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Usually, morning sickness and a missed period are the earliest signs of pregnancy. But, there are various symptoms and changes the female’s body goes through even before a missed period!
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Earliest pregnancy signs before missed period
Certain signs and symptoms of pregnancy even before a missed period could be a hint that the female is in the first weeks of pregnancy. Below are some of the early signs of pregnancy a female may experience before missing her period.
- Sore or sensitive breasts – One of the earliest changes a female may notice during pregnancy is sore, aching breasts, which may also feel tender to the touch, and feel fuller and heavier than normal. This is due to the rising progesterone levels in the body. This symptom may continue throughout the pregnancy or subside after the first few weeks.
Also Read- Breast Pain in Pregnancy - Darkening areolas – A female may also notice her areolas (the area around the nipples) darken, which can happen as early as 1 to 2 weeks after conception and is often the first sign of pregnancy.
- Fatigue – Fatigue is common in the first months of pregnancy and happens due to hormonal changes and lower blood sugar and blood pressure levels in the early pregnancy.
- Nausea – Nausea and morning sickness usually begin between the 4th and 6th week of pregnancy. However, many females experience morning sickness before then. Pregnancy nausea or morning sickness is worse for some females than it is for others.
Also Read- Vomiting in Pregnancy - Cervical mucus- A pregnant female may notice a change or increase in vaginal discharge during early pregnancy. In the first trimester, a female may secrete sticky, white, or pale yellow mucus, which happens because of increased hormones and vaginal blood flow.
- Implantation bleeding- A female may experience implantation bleeding, or light spotting or bleeding, around 10 – 14 days after conception. Implantation bleeding usually occurs about 1 week before the expected period. The bleeding is a lot lighter than the usual period and is likely to stop after 1 to 3 days.
Also Read- Causes of Bleeding during pregnancy - Frequent urination- Frequent urination in pregnancy happens because the female’s body increases the amount of blood it pumps, resulting in the kidneys processing more fluid than the usual. This means that there would be more fluid in the bladder, causing frequent urination. Frequent urge to run to the bathroom may be an early sign of pregnancy and may start as early as 2 weeks after conception. But some females do not have this symptom until the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
Also Read- Burning and Itching while Urinating in Pregnancy - Basal body temperature- The female’s basal body temperature (BBT) is the body temperature when she is fully at rest. It is usually taken when a female first wakes up in the morning. A rise in basal body temperature for about 18 days following ovulation can be an early sign of pregnancy.
- Bloating- In many cases, bloating is an early symptom of pregnancy. The pregnant female’s digestive system can slow down because of the hormonal changes, which can cause bloating, constipation, or gas.
Also Read- Bloating in Pregnancy
How soon can you get pregnancy symptoms before a missed period?
Some females experience common early pregnancy symptoms such as tender breasts, nausea, fatigue, sensitivity to taste or smell or bloating within days after conception, or about 15 days before the period is expected to arrive.
A female may not notice or be able to confirm other early pregnancy symptoms like changes in her areolas, a consistently creamy vaginal discharge and elevated basal body temperature for a few weeks. And remember, plenty of females do not experience any of the early pregnancy symptoms at all! So, it is best to consult a doctor.
How soon can you take a pregnancy test?
A female should wait at least 1 to 2 weeks after unprotected sex to take a home pregnancy test. That is the earliest when the test can detect levels of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which is a hormone produced during pregnancy.
If you take a home pregnancy test too early, it may not yet be able to detect the hCG hormone in the urine.
How reliable are the early pregnancy symptoms before a missed period?
Pregnancy symptoms vary for every female. They also are much similar to the symptoms of PMS. That is why it is nearly impossible to tell whether a female is pregnant on such symptoms alone.
The best bet is to take a home pregnancy test or visit a doctor if you suspect you are pregnant or have already missed your period.
Home pregnancy tests are fairly reliable when done properly and with the use of the first urine of the morning. But a female can also get a wrong positive test result. This can occur for a variety of reasons, such as having an ectopic pregnancy, or taking certain medications, which can interfere with the accuracy of test results.
After a positive home pregnancy test, visit a doctor for a urine or blood test to confirm pregnancy.
