20 Early Signs & Symptoms of Pregnancy Before Missed Period
Are you feeling overwhelmed about your late period or just curious about what the hold up is? The first question that comes to mind when we miss our period is “Could I be pregnant?”. Research has proven that several factors such as stress, medications, lack of sleep, trauma etc could delay a woman’s period. If you haven’t had any minor or major changes happen in your life and you’ve recently been sexually active then the question remains, “Could you be pregnant?”.
Simply put, chances of getting pregnant during the ovulation period is very high. A female becomes pregnant when the sperm fertilizes the egg (during ovulation) The egg then becomes an embryo and then moves along the uterus wall until it implants itself on that wall. Essentially, pregnancy starts well before the period is missed.After a few days or weeks of the implantation, your body will begin to give some indications of pregnancy even before your menstrual date starts. Most women trying to get pregnant get so anxious and excited that they may fail to notice such indications of pregnancy. If you want to know whether you might be pregnant even before you miss your menstrual date or before you take the test, then continue reading this article to learn some early signs of pregnancy.
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Here are 20 Early Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy That Often Occur Before You Missed Your Period.
1. Elevated Basal Body Temperature
Most people don’t know what the term basal body temperature means. However, if you’re pregnant you should learn its meaning. Why? Because this condition could indicate that you’re pregnant. Your basal body temperature is the temperature that your body has while at rest. If it becomes elevated for at least 3 days or more, then you are probably pregnant. Your doctor can tell you if your elevated basal temperature isn’t being caused by another medical problem.
2. Spotting & Cramps
Spotting and cramping often happens about 12 days after a female become pregnant. This condition is known as implantation bleeding. When you have spotting and bleeding the blood will have a different hue and a different color. This type of bleeding comes in a small amount. Spotting and cramps happen when the embryo attaches to the uterine wall. You could easily dismiss it as your period. However, it is a strong sign of an undetected pregnancy.
3. Boobs Become Sore & Heavy
Hey ladies, did you know that your breast could change physically after one week of pregnancy? When you become pregnant it will cause your hormone levels to rise. This causes an increase in blood flow into the area of your breasts. Your chest will typically feel tingly, sore and or heavy. Your breasts might experience these changes throughout your pregnancy. Be mindful of sudden changes to this part of your body because it could indicate that you’re pregnant.
4. Extreme Exhaustion and Fatigue
Hormonal changes cause the body to feel tired and fatigued. Sometimes, these changes will not allow your body to get enough blood or oxygen to your brain. This condition often happens within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you suddenly find yourself getting tired and you can’t figure out why – you could be pregnant. Get to your doctor and have them run some tests.
5. Nausea
During the 6th week of pregnancy a woman might experience morning sickness or nausea. This condition not only includes nausea but vomiting and weakness could be present as well. Once again, your hormones are responsible for nausea. If you have excessive nausea this might be a condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum. Doctors normally treat this ailment in the hospital. Hopefully, your bout with morning sickness will be a passing thing. Don’t forget, unexplained nausea could indicate a pregnancy.
6. Food Cravings, Aversions and Sensitivity to Smells
An aversion is a strong dislike toward something. When you’re pregnant, you will normally have a strong aversion to some type of food. Your senses are more heightened during pregnancy. Certain foods will repel you and you will avoid them. Food items such as meat, onions, garlic or eggs could be foods that turn you off. Pleasant desserts such as cake, candy bars or other sweet treats could also make you sick. If you notice your eating habits severely change for no reason, check to see if you’re pregnant.
7. Urge To Urinate
Ladies, your hormonal changes are going to wreak havoc on your body once you’re pregnant. One hormone called progesterone creates the sensation of needing to pee. This feeling often takes place throughout pregnancy. You should use the bathroom whenever you must go. Also, it might become irritating for you to constantly feel like you always must use the bathroom. This feeling is a normal part of your pregnancy.
8. Bloating and a Feeling of Tightness
Progesterone can cause you to feel bloated. This pregnancy hormone promotes many sensations in your body and it constantly throws your body out of whack. The bloating and tightness you feel often happens inside of your stomach and pelvic area. You can also feel it hips, legs, hands and feet. This swollen and full feeling condition typically remains with a female throughout pregnancy.
9. Spots, Acne, and Bumps
The hormone androgen is another chemical that transfers your body during pregnancy. This hormone causes the glands within your skin to grow and produce more sebum. Don’t worry, the acne is not permanent, and it normally doesn’t get out of control. Your doctor can help you to find some practical solutions for your acne. Sudden outburst of spots and acne your face or body doesn’t necessarily mean you’re pregnant. Just get checked out to make sure.
10. Mood Swings/Unusual emotions
During the early and later stages of pregnancy, you could experience mood swings. Once again, your hormones are responsible for your changes in emotional state. Your mood swings can be extreme, or they don’t happen. Your emotions can be all over the place or they can be stable. Just watch your mood and your feelings. If you notice that you are suddenly on edge and your feelings are all over the place, you might be having a child.
11. Hot Flashes
Hormones impact your body during pregnancy also impact our metabolism. Your metabolism can increase because of these hormones and this often leads to hot flashes. Surges of heat comes at unexpected times. When they happen, it will often cause you to want to immediately get cooled off. These changes often happen to most pregnant women. They will go away once the pregnancy ends and your body gets back to normal.
12. Dizziness
Your growing uterus causes your blood vessels to work harder. This in turn will cause your blood flow to become disrupted. You will receive less blood flow to key parts of your body, and this will create the sensation of dizziness. Your body is also adapting to changes during your pregnancy. If you notice that you’re suddenly getting dizzy a lot, get in to have yourself checked out. You should not rule out pregnancy in this type of situation.
