After all, do you know what the first symptoms of pregnancy are? They can be so subtle that only a few women can notice them, going unnoticed in most cases.
Therefore, knowing what the first symptoms of pregnancy are is essential! This is a great way for a woman to be more attentive to her own body and her changes, which are many during this period – as well as being able to identify a possible pregnancy faster.
See in today’s article all about the signs of pregnancy!
Profile pregnant. Photo: Freepik
The most common early signs of pregnancy are:
- Pink vaginal discharge;
- Thicker discharge;
- Cramping and/or abdominal bloating;
- Easy tiredness and/or excessive sleep;
- Sensitive breasts and/or darkening of the areola;
- delay or lack of menstruation;
- Pain in the lower back;
- Aversion to strong smells;
- Mood variations;
- Morning sickness and/or vomiting;
- Craving for strange foods;
- Dizziness and headache;
- Increased urge to urinate;
- Pimples and oily skin.
These symptoms appear during the first 4 weeks of pregnancy and should be taken into account especially after the menstrual period is late.
This is because, in some cases, they can also arise due to other situations, such as PMS, for example, not necessarily being a symptom of pregnancy.
Pregnancy symptoms week by week
According to the week of pregnancy, the most common symptoms are:
first 7 days
The typical symptoms of the first days of pregnancy are the most difficult to notice, and are usually identified by women who are able to notice very subtle differences in their own body:
1. Pink vaginal discharge
When the egg is fertilized, there may be a light pink discharge, which is actually the normal discharge that a woman has monthly, but with traces of blood that may have been caused by the implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus.
This discharge can appear a few minutes after intercourse or up to 3 days later. Sometimes this discharge is only seen when the woman goes to clean herself after urinating.
2. Thicker discharge
Due to the great hormonal changes that happen from the moment of conception, it is normal for some women to have a thicker than normal vaginal discharge.
This discharge does not need to be pink, and most of the time it even has a slightly whitish color.
When this discharge is accompanied by a bad smell or symptoms such as pain or itching, it is very important to consult a gynecologist, as it can also indicate a vaginal infection, especially candidiasis.
See here: Physiological vaginal discharge: How does it work and how to treat it?
3. Colic and abdominal bloating
Abdominal bloating is also one of the first symptoms of pregnancy appearing most often in the first 7 days to 2 weeks.
Increased blood flow and adaptation to uterine growth are the biggest causes of this abdominal swelling, which can be confused with mild to medium intensity menstrual cramps.
In addition, a woman may still have a small amount of blood loss, similar to menstruation, but in a smaller amount.
Pregnant woman caressing her belly. Photo credit: Freepik
What are the first symptoms of pregnancy?
first 2 weeks
The symptoms that begin to appear around the 2nd week are some of the most typical of pregnancy:
4. Easy tiredness and excessive sleep
Another symptom is tiredness, one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy!
It can be present throughout pregnancy, starting to appear around the 2nd week.
It is normal for this tiredness to increase during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, as the body adapts its entire metabolism to provide the energy needed for the baby’s development.
The woman begins to feel that the tasks she used to do are becoming very exhausting and that she needs to sleep more than 10 hours a night to replenish the energy she spent during the day.
5. Sensitive breasts and darkening of the areola
In the first two weeks of pregnancy, a woman may feel that her breasts are more sensitive and this is due to the action of hormones that stimulate the mammary glands, preparing the woman for breastfeeding.
There is also an increase in breast volume, which begins to have more developed mammary glands to support the baby’s needs after birth.
In addition to the increase and sensitivity of the breasts, the woman may also notice changes in the areolas, which tend to become darker than normal due to increased blood flow in the region.
6. Delay or lack of menstruation
Missing menstruation is usually the most obvious symptom of pregnancy, as during pregnancy a woman misses her menstrual period to allow the fetus to develop properly in the uterus.
This signal happens due to the increase in the production of the beta hormone hCG, which prevents the ovaries from continuing to release mature eggs.
Missing menstruation can occur up to 4 weeks after conception and is more easily identified in women with regular periods.
Read here: Menstruation does not come down – Is it pregnancy?
Early Pregnancy Symptoms – 7. Lower Back Pain
Although back pain is almost always considered a frequent symptom of the last weeks of pregnancy, some women can develop this type of pain right from the beginning of pregnancy, being related to the changes that happen in the woman’s body to receive the baby.
In some cases, back pain can be mistaken for abdominal cramps, which is why some women may think it’s menstruation coming.
However, with the lack of period, they begin to realize that it is, in fact, pain in the lower back, not related to menstruation.
8. Aversion to strong smells
It is very common for women to have an aversion to strong smells at the beginning of pregnancy, even if they are apparently pleasant, such as perfume.
Most pregnant women can even vomit after smelling a strong smell, such as gasoline, cigarettes or cleaning products, for example.
In addition, as the sense of smell is altered, some women may also report that there is a change in the taste of food, which becomes more intense and cloying.
9. Mood Variations
In the first two weeks of pregnancy, a woman may notice some mood swings, with no apparent cause.
It is very common for a pregnant woman to cry for situations that would not make her cry before she was pregnant and this symptom should remain throughout the pregnancy.
This is because the strong hormonal changes, which are normal during pregnancy, can cause an imbalance in neurotransmitter levels, making your mood more unstable.
1st month of pregnancy
After the first month of pregnancy, after the delay of menstruation, many women begin to have other characteristic symptoms, such as:
10. Morning sickness and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are common, especially in the morning, and these are some of the most well-known pregnancy symptoms, which usually appear after the 6th week of pregnancy and can last throughout the pregnancy.
However, nausea does not always have to be accompanied by vomiting, and it is even more common for nausea to come and go without the woman vomiting, especially in the morning.
See also here about morning sickness in early pregnancy: Tips to combat
11. Craving for strange foods
Typical pregnancy cravings can start as early as the first month of pregnancy and continue throughout pregnancy, and it is common for some women to have the urge to eat strange foods, try different mixtures or even have the urge to eat foods they have never tasted before.
In some cases these cravings may be related to nutritional deficiencies in some type of mineral or vitamin, especially if they are for something very different from what the woman usually eats.
In these situations it is recommended to consult a doctor, to understand what may be the cause.
12. Dizziness and headache
Dizziness is a symptom that occurs because of a drop in blood pressure, low blood glucose and poor diet due to frequent nausea and vomiting.
They appear as early as the first 5 weeks of pregnancy, but tend to decrease after the 20th week of pregnancy.
Headache is also common during pregnancy due to hormonal changes, but it is usually mild, although persistent, and often, the woman may not even associate this discomfort with pregnancy.
13. Increased urge to urinate
As the pregnancy progresses, the pregnant woman’s body needs to produce various hormones, such as progesterone, to ensure that the baby develops in a healthy way.
When this happens, the bladder muscles are more relaxed and therefore it is more difficult to completely empty the urine that is inside the bladder and therefore the woman may feel a more frequent urge to go to the bathroom to urinate.
14. Pimples and oily skin
Hormonal changes can lead to the emergence or worsening of blackheads and pimples, scientifically called acne, and therefore, after the first month of pregnancy, a woman may notice an increase in skin oiliness, which can be controlled with the use of suitable skin care and personal hygiene products.
What to do if you suspect pregnancy
If a pregnancy is suspected, the woman is advised to take a pharmacy pregnancy test, which can be done from the first day of the missed period.
If the result is negative, you can wait another 3 to 5 days, and if your period is still late, you can take a new pregnancy test.
If the result is negative again, you can evaluate the possibility of making a…