Common Signs of Early Pregnancy

The body goes through a series of changes when a woman becomes pregnant, and usually, those changes first show up as subtle signs that can indicate that conception has begun. These early symptoms might be recognizable for those trying to conceive, or not, which could be very helpful. We take a look at some of the most common signs of early pregnancy and what could be the cause.

1. Missed Menstrual Period

One of the most widely accepted pregnancy signs is a missed period. This happens because after an egg becomes fertilized, once it implants in the lining of the uterus, hormones prevent that from happening. This is because missing a period is still a key sign, and other women may have a light spotting, called implantation bleeding. But menstrual irregularities or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can also lead to missed periods, so use a test to confirm pregnancy.

2. Breast Changes

Another early sign of pregnancy is changes in the breasts. Rising hormone levels, specifically estrogen and progesterone cause many folks to notice increased sensitivity, tenderness, or swelling of their breasts. These hormones get the breasts ready to produce milk by making the breasts bigger. The areolas, too, may turn darker, and the veins in the breast may become more evident as blood supplies the breast.

3. Fatigue

Pregnant individuals often become fatigued early on, typically as a direct result of higher-than-normal levels of the hormone progesterone. It’s this hormone that helps your body get pregnant, and you may feel more tired than normal because of it. If you’re feeling extremely tired and struggling to stay active, consulting the best gynecologist in Rawalpindi can provide you with personalized guidance.

4. Nausea and Morning Sickness

Nausea with or without vomiting is one of the most classic signs of early pregnancy, and so is called “morning sickness” (though it can be at any time of day). It usually starts during the sixth week of pregnancy. It’s not entirely understood exactly what causes it, but a main theory is that hormonal changes, such as sharp rises in hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), are to blame.

5. Increased Urination

Early sign of pregnancy is that you start peeing all the time–as soon as a week or two after conception. When you’re pregnant early, the body’s blood volume grows and kidneys have to work to handle that extra fluid. This means the bladder fills up quicker, and you need to urinate more often. The symptom usually lasts for the duration of the pregnancy, or indeed worsens.

6. Mood Swings

During pregnancy, hormones may quickly alter your mood. When levels of estrogen and progesterone start to rise, they can disrupt neurotransmitters in the brain resulting in mood swings, increased emotions, and even irritability.

7. Food Aversions and Cravings

For early pregnancy, common changes in eating habits are the changing of food aversions, food cravings, and so forth. Foods that once offered enjoyment can actually become intolerable for the same reasons that taste and smell sensitivity is being altered. Sometimes, some people crave for unusual food combinations, due to evolving nutritional needs of the body.

8. Digestive Changes

Digestion slows down during the first few months of pregnancy due to hormonal changes, and this can lead to bloating that’s fairly common. That said, progesterone has a relaxing effect on all of the muscles, including the muscles of the digestive tract, that can cause things like bloating, constipation, and even heartburn, for instance.

9. Sensitivity to Smells

Early pregnancy brings sensitivity to smells. Many say that once neutral or pleasant scents, now become overwhelming or nauseating. However, there’s no clear-cut reason, and it may be related to hormonal changes. It can make this an especially rough time for those with nausea and food aversions: this increased olfactory sensitivity tends to exacerbate those symptoms.

10. Mild Cramping and Spotting

Early in pregnancy, some women have light cramping and spotting, sometimes near enough to the time of the period that they otherwise would have had. The spotting you see occurs just when a fertilized egg attaches to uterine lining, which is when they call it implantation bleeding. Regular periods are not the same as this bleeding, which is usually light and short periods. In the meantime, mild cramping may occur when the uterus adjusts to receive an embryo. But it’s important to watch for symptoms that get worse, such as cramping or bleeding, and to see a gynecologist in Islamabad if they do.

Conclusion

The early sign of pregnancy is something that can be a very eye opening experience for people that are dying to get a positive pregnancy test. Although every pregnancy is unique and there is large variation in the symptoms they do include a missed period, fatigue, nausea, and breast tenderness. If you think you might be pregnant, it’s best to confirm with a pregnancy test and speak to a healthcare provider to start this amazing journey in the healthiest way.