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If you’re trying to have a baby, no doubt your brain has set off in search of early signs of pregnancy. You know, those subtle changes in your body that could mean you are pregnant.
Before diving into these early signs and symptoms of pregnancy that can happen before your missed period, it’s important to remember that every woman is different. The timing of ovulation, conception and implantation varies for everyone, making it difficult to know for sure if you are pregnant before your missed period. Annoying, we know!
The most accurate way to find out if you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test on or around your missed period. Pregnosis is a popular choice for Tell Me Baby parents. You can read Pregnosis In-Stream Early Pregnancy Test reviews. Alternatively, we’ve created a list of the best early detection pregnancy tests.
So what are these very early signs of pregnancy, and are they accurate?
Let’s start at the beginning.
Although you aren’t pregnant, the first day of your last menstrual period is considered the beginning of your pregnancy.
As conception hasn’t taken place, you won’t be experiencing any symptoms just yet! But hang in there, good news could be on the way.
Week 2 is usually when ovulation occurs (around day 10-14); however, the timing varies for everyone. Next, the sperm will meet and fertilise your egg, AKA conception, and begin the journey to your uterus.
To give you a rough idea about time, it can take about four days for your fertilised egg to reach your uterus, so be patient. (Easier said than done, we know!)
Early signs of pregnancy around this time will depend on when you ovulate and how long it takes for the sperm to fertilise the egg. If you ovulate earlier in your cycle, then you will notice symptoms earlier – some say as soon as five days past ovulation.
Here are some common early pregnancy symptoms.
Your breasts are usually the first to notice the changes in your body. Many women say their breasts become tender and sore after conception. Annoyingly, breast tenderness could also be a symptom of PMS. However, changes to the areola are not, and this could indicate pregnancy.
Increased levels of estrogen may cause a heightened sense of smell. Unfortunately, this could also be a symptom of PMS. Estrogen levels can also cause some women to have a metallic taste in their mouth.
Women can start to feel nauseous soon after conception. However, nausea usually doesn’t kick in until around six weeks – after your missed period. And by this stage, you would have taken a pregnancy test.
Your basal body temperature increases around the time of ovulation. If conception occurs, your body temperature will stay elevated. Therefore a high basal body temperature after ovulation could be a sign of some soon-to-be good news.
Another common symptom in early pregnancy is fatigue, but feeling tired could also mean you are about to get your period. Sorry!
At four weeks, the sperm and egg is now a blastocyst and should be ready to implant into the wall of the uterus, and develop into an embryo. Keep in mind that once the blastocyst reaches the uterus, it can take two to three days to implant.
Here are some other signs you could be pregnant.
Need to pee more than usual? This could be a sign of pregnancy. Around the time you would typically be getting your period, your kidneys go into overdrive to clean out extra waste from your growing baby causing you to urinate more frequently.
Once the blastocyst implants in the uterus, implantation bleeding can occur. Implantation bleeding is a lighter period that is pink, red or brown in colour, but it doesn’t last as long. If you are concerned about implantation bleeding, make an appointment with your GP or another health care professional.
It’s very common for women to pay particular attention to their cervical mucus while waiting to take a pregnancy test. While some notice that Leukorrhea – a clear or milky coloured discharge – increases during pregnancy, it’s usually not until around week 8.
Despite the many ways our marvellous bodies can communicate with us, the only way to find out for sure if you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test after your missed period.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t keep an eye for some early signs.
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