13. Drooling or Salivating
Drooling and salivating is not a welcomed aspect of pregnancy. Thankfully, only about 3% of all pregnant women will experience this condition. Since it rarely happens, you might not have to worry about dealing with this specific issue. Changing hormones are the blame for the drooling and salivating condition. This condition might also happen periodically throughout your prenatal period. So, if you suddenly find yourself drooling and salivating for no reason, there’s a slim chance that pregnancy is responsible.
14. Constipation
Ladies, no one likes the word constipation. Unfortunately, it happens to most pregnant females at some point. Still, this condition doesn’t have to get you down. Constipation can be managed. Even if you develop severe constipation, your health team has practical remedies for getting you through this situation. Hormones create this condition by relaxing your intestinal muscles and by stretching your uterus. Unexpected and frequent constipation could indicate that you’re pregnant.
15. Short Breath
High levels of progesterone cause your lungs to breath more rapidly. This in turn creates the sensation of shortness of breath. When your body undergoes changes during pregnancy, shortness of breath will happen. This is a normal part of having a baby. If you happen to become too winded, just relax. Doctors don’t recommend that you push yourself. Once your pregnancy has ended your breathing will return to normal. Ladies, if you suddenly become winded all the time; have your doctor test you for pregnancy.
16. Headache
A surge in hormones and an increase in blood volume will create headaches in pregnant women. Hormones are constantly changing your body during pregnancy. These hormones impact the way your head feels by making it hurt. The increased blood flow will also cause your head to swell. Doctors will want you to take it easy and relax. Make sure to avoid caffeine and stress and get plenty of relaxation, sleep and comfort. Abrupt symptoms such as these could indicate that you’re pregnant.
17. Cervical Mucus Change
A change in the color of your cervical mucus might be an early indication of pregnancy. This is not always the case, but often times it is. Vaginal discharge is a normal part of the pregnancy cycle. In the early stages you will notice a lot of discharge from your vagina. Your body is undergoing severe hormonal changes and alterations to your cervical mucus is just a part of the process.
18. Aches and Pains
When you become pregnant, you’ll notice that your uterus is slowly getting larger. The uterus must become bigger to handle the growing life inside of you. This will cause aches and pains within the lower part of your body. You can also experience back pain, pain in your feet and various cramps throughout your body. If you feel aches and pains in unexpected areas, don’t rule out being pregnant.
19. Strange Taste in the Mouth
Sometimes a female will experience strange tastes in her mouth during pregnancy. This condition is known as dysgeusia. It can also cause food to taste different. Pregnancy hormones are responsible for altering your taste buds. Sometimes, pregnant women will tell their gynecologist say that they have a metallic taste in their mouth. Rising estrogen levels cause this to happen. Don’t worry, this situation will pass. Don’t forget, if your mouth suddenly has a metallic taste it could be a sign that you’re pregnant.
20. Excessive Thirst or Ravenous Pecking Tendencies
Sudden changes in thirst and hunger could be a strong indication that you are pregnant. If you find a huge shift to your appetite and you are healthy, then get to your doctor to see what is going on. You already know that in the early stages of pregnancy your body is undergoing major changes. You need more energy (food and water) to handle these changes. Remember, if suddenly have an increased appetite and you can’t stop drinking or eating food, you might be carrying an extra life inside of your body.
1. How Soon Can You Experience Pregnancy Symptoms before a Missed Period?
You can pregnant before you experience your next period. Remember, once your partner’s sperm fertilizes your egg, you’re pregnant. This could happen a week before your period or right after you have your last menstrual cycle. You can always experience some pregnancy symptoms before your next period. Honestly, you might dismiss the symptoms as being some other type of medical condition.
2. What are Some Causes of a Period Delay?
Ladies, you can miss your period from other things that are taking place within your body. Hormonal imbalances or a serious medical condition could interfere with this process. If you notice that you missed a period, it doesn’t always mean that you’re pregnant. Get yourself checked out to see if you are pregnant.
3. Is it Possible to Miss a Period and Not Be Pregnant?
Yes, it is possible to miss your period and not be pregnant. Once again, your body could be experiencing other difficulties that could cause you to miss your period. You could have tests run on your body to help you figure out if you missed your period. Don’t always assume that you’re pregnant because your menstrual cycle didn’t happen. This could be the result of other issues with your body.
4. Difference between PMS and Pregnancy Symptoms
Physical and emotional symptoms often show up a week (or even two) before your period happens. The symptoms that accompany PMS are very similar to symptoms of pregnancy. However, PMS symptoms can differ from pregnancy on some key points. Bleeding for your period is heavier and has the normal red blood color. Bleeding during pregnancy is spotted and has a different color. Sleepiness and fatigue normally does not happen with cramping. A gynecologist can help you to better understand the differences.
5. When Should You Take a Home Pregnancy Test?
If you missed your period and you suspect pregnancy, then take a pregnancy test one-week after you missed your period. This will produce the most accurate outcome for your test. Tests are not always accurate and sometimes you will have to get a second test done by your doctor to ensure accuracy.
6. When You Will Start Experiencing Pregnancy Symptoms
Many females will start to go through pregnancy symptoms within a week of conception. They will experience some symptoms but not all. The main thing to look for is weakness, fatigue, sudden sickness and bleeding. If you notice any of these symptoms you probably are pregnant.
7. Can You Rely on Home Pregnancy Tests as a Foolproof Indicator of Pregnancy?
No, home pregnancy tests are not foolproof. Sometimes you will not get a good reading and at other times the test will not yield positive results. Remember you could be pregnant, but your test doesn’t show it. Just double check with your doctor to determine if you’re expecting a child.
