First Week Pregnancy Symptoms

If you would like to know what are first week pregnancy symptoms, you are most likely experiencing some changes on your body. Early pregnancy symptoms tend to vary greatly from one woman to another. Whereas some women can tell that they are pregnant as early as 1 week pregnant, the others do not suspect anything until they miss their menstrual period. However, first week pregnancy symptoms are not specific for pregnancy and may indicate something else other than implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine wall.

A missed period is the most reliable symptom of pregnancy but it is possible to experience changes on your body as early as first week of pregnancy. Here are some of the most common first week pregnancy symptoms:

Implantation Bleeding. Although bleeding during pregnancy always raises a red flag, it is actually normal to experience the so-called implantation bleeding or light spotting about 6 to 12 days after conception. It is a sign that the fertilized egg has attached itself into the uterine wall and is completely harmless. Implantation bleeding may be accompanied by cramping which feels similar to menstrual cramps.

Fatigue and Tiredness. You may feel fatigued as early as first week of pregnancy as a result of physiological changes which are triggered by conception. This pregnancy related fatigue and tiredness should subside by the beginning of the second trimester of pregnancy when you will start feeling yourself again.

Breast Changes. You may notice your breast becoming increasingly sensitive, sore and tender to touch. Your breasts may also appear swollen and heavy. It feels just like breast changes you perhaps experience just before you get your menstrual period. In addition, you may notice your areolas – the skin around your nipples becoming darker.

Headaches. Hormonal changes that occur almost immediately after conception may cause headaches during the first weeks of pregnancy.

Low Back Pain. Hormonal and physiological changes may cause low back pain very early in pregnancy.

What to Do?

As already mentioned earlier, early pregnancy symptoms can also indicate something else. So before you jump to any conclusions, you should take a home pregnancy test. These tests are just as reliable as those taken in your doctors office but it is crucial to follow the instructions of the manufacturer very carefully and wait at least seven days after a missed period before taking a test. Some home pregnancy tests claim to be able to detect pregnancy before a missed period but they may give you a false result. If the pregnancy test confirms your suspicions, you should make an appointment at your doctor to confirm pregnancy. But you are also highly recommended to see your doctor if you get a negative result to determine the cause of a missed period.

If your doctor confirms pregnancy, you will soon experience one of the most exciting and magical periods in your lifetime. It is crucial, however, to make proper lifestyle changes (if you have not yet) to provide your baby optimal conditions for healthy growth and development. Your doctor will probably recommend you to take prenatal vitamins containing folic acid which helps prevent birth defects and is needed by your baby from the first week of pregnancy. Also, quit smoking and start eating a healthy and nutritionally rich diet. There is no need to eat for two but make sure that your pregnancy diet includes lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy products as well as fish and meat. A healthy and nutritionally balanced diet will provide your baby all the key nutrients he or she needs for healthy growth. Just as important is to visit your doctor for routine prenatal check-ups in order to make sure that your pregnancy is progressing normally. Your first prenatal visit should be sometime between 6th and 8th week of pregnancy.

Jessica Rashiv

Award-winning researcher/author with superb skills; editor of books and articles. Former in-house Assistant Editor and Proofreader of a peer-reviewed family linguistic journal. I have also edited or ghostwritten books and chapters published nationwide. Skilled in research, editing and writing baby and family subject materials and literature. Ph.D. with sixteen years of university teaching experience. Check me out at Google

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