What It Feels Like
Either a total aversion to coffee or feeling sick, shaky or nauseous after consuming it.
I love coffee. Not in a Gilmore Girls way where it’s a lifestyle choice, but I mean, I need a cup or two to get me going each morning which is why I was horrified to find myself suddenly disgusted by coffee one winter morning after my husband had left for work. “Hmmm” I thought, “That’s weird.” And it was weird. A weird early sign that I was about to get my BFP.
My Mouth Feels Like It’s Full Of Spit All Of The Time Lately Could That Me A Positive Sign
Excessive saliva can definitely fall into the “morning sickness” category of pregnancy. The medical term for it is Ptaylism and it’s one of those obnoxious symptoms that can trigger vomiting early on. However, I’ve experienced it during PMS too. A great way to combat it is with tiny sips of water.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the authorâs knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
Food Cravings And Aversions
Starting early in pregnancy, the powerful desire for some foods may kick in. Cravings are also called selective hunger.
According to the New Kids Center, It is actually possible to get cravings a week after conceiving, so in some cases it can be an early sign of pregnancy.
Food cravings and aversions are a sign of what your body could be lacking in terms of nutrients and minerals.
Some researchers say that women who crave pickles might be deficient in minerals. Women who crave pickles could be low in sodium, but theres no real proof of this. Ice cream is also mentioned as one of the most craved for foods during pregnancy.
- Cravings and aversions are very normal and should not get you worried.
- Despite your cravings, try as much as possible to maintain a balanced diet during your pregnancy.
- It is important to try and resist cravings for foods that are high in fat and sugar content. These have less nutrients but high calories.
When you get the strong urge to eat certain foods, it may be due to the hormone hCG that is causing much of the changes your body starts to go through from the first week. Approximately 90 percent of women experience food cravings and aversions during pregnancy.
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Hey Aunt Flo Whered Ya Go
If you have regular cycles and youve recently, missing your period is a pretty good indication there could be a baby brewing.
What to know:
- After implantation is complete, a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin is released. Known as the pregnancy hormone, hCG helps nourish the pregnancy and tells your ovaries to stop releasing eggs.
- Pregnancy tests are most accurate about a week after a missed period, when hCG levels are high enough to detect.
Tips:
- Eight days late? Time to pee on a stick!
- Positive results? Make an appointment with your healthcare provider to begin your prenatal care
- On medications? Ask a trusted medical professional if theyre safe to take during pregnancy. Keep in mind that many medications do cross the placenta, so opt for a natural alternative whenever possible.
When to worry: If you were hoping not to be pregnant, now might be a time for concern .
Headaches In First Weeks Of Pregnancy
The basic triggers of this early sign of pregnancy are dehydration and stress on the body, according to Dr. Diane Christopher, M.D. The hormone progesterone can cause an increase in blood flow that may in turn stress your body.
- Adjusting to the new pregnancy, in itself, can be a challenge to the body. The resultant stress is said to be the cause of headaches.
- Headaches are more common within the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy.
Other than hormonal changes, the fatigue that has been discussed above can also be a source of migraines and headaches.
Occasional headaches may persist later in your term. They are often caused by increased hunger as the baby puts a stain on the body for nutrients. Other causes include emotional and physical stress, sinus congestion etc.
If the headaches persist longer than four hours, see a doctor especially if they are accompanied by other experiences such as puffy face, poor vision or blurred vision, weight gain, etc. Women who usually have migraines are more likely to get headaches during pregnancy.
Try to relax to relieve tension headaches. Spend some time in a dark, quiet room to relieve tension headaches. If they persist, see a doctor.
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What Are Some Unusual Signs Of Early Pregnancy
Some of the symptoms of pregnancy that people are less familiar with are:
- Heartburn
- Acid reflux
- Diarrhea.
Something thats often overlooked, or not well known, is the way pregnancy hormones can play havoc with your digestive system.
The reason for this is the hormone progesterone.
Progesterone starts to rise after a woman ovulates.
If she doesnt get pregnant, it drops rapidly around 10 days after ovulation.
If she does get pregnant, it continues to rise.
This is because progesterones job is to support a pregnancy.
Progesterone is responsible for many of the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome a woman experiences.
Its also responsible for many pregnancy symptoms.
Thats why it can be difficult to figure out whether youre pregnant or about to start your period.
When Should I Take A Pregnancy Test
Home pregnancy test check the level of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone in the urine. This hormone starts building up in the body right after conception. But it takes time to produce enough hCG that can detected in the pregnancy test. You can test a week before your period is due, but the best result will be any time after the missed period. By then the body will have enough hCG to be accurately detected in the urine.
If you start checking immediately after conception, the hCG levels may be too low to be detected and you can get a false negative report. We know you want a confirmation as soon as possible, but have patience and wait for the right time to test to get more accurate results.
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Signs Youre Expectant While Breastfeeding
When you conceive while you are still breastfeeding, you may experience most if not all of the early pregnancy signs we have discussed above. In summary, the following are symptoms and signs of pregnancy when breastfeeding:
Smell Sensitivity And Food Aversions During Early Pregnancy
Smell sensitivity is a symptom of early pregnancy thats mostly self-reported. Theres little scientific evidence about smell sensitivity during the first trimester. However, it might be important, since smell sensitivity may trigger nausea and vomiting. It may also cause strong distaste for certain foods.
You may experience either a heightened or lessened sense of smell during pregnancy, according to 2017 research. This is especially common during the first and third trimesters. Heightened smell is more common than lessened smell. Some smells that never bothered you before may become less pleasing or even trigger nausea.
