing a lot. It started a week before my period was due and I'm 5 weeks now," says forum mum-tone jumpingzebra.
But anouska-b has the opposite problem. "I've had a stuffy nose all the way through, starting right from the beginning. I've become one of those annoying people who breathe really loudly!"
Sounds contradictory until you realise that the main culprit here is your pregnancy levels of the hormone oestrogen, which can increase mucus production. Pass the tissues...
- Are Vicks and Sudafed decongestants safe to take during pregnancy?
33. Nosebleeds
It doesn’t get more glamorous than this early sign: blood dripping from your nose. It happens quite commonly in pregnancy, from early on till quite late, because the blood vessels in your nose expand when you’re pregnant, putting more pressure on the delicate vessels in your nasal passages.
“My nosebleeds started as soon as I got pregnant (although I didn’t know I was at the time) and I get them quite badly," says forum mum kelsy1978. "My midwife suggested I carry a small bottle of Lucozade with me at all times so that, after the nosebleed, it gives me a little pick me up. “
- Find out the best way to stop a nosebleed when you’re pregnant
YOUR DIGESTION & APPETITE
34. Not hungry
In those 1st few weeks of pregnancy, your appetite may be affected. Many of our forum mums-to-be found they were suddenly less hungry than before – either because they were feeling queasy or because their normal hunger just wasn’t there.
That's how it was for ClaireHair: "I'm off food," she said. "Not much appetite. I just have to eat what I fancy [when I do feel hungry]. Saturday night, that was chips, curry sauce and deep-fried chilli beef from the Chinese!"
35. More hungry or more thirsty
While some mums-to-be suddenly can't bear the thought of eating, others suddenly find they’re so ravenous, eating is all they can think about.
For forum mum MsDodger, her appetite went through the roof. "I eat a lot normally but this it was a massive leap," she says. "I could not (and still cannot) stop snacking all day and eating large meals."
And this ravenous urge can apply to drinking as well, as eating, as bleurgh discovered. "Thirst! I wondered how much I could actually drink before drowning myself. Even my hubby said he nearly asked if I was drinking for two before I tested."
36. Not sure if hungry or sick
Oh dear, our appetite really can be a bit of a rollercoaster in early pregnancy. It can be a confusing time when you're not sure if you're feeling sick because you need to eat or you're feeling sick because you've got morning sickness and eating will make it worse.
Forum mum-to-be katie4matthew sums it all up when she says, "I can’t tell the difference between feeling sick and hungry at the moment. I'm so confused!"
37. Heartburn
Ouch. While heartburn is a very frequent mid to late-pregnancy symptom, we know from our forum posts that some mums-to-be experience it in the early weeks of pregnancy, too.
Indeed, for MissTysonMayer, it was 1 of the very first signs that she was pregnant. "I felt different from what would of been around 3 weeks," she says. "Had a bad stomach and felt sick, heartburn, headaches. The lot. Then I tested the next week when I was due and it was positive!"
So what's going on? "In pregnancy, the sphincter at the top of your stomach relaxes, allowing stomach acid to rise up into your oesophagus," explains family GP Dr Philippa Kaye.
- Can you take antacids, like Gaviscon, when you're pregnant?
YOUR SKIN
38. Spots and acne
Remember those outbreaks that peppered your teens? Well, they could be back now you’re pregnant. Given the hormonal changes in early pregnancy, it’s no surprise that one of the first signs can be an eruption of spots – as if we don’t have enough else to cope with!
“When I got pregnant, the first symptoms were that I got little bumpy spots on my forehead a few days before my period was due," forum mum mama pink says.
"Yes, for many pregnant women, the hormone progesterone can cause a flare up of the teenage acne that you thought you’d ditched years ago," explains GP and homeopath Dr Jeni Worden. "Essential as it is, progesterone is to blame for many of pregnancy’s less desirable effects."
- In a bad spot? What you can do if you have a breakout
39. Hot flushes
Some of our forum mum-to-be say they have felt that rising heat creeping up on your skin during early pregnancy so it might just be a sign that there is good news on the way.
It's well known, as the NHS Pregnancy & Baby Guide confirms, that hormonal changes and an increase in blood supply to the skin can mean your basal temperature (your normal resting body temperature) is higher than normal. And US researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have found that hot flushes affect just over a third of mums-to-be at some stage in their pregnancy.
For Tullah on our forum, hot flushes affected her from as early as 5 weeks' pregnant: "I’m normally always cold but have been really hot especially in bed," she says. "Yesterday I was walking about the shops and had to have a sit down, I was so hot. My stomach seems to be very hot, too!"
- Cool facts on hot flushes in pregnancy
YOUR EMOTIONS
40. Oversensitivity, grumpiness, tearfulness
Can’t watch Bake Off without tearing up? Find niggly things have become super niggly? Your emotions are heightened in the early days of pregnancy and the result can be sudden and surprising mood swings.
