Maybe you have taken a test and found out you are pregnant already.
Or perhaps you just have a hunch?
Either way, here is your step by step guide to the early signs that you might be pregnant.
Spotting pregnancy
Could I be pregnant?
This is one of the first questions you might ask if your period does not come as expected.
For many women, a late period or a pregnancy period that is different from normal, is often the first moment of realisation that pregnancy is a possibility.
Of course, this can mean that many people find out for sure once they are already a few weeks pregnant.
If a test confirms that you are pregnant, but you are still experiencing bleeding, it is best to get it checked out. It can often be totally normal, but it can also be a sign of miscarriage1 .
How pregnancy is calculated
Pregnancy is calculated as nine months plus seven days, starting from the first day of your last period, not from the date of conception2 .
Whether you are actively trying to get pregnant or not, a period tracking app or ovulation app can be a helpful way of keeping track of this information.
This means that if you have discovered you are pregnant because your period didn’t come, you may already be at least four weeks pregnant!
Pregnancy trimesters
Some more jargon that you will want to know is that pregnancy is broken down into three phases, also known as trimesters3 :
First trimester
This refers to weeks one to twelve.
Second trimester
This refers to weeks thirteen to twenty eight.
Third trimester
This refers to weeks twenty eight until birth.
The first signs of pregnancy
Once you have taken a test to find out, the next question might be, what are the early signs of pregnancy?
As well as an absence of menstruation, there are many other physical clues that you might be pregnant4 :
- Nausea and vomiting, also known as ‘morning sickness’
- Painful breasts
- Fatigue
- Changes in urination and/or vaginal discharge
- Cravings and changes in what you want to eat
Pregnancy nausea
Around 4-6 weeks after your last period, you might start experiencing nausea and also vomiting.
This is commonly known as ‘morning sickness’, which is a complete misnomer as it can occur any time, night or day!
For most people, actually being sick every now and again should not cause too much of a worry: the baby will still be getting all the nutrients they need, as long as you can keep some food down.
But staying hydrated is super important if you are throwing up.
Many people find morning sickness goes away as they enter into the second trimester (week 12), and most people find it stops by week 20.
A small percentage of expectant people might experience severe vomiting, which means they cannot get enough nutrition for themselves or the baby.
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum, this requires medical treatment.
Painful breasts
As your body becomes flooded with new hormones, one of the key changes you are likely to experience is aching or even painful breasts.
Although the possibility of a baby is months away, your breasts are likely to get bigger and might even change shape and appearance, with veins and nipples becoming more prominent.
Pregnancy fatigue
Tiredness is another early sign of pregnancy.
For many women, it is more like an overwhelming exhaustion that means you might fall asleep almost instantaneously!
Fatigue can cause other symptoms, such as mood changes (especially low mood) and feeling under the weather or run down5 .
It is a good indication from your body that you are going to need to slow down for the next nine months!
Pregnancy discharge
As the hormones flood in and the uterus grows and changes to prepare to carry a baby, it is normal to experience changes ‘down there’.
These include changes in discharge, frequent urination and constipation when it comes to bowel movements.
In terms of discharge, as long as it is white, thin and/or clear with no smell, it is normal.
For anything other than this, it is worth seeing a healthcare professional6 .
The importance of taking folic acid
If you have found out you are less than 12 weeks pregnant, it is important you start taking a folic acid supplement7 . Folate contributes to maternal tissue growth during pregnancy.
You might like to check out Holland & Barrett’s range of folic acid supplements.
You might also be interested in our Health Hub articles, ‘What happens in the early days of pregnancy?’ and ‘Folic acid for pregnancy.’
Last Updated: 21st October 2020
Sources:
1 https://www.hey.nhs.uk/patient-leaflet/bleeding-andor-pain-early-pregnancy/
2 https://www.nct.org.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-week-week/first-trimester/pregnancy-week-1
3 https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/pregnancy/week-by-week/1st-trimester/week-4/#anchor-tabs
4 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/signs-and-symptoms-pregnancy/
5 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/tiredness-sleep-pregnant/
6 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/vaginal-discharge-pregnant/
7 https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/folic-acid/
