If you're concerned or hoping that you might be pregnant, the next few weeks might be pretty stressful. However, knowing the symptoms you might experience during early pregnancy can help you figure out if you're expecting, or just having a difficult period. Every woman is a little different, of course. That means that even if you are pregnant, you may only have some of the early pregnancy symptoms listed below. It's also possible to experience some symptoms without being pregnant, because of other causes. However, if you have several of these symptoms at the same time, you should talk to your doctor. It might be time to celebrate, or figure out what your options are.
Bleeding from Implantation: One of the earliest pregnancy symptoms, implantation bleeding happens between one and two weeks after conception. This is when the embryo attaches itself to the uterine wall. Some women can have spotting and cramping when this happens. There are some other reasons you might bleed unexpectedly, however. A change in hormonal birth control methods, such as the Pill, Ring, or implants, can cause abnormal menstruation. Rough intercourse can abrade you. You could also be starting your period early.
Feelings of Sickness: Morning sickness is another common indicator of pregnancy. Between two weeks and eight weeks after conceiving, many women will feel nauseated and may vomit. However, not everyone experiences this, and your nausea could have been caused by a bacterial or viral infection, food poisoning, or even job stress. This is why it's important to look at your symptoms over all to figure out if you're pregnant.
Delayed Menstruation: Many women miss the period immediately after conceiving, making a missed period the most common indicator that you're pregnant. However, you can get a false negative from an unusual period. It's possible to bleed, but still be pregnant. If you're concerned, keep an eye out for an unusually short or light flow, or other changes. If you lose or gain weight suddenly, change hormonal birth control, or are stressed, you may also miss a cycle.
Feeling Tired: Many women, because of the extra strain on their bodies, begin feeling tired or fatigued a week or more after conception. Tiredness is also a result of a poor diet, depression, stress and exhaustion.
Tender Breasts: As early as a week or two after you conceive, you may find that your breasts are sore, swollen, or tender. Since this is a symptom of a period on its way, or some other hormonal change, it's not a great indicator of pregnancy by itself. However, in concert with other early pregnancy symptoms, it could be telling.
Frequent Trips to the Bathroom: Urinating more often than usual can indicate pregnancy. If you haven't been drinking a lot more, or taking any diuretics (diet pills and some herbal teas qualify), then more frequent trips to the bathroom might be caused by compression of your bladder by an expanding uterus. Other medical reasons for this can include a urinary tract infection or diabetes. If you're urinating more often, see your doctor – it could be serious.
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