"Your body is producing hormones at levels you’ve never experienced before and they’re whizzing round your system like wildfire," says independent midwife Eleanor May-Johnson of Neighbourhood Midwives.
Which would explain why forum mum-to-be racheltidy is finding herself flying off the handle at anything and everything: "I am 5 weeks pregnant. I'm usually a chilled-out person. However, the last few days I have turned into the devil! I just want to shout at everyone!"
- Up and down? Find out what mood swings are normal
41.
Feeling differentFinally, sometimes there’s not a specific ‘thing’ that’s different, it’s just you don’t feel quite, well, the same. Pregnancy can work in mysterious ways, and sometimes you just have a gut feeling that you've conceived.
Obviously, there are no scientific studies to substantiate that 'feeling' pregnant could, in any way, mean you are pregnant but this, from ace10 on our forum, is not the only post we've seen like this:
"I am 6 days past ovulation and today I just can not shake the feeling that I am pregnant. It's like something in me is telling me I am? Its very strange."
And then, a week later, she comes back to add: "Well I guess my feeling was spot on because I got my Big Fat Positive [test result]. I tested today and the line came up pretty much straight away. We are so happy!"
So maybe there's something in it...
So, I've got some of these symptoms. Am I definitely pregnant?
Frustratingly, as we've already explained, many of the signs and symptoms of early pregnancy we've details above are the same as, or can be easily confused with, the signs and symptoms of PMS or the signs and symptoms that your period's on its way.
Some of the signs – nausea, breast tenderness, mood swings, and a frequent need to wee – are, anecdotally, more common signs of pregnancy than others. But you could be pregnant without experiencing any of them. And you may not be pregnant even if you experience them all.
"We will all experience the first signs of pregnancy in completely different ways," says Dr Amin Gorgy. “There is no specific way that you ‘should’ feel. We are all individuals."
As wise forum mum gazsgirl says, "Everyone is different and most symptoms are so like period ones, it’s always hard to know until you see the line."
Time to take a test if you haven’t already...
About our fertility expert Dr Amin Gorgy
Dr Gorgy co-founded The Fertility & Gynaecology Academy in 2004 and is now its co-director. Previously, he was the deputy director of the Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2006) and a member of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.
About our expert obstetrician Dr Larisa Corda
Dr Corda is an obstetrician and gynaecologist who specialises in IVF. After working in Sydney at IVF Australia (2012-13), she returned to the UK and was awarded membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She now works as a gynaecologist and IVF consultant and is also Fertility Expert for ITV's This Morning show.
Read more:- Find out how soon you can take a pregnancy test
- Late period but negative pregnancy test? Why you could actually be pregnant
- I'm pregnant, now what?
First signs of pregnancy before delay, early symptoms
Significant hormonal changes occur during pregnancy. This causes a number of symptoms. Some women experience pregnancy symptoms right away, while others may only have a few. About the first signs of pregnancy at an early stage and when exactly the initial signs of pregnancy appear are described in the article.
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.
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%.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Emotional first signs of pregnancy
The first signs of pregnancy before the delay (the earliest signs of pregnancy) include psycho-emotional symptoms.
- Mood swings.
- Irritability.
- Vulnerability, tearfulness.
- Capriciousness.
- 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.
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:
- 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.
- For nausea or vomiting, try ginger, chamomile, or vitamin B6.
- Drink plenty of water, in small sips between meals, to replenish lost fluids. Teas, juices, fruit drinks are also suitable.
- For back pain, wear shoes or shoe insoles designed for pregnant women and avoid high heels. Sleep on a firm mattress.
- For chest discomfort, wear a special bra that supports enlarged breasts.
- For constipation, eat more fiber-rich foods such as wheat bran and fresh vegetables and fruits.
- If you suffer from headaches and mood swings, try stress reduction techniques such as yoga or meditation.
- Be outdoors more often, at least half an hour a day. This helps to reduce the symptoms of toxicosis, calm the nervous system.
- Maintain your daily physical activity for as long as it is convenient for you to perform certain activities.
- 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:
- 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%.
- 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: 99%. You can buy Evitest or HomeTest test strips in our pharmacy.
- 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.
- 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%.
Help Doc.ua: you can make an appointment with a gynecologist on the website.
Thrush - as a sign of pregnancy
Complain
Girls, ovulation in this cycle tried harder than ever. Despite the unsuccessful 5.5 years, I still prepare for each cycle, I hope and act. For the first time in 5 years, after ovulation, after 3 days, I had a feeling that thrush appeared again. Such not strong sensations, but, with an interval of 5 years, I definitely won’t confuse it with anything. The thing is that 5.5 years ago I went from a score to an ultrasound scan, where they showed me that I was pregnant ... and the next day thrush began, and after another 3 days M came, B fell off ... since then it didn’t work anymore ., here I found the information, very interesting, and began to hope for the best.
