Knowing the first symptoms of pregnancy can help you to recognize when you become pregnant. During your first month of pregnancy, the "pregnancy hormone," human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), will cause many changes in your body. Your body will also produce more blood--up to 30 percent more, according to The University of Maryland Medical Center.
Morning Sickness
The term "morning sickness" is a misnomer in that the characteristic nausea and/or vomiting can hit at any time of the day or night. Sometimes an odor may trigger the reaction. Other times, there may be no apparent trigger. Morning sickness occurs as your body adjusts to the rising levels of hormones in your body, and usually goes away after the first trimester. According to the Mayo Clinic, the majority of women will experience some level of morning sickness during their pregnancy.
Fatigue
Your body goes through so many changes during the first month of pregnancy that you will begin to tire easily. In addition to the physical changes, emotional ups and downs are also very common. Taken together, all of this can wear you down, and you may crave naps or feel the need to pace yourself.
Breast Changes
Shortly after fertilization, your body begins to prepare your breasts for breastfeeding. You may experience a feeling of heaviness in your breasts, and they may appear swollen, more so than during your monthly menstruation. Additionally, according to The University of Maryland Medical Center, your nipples may darken and the small bumps around your areolas, called Montgomery tubercles, may become larger.
Amenorrhea
Most women will stop menstruating during pregnancy. While you may experience some spotting or light bleeding, this will usually subside after the first month. Some women do experience a small amount of bleeding when the fertilized egg becomes implanted in the uterus. Called "implantation bleeding," this stops after implantation.
Sensitivity to Smells
DocShop.com points out that some women will become overly sensitive to smells or experience a heightened sense of smell early in pregnancy. Occasionally, this sensitivity will become so severe that your gag reflex will be triggered.
Food Cravings and Aversions
You may experience new and strange food cravings during the first month of pregnancy. Some women experience "pica," a craving for things that have no nutritional value, such as chalk and dirt, according to FamilyDoctor.org. As your body adjusts to rising hormones, you may also experience aversions to food that you enjoyed before you became pregnant. These cravings and aversions can come and go throughout your entire pregnancy.