The good news is that your sense of smell usually returns to normal after delivery, or within 6 to 12 weeks postpartum.
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Early Changes To Breasts: Tingling Aching Growing
Breast changes can occur between weeks 4 and 6. Youre likely to develop tender and swollen breasts due to hormone changes. This will likely go away after a few weeks when your body has adjusted to the hormones.
Nipple and breast changes can also occur around week 11. Hormones continue to cause your breasts to grow. The areola the area around the nipple may change to a darker color and grow larger.
If youve had bouts with acne before your pregnancy, you may experience breakouts again.
When To See A Doctor
It is important to see a doctor for:
- a period that is very late, even if a pregnancy test is negative this is especially important if the woman is trying to get pregnant or is worried that she may have a hormone issue
- symptoms of pregnancy that do not go away following a negative test, as they may signal another problem, such as an infection
- a positive pregnancy test
- bleeding following a positive pregnancy test
- persistent or severe abdominal pain
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When Should I Test
Home pregnancy tests can be very accurate , especially if you wait to test until after your period is officially late. Some tests claim to accurately detect pregnancy up to a week before your missed period, so if you’re experiencing some pregnancy symptoms and are champing at the bit, go for it.
You’re more likely to get an accurate test result if you wait until your period is late, according to the Mayo Clinic, because the hormone that’s detected in home pregnancy tests, hCG, doubles every two to three days after an embryo attaches to your uterus, meaning there’s more to detect in your urine if you wait a few days.
Because this hormone can sometimes take a while to build up, false negative results aren’t uncommon in early pregnancy. It’s much more rare to get a false positive. If you get a positive test result, you are very likely pregnant, or experienced a recent pregnancy loss, and can confirm the pregnancy through a blood test or ultrasound.
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The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
Acne And Pimple Spots
Pimple spots and acne bumps on your face could a physical symptom you are pregnant. Hormonal changes can give your skin a flush and leave you looking brighter than usual.
You can also get a few spots and bumps, or just an acne breakout as soon as you conceive.
Try not to pick at the pimples and acne spots. You can end up with infected zits on your face. Note that you may get a few acne bumps on your chin or face even if you never get them at all or during your PMS.
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Change In Cervical Mucus
Some of our forum mums find their cervical mucus changes and they seem to have more mucus than usual.
In very early pregnancy, your mucus may seem to be thinnish and slippery for longer than usual and it will then thicken due to the increase in progesterone.
For forum mum Blue_Gecko, this thickened mucus was one of the clearest early signs she was pregnant. The cervical mucus was creamy and quite heavy, she recalls. It felt quite moist down there.
Cervical mucus is usually a pale white/yellow colour but dont worry if you see a brownish discharge: this is also common. Its usually harmless, but if youre worried, have a chat with your GP.
More Hungry Or More Thirsty
While some mums-to-be suddenly cant bear the thought of eating, others suddenly find theyre so ravenous, eating is all they can think about.
For forum mum MsDodger, her appetite went through the roof. I eat a lot normally but this it was a massive leap, she says. I could not stop snacking all day and eating large meals.
And this ravenous urge can apply to drinking as well, as eating, as bleurgh discovered. Thirst! I wondered how much I could actually drink before drowning myself. Even my hubby said he nearly asked if I was drinking for two before I tested.
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Tummy Twinges Pulling And Pinching
These are some of the terms our mums use in our forum when describing the sometimes curious feelings many of us have in our stomachs in early pregnancy.
It might feel like your muscles are being stretched or even pinched from inside, and can seem to be on either side, as forum mum Louis2 who is 5 weeks pregnant, describes. For the past few days, she says, I have been having a few lower abdominal twinges, often on one side, but occasionally on the other.
I had abdominal twinges at approx 5 weeks and panicked, adds xxmrsjohnstonexx. But the doctor said it was just everything stretching and changing and not to worry.
We Know You’re Wondering: Is It Possible To Be Pregnant And Still Have A Period
Nope, experts say. Some people may experience bleeding or spotting, but those are different bleeding patterns from the cyclical menses your body experiences in absence of a pregnancy.
Dr. Michele Hakakha, an OB-GYN and author of Expecting 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Pregnancy, told Parents that people definitely can experience vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, but that “when they bleed, they are not having a ‘period.'” That’s because your body needs to reserve the uterine lining as nourishment for the growing pregnancy.
Although bleeding during pregnancy doesn’t always mean cause for concern, it can indicate something more serious like a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, according to the Mayo Clinic.
In the earliest stage of pregnancy, however, some very light bleeding is totally normal and leads us to our first pregnancy clue: implantation bleeding.
Implantation bleeding usually doesn’t last more than a couple of days, and it’s much lighter than most people’s periods .
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Is Lower Back Pain A Sign Of Pregnancy Or Pms
PMS, probably. Lower back pain is more common in late pregnancy, not early on because it’s the added stress and weight of the growing fetus causing that pressure, whereas before your period you’re likely to experience back discomfort because of the hormones that your body produces to help get your period going. So if you’re experiencing lower back pain and wondering if it’s an early pregnancy sign – it’s more likely that your period is on the way.
Early Pregnancy Symptoms Vs Pms: Whats The Difference
Most early pregnancy symptoms before your period are strikingly similar to the side effects of PMS. However, youll only notice changes in your areolas if youre pregnant. A consistently elevated BBT and creamy vaginal discharge post-ovulation are also both relatively reliable signs of conception, but theyre certainly not foolproof.
Otherwise, the only way to know if other early pregnancy symptoms are due to a baby or PMS is to hold out until you can take a pregnancy test.
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