Info:
During pregnancy (starting literally from the first days, so the woman is not even aware of the conception), the level of progesterone increases. In fact, the level of this hormone rises in the second half of the cycle, after ovulation, in all women. It plays an important role: it supports a possible pregnancy. The hormone is produced by the corpus luteum formed at the site of the bursting follicle, the function of which is to preserve the emerging life. If conception does not take place, the corpus luteum regresses, progesterone levels fall. But if the egg has merged with the sperm, and the embryo has attached itself to the wall of the uterus, progesterone begins to be released in especially large quantities.
Such hormonal fluctuations cause changes in the vaginal environment. It becomes more acidic, which contributes to the active reproduction of Candida fungi. This is why thrush can be a sign of pregnancy. Particular attention to the sudden onset of thrush should be shown to those women who have it extremely rarely and who have not recently observed obvious changes in their health.
Thrush as a sign of pregnancy before delay
Can thrush be a sign of pregnancy? Maybe. If you have an active sex life and do not protect yourself, you should be alerted by the following phenomena:
drowsiness that does not go away even after a full night's sleep;
fatigue;
headaches;
mood swings;
feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen;
change in the nature of vaginal discharge;
swelling, soreness of the chest.
Most of these first signs of pregnancy also occur during PMS, so don't run to the pharmacy for a test until the most reliable of the signs, a missed period, appears. And yet, thrush as the first sign of pregnancy before a delay is very likely. Before the onset of menstruation (after ovulation, in the second half of the cycle), the hormonal background becomes a little unstable, immunity is slightly reduced. The fungus is extremely sensitive to these changes.
Along with vaginal candidiasis, such a phenomenon as intestinal dysbacteriosis can also be noted. They often accompany and support each other.
During pregnancy, thrush most often proceeds brightly, annoys the woman with unpleasant sensations. It is impossible to say that such a condition is an absolute norm: after all, pregnancy is not a disease, a woman during this period should not feel constantly sick and overwhelmed. However, the immune forces of the body deliberately act in a limited way. Nature is wise: otherwise, the protective cells would quickly “expel” the embryo from the mother’s body, since for him it is half a “stranger”. A slight weakening of the immune system is necessary, against this background, many previously dormant diseases, including thrush, “raise their heads” “raise their heads”.
How long will hCG show pregnancy
The nature of the discharge in thrush
In most cases, a woman can easily diagnose candidiasis herself, especially if she has already had to deal with its manifestations before. Signs of thrush during pregnancy do not differ from those in the "non-pregnant" state. These are:
itching, soreness in the vagina;
permanent cheesy leucorrhea;
increased secretions in the evening and at night.
Attempts to control the discharge with hygienic procedures have the opposite effect: the symptoms become more pronounced. All symptoms and signs intensify, making it difficult to lead a normal life. Thrush, which manifested itself in the early stages, causes significant discomfort. In the first trimester, there are already so many new, unusual sensations that complicate life, and then there is candidiasis.
How to treat thrush in women?
There are contraindications. Check with your doctor.
Thrush as a sign of early pregnancy deserves close attention, both from the doctor and the patient. Despite the fact that it is, in general, a variant of the norm, the disease cannot be left to chance - it is necessary to diagnose and treat thrush if it has clinical manifestations.
Diagnosis
The doctor will confirm the diagnosis of thrush immediately after a routine examination with mirrors. He will see:
profuse white curdled discharge;
reddened, irritated mucosa.
Thrush in women is a sign of pregnancy reviews:
Examination gives discomfort due to the inflammatory process in the vagina. To clarify the diagnosis, a sowing on the fungus is prescribed, for which the doctor takes a swab from the vagina.
What is the danger of thrush in early pregnancy
If after menstruation the hormonal background of a woman is somewhat evened out and, in the absence of pregnancy, the symptoms of candidiasis can subside by themselves, then during the period of bearing a child, the picture changes. Thrush will not go away on its own, as there are factors that support it. It is advisable to treat candidiasis before the delay.
If this does not work, be sure to undergo treatment as soon as the test is ready. You can treat thrush at any stage of pregnancy - the main thing is that the drugs are prescribed by a doctor, because not all of them are safe for expectant mothers.
Why is untreated thrush dangerous? The fungus causes thinning of the mucous membranes. They become weak and lose elasticity. Therefore, during childbirth, significant ruptures of the perineum are possible, which will take a long time to heal.
There is also a danger for the child: in places where the fungus has “settled”, the fetal bladder loses its protective functions and may burst. Outcome: premature discharge of water, oxygen starvation of the baby, intrauterine infection of the fetus. During childbirth, the child can become infected from the mother, passing through the birth canal. Diseases of the oral cavity, lungs, eyes are not excluded.
Of course, you don't need such complications. Therefore, it is necessary to treat the "harmless" thrush.
Treatment
If the fungus is very common, the doctor may prescribe tablets that inhibit the growth of pathogenic flora. But this is rare: more often during pregnancy, gynecologists prefer topical preparations: suppositories and creams. Pimafutsin, Livarol, Nystatin candles are popular among expectant mothers.