Symptoms of Pregnancy

Are These Early Pregnancy signs?

What are the clearest early pregnancy symptoms? Maybe it’s been a long road to conception and you want to know now!

Perhaps you’re not ready and feeling worried you are pregnant? Your body will give you many early signs of pregnancy.

This article explores 8 common symptoms, so you can read your body more easily.

1) Breast tenderness
This is often one of the most instantaneous indications you’re pregnant. Although similar to pre-menstrual soreness, many women find their breasts more painful, feeling heavier and simply more intense than usual. I certainly did!

My rather large mammaries felt like weighty tender melons within a week of conception. Plus they felt uncomfortable when hugging someone within two weeks of conception. My nipples gradually darkened too.

2) High temperature readings
If you have been charting your temperature to determine the day of ovulation, this is a simple way to know if you’re pregnant. If your temperature stays up for longer than 15 days after ovulation, you may well be pregnant. I’ve been charting temperature and vaginal mucus changes for years…

when I finally got pregnant, my temperature did a beautiful curve rise after ovulation and stayed up – text book perfect!

3) Positive pregnancy test
Most pregnancy tests may show a positive result on the first day of the missed period, but may show up as early as four days before that. The ‘you’re pregnant’ line may be very faint if you do have an early test. I’ve done more pregnancy tests than I can count, and it’s hard to be patient!

This time I couldn’t quite wait until my period was due, so took a test a couple of days before that. Initially there was only one ‘not pregnant’ line, so I thought it was negative again. I left it and came back in a while, only to find a faint positive result. In my case this was whooooppeeeee!

4)  Morning Sickness
Although not usually an extra early pregnancy symptom, some women start to feel ‘queasy’ as early as 2 weeks after conception. I think morning sickness should be renamed more appropriately ‘all-day sickness’, because each woman may experience different timing and intensity.

It’s been worst for me in the afternoons. 70% of pregnant women feel nauseous at some point, and usually symptoms fade by 16 weeks.

5)  Food aversions and cravings
These are common early signs of pregnancy, often kicking in at a similar time to the nausea. Just thinking about eating certain foods can make your stomach turn, while another current favorite may be all you can think of.

I regressed to childhood comfort foods; mashed potatoes and simple flavours. Fancy Asian flavours I’d usually enjoy were out. Some of my health food obsessions gave way to a more gentle approach; just giving my body what it asked for each day.

6)  Exhaustion
Within the first few weeks you may feel like getting through an ordinary day is like completing a triathlon. Take it as easy as possible. Being rested may also help reduce nausea. I like to have a power nap after lunch, and find I’m better equipped to cope with the rest of the day.

7)  Emotional rollercoaster rides
Sometimes no matter how well you’ve slept, how happy you are to be pregnant, how beautiful the weather is, your hormones play havoc with your mood. In the first trimester these emotional ‘crises’ can feel much more intense than normal ups and downs. They come out of no-where and make you feel like an irrational wet-rag. Some women get grumpy, some women get sad, sometimes both at the same time.

An understanding family or partner who recognize ‘It’s not you; it’s your hormones’ is helpful. There is a lot going on inside your body and hormones are the magic wand making it all happen.
I find myself crying about nothing I can explain, feeling vulnerable and insecure when usually I’ve got it all organized. Being pregnant can feel confusing!

8)  Just knowing
A common very early pregnancy symptom, (not very scientific this one), is just knowing that you are pregnant or that something feels different inside. Some mums-to-be even say they knew at conception that it was an extra special moment.

Remember, each woman will experience a different selection of these early pregnancy
Symptoms. It’s a unique journey and listening to your body/s messages is part of the fun.

Not all the symptoms are pleasant, but they are all part of this miracle of creation. If you do happen to be pregnant, celebrate and enjoy your body’s signs that something wonderful is unfolding inside you.

PS Getting pregnant came as a welcome ‘surprise’ after almost 10 years of irregular periods, mixed up hormones and the fear I would never have kids. Roger and I even went through a year of the adoption process two years ago. Healing my body was a long story, one I’ll condense soon. Becoming more moderate in my approach to food helped a lot, but more on that another time…