The early signs of pregnancy

Could you be pregnant? Understanding the early signs will help you to know. So, what are they?

A missed period – this is one of the first tell-tale signs that you may be expecting, so if you’re trying to get pregnant, it’s good to start tracking your periods. You can mark them on a calendar or use a period tracking app. It can be more tricky if you struggle with irregular periods to know exactly when you have ‘missed’ your period, so there are other signs to look for.

Implantation bleed – An implantation bleed happens when the fertilised egg finds the spot in which it wants to stay and burrows into the lining of your womb, it’s usually much lighter than a period, and can present as spotting or pink/brown discharge.

Cramping – This is a bit of a tricky one because it feels a lot like period cramps and can often come around the time your period is due. This can be particularly worrying if you have already had a positive test, but rest assured, cramping in the absence of bleeding is a positive sign that your baby is getting comfortable.

Breast changes - Nipple colour, tenderness, slight swelling, more visible veins. This symptom can come before your missed period, so really is one of the first signs. Slightly swollen, tender boobs, usually on the outer edges and more-so than with your period is very common in early pregnancy.

Nausea and sickness – Sickness, historically known as morning sickness, can be experienced at any time of day or night and usually starts from about 4-6 weeks, so you may have already had the positive test before these symptoms begin. Nausea can be worse when hungry, so eating little and often is one way to combat it. We’ve got a whole workshop on pregnancy sickness in our Pregnancy Pack which is essential viewing if you’re struggling.

Altered mood – Similar to with a period, you can experience mood swings and changes to how you feel mentally as your hormones are rapidly changing at this point.

Skin and hair changes – Your skin and hair can become more oily or dry and you can experience acne when pregnant. Once again, these are similar to the reactions you can experience around the time of your period caused by the fluctuation in hormones.

Tiredness – Fatigue during the first trimester is very common and can present really early, it’s tiring work this baby-growing gig! (Lean into it if you can and check out some of the free relaxation sessions on our YouTube channel if you need some help switching off.)

Feeling Dizzy – Your circulatory system undergoes rapid changes, even from very early on and changes to blood pressure and blood sugar levels can make you feel a bit light-headed.

If these symptoms are severe or last more than a few days, please speak to your GP.

Strange taste in mouth, food cravings and aversions – Pregnancy hormones do some very strange things to how we feel about food. Some women and people experience intense food cravings or extreme aversions to certain foods and can even get a metallic taste in their mouths.

Constipation and frequent urination – Based on those circulatory changes the kidneys are also under increased pressure and demand, meaning you are likely to need to wee much more often than normal. Your bowels can also become sluggish as hormones impact their functionality. If you notice burning/stinging on urination or struggle with ongoing constipation please consult your GP.

Heightened sense of smell - As soon as you conceive, your senses can become hyper-alert, making you very aware of an increase in strength of certain smells.

Increase in vaginal discharge (white/milky) – you may notice an increase in your normal discharge, this should be clear/white/milky and non-offensive smelling.

This list covers some of the most common early pregnancy symptoms, but is not an exhaustive list. Our bodies can do many weird and wonderful things in response to those hormonal changes. I also appreciate the time between potential conception and positive test can feel unbelievably long and so it’s important to note that some people don’t experience any symptoms at all - and that can be normal too.

If you have any concerns regarding very early pregnancy (2-10 weeks) please consult your GP, somewhere between 6 and 10 weeks, you should be put in contact with your community midwife who can also provide you with additional support.

For more information about pregnancy check out our Pregnancy Pack - your digital companion to pregnancy, covering everything you never learned at school. From sore boobs to sickness and everything in between, the Pregnancy Pack has you covered.