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Early Signs Of Pregnancy

Are you experiencing unusual early pregnancy symptoms, but are unsure if you’re really pregnant? Well, in fact, determining whether you are actually pregnant can take some time, and it usually would be a minimum of a week after missing your period that you can take a pregnancy test. 

What Can You See On A 8 Week Ultrasound

However, there are some early pregnancy signs that may indicate that you’re pregnant. This is mainly due to hormonal changes, which your body starts to adapt right after conception. In general, around 90 percent of women start to feel certain pregnancy symptoms by 8 weeks.

Below you can find the pregnancy symptoms list, which may help you to determine whether you are really pregnant.

Unusual Early Pregnancy Symptoms - A Checklist

  • Changes In Your Breasts
    One of the signs that you’re pregnant is that your breasts will start getting a bit tender, sore, and swollen.
    Generally, within one to two weeks of conception, this kind of breast tenderness may appear. According to the American Pregnancy Association, almost 20 percent of women reported their initial symptom of pregnancy as having tender and sore breasts.
    Furthermore, differences in the weight and shape of your breasts are also early indicators of pregnancy, since your breasts may tend to look heavier and larger than normal or maybe even a little itchy. You can also note that your areolas, which is the region above your nipples on your breasts, are starting to look darker than normal.
  • Nausea
    Feeling nauseous can also be one of the strange early pregnancy symptoms. According to 25 percent of women, nausea was another first sign of pregnancy they felt. It helps to keep in mind, however, feeling nauseous, even very much so, does not mean that you are actually going to vomit.
    In general, this form of nausea is most frequently called the “morning sickness“. However, the term can really be misleading, as these nausea waves can strike at any time, day or night.
  • Cramping
    Cramping can be one of the odd signs of pregnancy although many women who feel cramping find it an unpleasant and unwanted symptom.
    The reason for the cramping at the onset of pregnancy is attributed to the various changes in the woman’s body. Since the pregnancy causes the uterus to expand, while the muscles are extending, many women report that they feel cramps on one or both sides of their lower abdomen.
  • Exhaustion
    Another one of the less common pregnancy symptoms is the feeling of fatigue. In fact, you can very quickly get exhausted both physically and mentally. That is mostly attributed to the various changes that arise in your body as a result of the start of the pregnancy. You can start feeling exhausted and run down as early as 1 week after conception. 
    A closer examination of this symptom by scientists revealed a possibility the rapidly rising levels of the hormone progesterone may inevitably lead to tiredness. In fact, blood pressure and blood sugar levels are also lower. This can be related to the body also producing more blood for both you and the baby, all of which will lead to you feel tired and drained.
    Furthermore, one of the leading causes of feeling fatigue and tiredness is related to the amount of sleep pregnant women get each nigh. Nearly 80 percent of women reported sleep disruptions during pregnancy, which is not too uncommon considering the many physical and mental changes and developments taking place.
  • Morning sickness
    Unusual early pregnancy symptoms also include morning sickness. Many people claim that the elevated amounts of estrogen and progesterone in a woman’s body during pregnancy are linked to the condition. Others, however, argue that this is caused by human chorionic gonadotropin, classified as hCG, a hormone released after conception.
    Some researchers also think that morning sickness can help protect a woman against foodborne poisoning. That is because her nausea will help her recognize which products to avoid, which may otherwise be unhealthy.
    Starting from the sixth week after conception you can start feeling morning sickness. However, the condition usually fades away by the 12th week of pregnancy.
    Moreover, reports have found that women experiencing morning sickness are significantly less likely to lose their pregnancy than those without morning sickness.
  • Dizziness and achiness
    Are you feeling dizzy and lightheaded? Well, in fact, these are more of the more unusual early pregnancy symptoms that may mean you’re really pregnant.
    The dizziness is usually caused by increased levels of the hormone in your body, which leads to changes in the blood pressure and as well as blood volume.
    Furthermore, due to low blood sugar levels, some women can feel lightheaded and faint, particularly in the initial stages of early pregnancy.
  • Stuffy nose
    While you should not necessarily run to take a pregnancy test right away with this symptom, it has been reported that one of the more subtle signs of pregnancy can be having a stuffy nose.
    Women can usually develop congestion and blocked nasal passages early in their pregnancy due to elevated blood pressure and fluctuating hormone levels in their bodies. This can trigger nasal passages to get enflamed, leading in a stuffy nose.
  • Bloating
    You might be surprised to learn that moodiness can indeed be another sign of pregnancy that can be unexpected. If you feel delighted and happy one minute, and then unexpectedly sad and anxious the next, it’s wise to know that these changes are likely due to the various symptoms of pregnancy.
    The key reason is the increase in hormone levels in the body, including estrogen and progesterone. And while experiencing mood swings in the first trimester of pregnancy is normal, some others may also feel them later in their pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester.
    The explanation may be the surge of various thoughts and emotions that you may have about parenting or motherhood, and any questions that may be of interest to you.
    Luckily, if you’re trying to battle these mood swings and regain command over your newly acquired unpredictable personality, there are various things you may try. These involve exercising (especially on fresh air), meditating, yoga, and spending time with family and friends. An early ultrasound can help confirm the source of any bleeding, especially since a real menstrual cycle stops once you’re pregnant.

Signs Of Pregnancy Before Missed Period

We have also briefly listed certain signs of the early pregnancy which some women experience before having missed their period. Some of these may present before or after having missed your period. 

  • Sore breasts
    Having sore or sensitive breasts can be one of the earliest changes that may signify you are pregnant. It may feel as if your breasts become fuller or heavier and tender to the touch. This is related to the increased levels of progesterone in the body.
  • Nausea
    Nausea and morning sickness generally start during the fourth to sixth weeks of pregnancy. Prior to that time, you may experience a certain queasiness.
  • Fatigue
    During the first months of pregnancy, fatigue is a prevalent symptom. This is because of changes in hormone levels. Plus the blood sugar and blood pressure levels at this stage are lower.
  • Frequent urination
    You may have previously heard that pregnant women visit the bathroom quite frequently. This is due to the increased amount of blood present in a pregnant woman’s body that causes kidneys to process more fluids than usual.
  • Implantation bleeding
    Following nearly 12 days after conception, some women may experience light spotting and bleeding.

Read more

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