Early Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms before a Missed Period
These Early Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms can suggest that you are pregnant, even before you have a missed period. They do not happen in every woman because their body is different, but most women would experience at least one or more of these early pregnancy signs and symptoms. What are they?
Early Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms Before a Missed Period
Swollen and Sore Breast
It’s one of the early pregnancy signs, and your breast might become heavier or fuller and feel pain when touched. This is due to an increase in the hormone “PROGESTERONE.”
Darkening Areola
The Areola is the dark area of the breast around the nipple, and it even darkens more in the first to the second week of pregnancy.
Tiredness
This is the weakness normally felt in early pregnancy. It is also due to hormonal changes in the first month of pregnancy. The Blood pressure and sugar levels are also lower at this point.
Nausea
This means having an urge or feeling to vomit. Some people call this “Morning sickness.” It usually starts anytime between the fourth & sixth week of pregnancy. At this time, even the smell of the things you normally loved before, for example, your hair cream, or favourite food, can cause you to throw up.
Although this can vary in women, once you start throwing up in pregnancy, just suspect that you should be at least four weeks pregnant.
Vaginal Discharge
Although vaginal discharge is commonly seen at other times and in other conditions, you might notice sticky, white, or pale yellow mucus during the first Trimester. This is mainly due to increased hormones and vaginal blood flow.
You can read about other types of vaginal discharge here.
Light Bleeding
This light bleeding is what is known as “Implantation Bleed.” It happens as the baby tries to lay and solidify its foundation in the womb. It is one of the early pregnancy signs and symptoms. This implantation bleeding occurs at around 14 days after conception (fertilization), just around the time you normally see your monthly period (menses), so you might even confuse it for your period and not know you are pregnant. Some women do this.
But unlike periods, this one would be light and not last long.
Frequent Urination
This is due to increased blood pumped, causing the kidneys to process more. It occurs about two weeks after conception.
Bloated Abdomen
This is also due to hormonal changes. The digestive system slows during pregnancy, causing bloating, constipation, or gas.
Note: as we said, every woman’s body is different. Hence, pregnancy symptoms vary from one woman to another; the best bet remains a pregnancy test which can be done using either a urine dipstick or a blood test.
When can I do a Pregnancy Test?
A Pregnancy test is best done after two weeks of having unprotected sexual intercourse. By this time, the hormone “HCG,” which is the basis of a pregnancy test, would be present.
To know the costs of these tests and how to do a pregnancy test, click here.
Feel free to ask any questions you might have below, and I would do well to respond to them when I can.
