Pregnancy Symptoms

Pregnancy Symptoms

A missed period is typically the first sign of pregnancy but there are many pregnancy symptoms you may experience shortly after conception as well. They tend to be very common but it is important to keep in mind that different women develop different pregnancy symptoms. In addition, it is possible not to develop any symptoms at all except for a missed period. Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms which are associated with pregnancy:

Missed period.
Most women first think that they could be pregnant after a missed period although it is possible to experience some light bleeding or spotting around the time you expect your period. However, this bleeding is significantly lighter than the normal menstrual period.

Implantation bleeding.
Ironically, conception can actually result in some spotting or light bleeding. The so-called implantation bleeding occurs few days after conception and signals that the fertilized egg has attached itself to your uterine wall

Tender, swollen, heavier and painful breasts.
A very common premenstrual syndrome can actually indicate that you are pregnant. You may notice your breasts becoming tender, swollen, heavier and painful, similar to what many women experience before their regular menstrual period.

Changes in nipple color.
Some women notice their skin around the nipples getting darker in the first weeks of pregnancy.

Abdominal cramping.
You may experience abdominal cramping during the early weeks of pregnancy. It is described as similar to cramping before and during the menstrual period.

Nausea with or without vomiting.
Better known as morning sickness because it tends to be worse in the morning, nausea with or without vomiting is one of the most common pregnancy symptoms and is estimated to be experienced by more than 80% of all pregnant women.

Food cravings and altered taste.
You may develop cravings for certain types of food and avoid foods you previously ate due to the altered taste.

Fatigue.
Many pregnant women report feeling fatigued during the first weeks of pregnancy.

Mood swings.
Rapid changes in mood which are believed to be triggered by hormonal changes are very common, especially during the early pregnancy.

Frequent urination.
Increased urge to urinate, especially during the night is among the most common symptoms of early pregnancy. It is caused by the growing uterus putting pressure on the bladder as well as hormonal changes after conception.

Headaches and back pain.
It is possible to experience frequent but mild headaches, while many women also report about back pain.

Other symptoms.
You may also experience some other symptoms such as darkening of the skin on your face (melasma), constipation, dizziness, elevated basal body temperature (your body temperature when you wake up) and white vaginal discharge.

The above mentioned symptoms are often described as the classic indicators of pregnancy, however, all are very unspecific and do not necessarily indicate nor relate to pregnancy. All including a missed period can be caused by a variety of other factors. For that reason you should take a pregnancy test if you think that there is a possibility that you are pregnant or contact your doctor if you are pregnant and experiencing any unexplained or bothersome symptoms.