If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for the first time, you may not always know the exact signs to look out for month after month. Missing your period—especially if it runs like clockwork—might cause you to think it might be the good news you’ve been waiting to get, but it is not a foolproof indication.
To help you decide whether it’s time to get a pregnancy test, check the early signs and symptoms of pregnancy listed below. If most of them ring true, it may be time to get one, and of course, see your OB/GYN for a prenatal checkup.
Breast Pain and Tenderness
Your breasts may feel fuller, heavier, sensitive, sore, and/or tender to the touch at one to two weeks after conception. These sensations can last for a while—even up until birth—as your progesterone levels stay at higher-than-normal levels.
Frequent Urination
You may notice urinating more often as early as two weeks after conception or right around the time of your first missed period. This is due to the hormone secreted by your placenta—human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). During the first several weeks of your pregnancy, hCG levels tend to increase dramatically, thereby causing increased blood flow to your kidneys and consequently the urge to urinate more often.
Fatigue
The dramatic rise of progesterone level during pregnancy also causes you to feel more tired than usual.
Morning Sickness (Nausea)
Morning sickness, despite its name, doesn’t just happen in the morning: it can occur anytime of the day and can come and go—possibly, with vomiting. Morning sickness often starts around four weeks after conception. In some cases, it can develop earlier, later, or not at all.
Studies indicate that nausea and vomiting during pregnancy might also be due to the effects of hCG.
Other Early Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy
You may also experience some of the following symptoms during the first several weeks of your pregnancy:
- Abdominal cramping
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Elevated basal body temperature
- Food or smell aversions
- Headaches or lightheadedness
- Irritability (mood swings)
- Stuffy nose (due to your elevated hormone levels, which cause your nasal membranes to dry out, swell, and even bleed easily)
- Pregnancy spotting (likely due to implantation bleeding, which occurs about 10 to 14 days after conception, when the fertilized egg embeds itself in your uterine lining)
First-Rate Obstetric Care in Syracuse, NY
At University OB/GYN Associates, we are passionate about delivering high-quality, comprehensive, and compassionate care to all of the expectant mothers in Syracuse and the neighboring areas. You can count on us to be with you every step of the way, from your first prenatal checkup right through your postpartum period, constantly ensuring you and your baby are safe and healthy.
To learn more about our obstetric services or to book an appointment with one of our board-certified OB/GYNs for your prenatal checkup, call us at (315) 464-5162. We are open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday.
