Early pregnancy symptoms: First signs you might be pregnant

It can take months for a baby bump to start showing, but some pregnancy signs can start just two weeks after conception.

While it can take months for a baby bump to show, pregnancy symptoms can begin just weeks after conception.
Changes in the body begin earlier than most women realise during pregnancy clinical midwife educator Natascha Dastur told news.com.au.

“We notice there is a bit more fluid retention in your body,” she said, explaining feeling bloated a key early sign.

While some women experience light bleeding, an absence of your monthly period — especially if it usually comes like clockwork — is also an early indicator.

“Obviously if you don’t get your period that’s a good sign, especially if you’re pretty regular,” Ms Dastur said.

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Westmead midwife Natascha Dastur. Picture: Supplied

Ms Dastur works at The Children’s Hospital in Westmead, Sydney, (where she appears on Network 10’s One Born Every Minute Australia) andhas been involved in 400 pregnancies.

Another early symptom of pregnancy is a change in breast size, which can occur as early as two weeks into pregnancy.

“Women notice that their breasts become bigger and change a lot during pregnancy because they physiologically change to adapt to breastfeeding for the baby,” Ms Dastur said. “That can start quite early in pregnancy, which a lot of women don’t know.”

But feeling more hungry than usual isn’t a sign of early pregnancy, with Ms Dastur explaining that women experience food cravings rather than an increase in appetite.

“That’s another myth. Women do not become starving animals when they’re pregnant,” she joked. “You’re not eating for two, you’re eating for one.”

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Early pregnancy symptoms can include fluid retention and bloating. Picture: Unsplash

NAUSEA AND VOMITING

Feeling unwell during the first trimester, most commonly known as morning sickness, is probably the best-known symptom of pregnancy.

According to Better Health Victoria, symptoms of morning sickness incudes nauseas vomiting and a loss of appetite. Despite the name, morning sickness doesn’t just occur in the early hours but throughout the day.

Morning sickness usually begins in the fourth to sixth week of pregnancy, however some women have reported feeling nausea as early as two weeks into being pregnant. It commonly goes away after the first trimester, but again, it can also run longer or even for the entire pregnancy.

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is an extreme form of morning sickness that causes severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, often lasting the whole nine months. The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton is a well-known sufferer of this pregnancy condition.

FATIGUE
Low energy and feeling tired is a key sign of early pregnancy. During the first trimester the sex hormone progesterone increases in order to help the baby grow and maintain the pregnancy.

Pregnant women can also suffer from low blood sugar levels and anaemia, which is caused by iron deficiency and can lead to fatigue.

VAGINAL AND BLADDER CHANGES

Other symptoms of early pregnancy include changes to the vagina and bladder, with more frequent urination, constipation and vaginal discharge all signs, according to Health Direct.

Another key sign of pregnancy is a change in mood. Picture: Unsplash

OTHER PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:

• Headaches

• Mood changes, such as feeling irritable, feelings of elation or unexplained crying;

• Backaches

• Heartburn and indigestion

• Feeling breathlessness, which is caused by the hormone progesterone increasing your lung capacity

• Strange taste in mouth, often described as metallic

• Higher or lower than normal libido and sex drive

• Increased saliva

• Dizziness

WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU ARE PREGNANT

According to Health Direct, the first step to take if you think you are pregnant is to do an at-home urine pregnancy test, which can be purchased from supermarkets or chemists.

If a positive result is returned and you have missed your period, a doctor will likely perform a blood test to check for the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone in your blood.

At least two weeks after your missed period a doctor may also perform an internal examination to check for changes to your cervix and uterus.

If you are pregnant, the cervix will be softer and a different colour, while your uterus will have gotten larger during the first weeks of pregnancy.