The earliest signs of pregnancy may be easy to recognize for some but for others they may be mistakenly attributed to some other ailment. AmericanPregnancy.org suggests that during the first week or few weeks of pregnancy some women may not experience any changes. Early pregnancy signs may resemble menstruation, the flu, moodiness or even sore muscles from physical activity. After pregnancy has been confirmed, a woman may look back on the recent past and realize how many small or big signs of pregnancy existed. A missed period is often an considered an indicator of pregnancy. However, the earliest signs of pregnancy may actually be changes that take place during a normal menstrual cycle.
Fatigue and Mood Swings
At the start of a period a woman may report fatigue and mood swings. This can also be true during several stages of pregnancy including the onset. According to Mayo Clinic, pregnancy is similar to the menstrual period because it causes fluctuation in hormones. These hormonal shifts can create frequent mood swings and even irritability. These symptoms alone may not indicate pregnancy but they may if fatigue and mood swings are not normal during your menstrual cycle.
Missed Period
Missing a period can cause extreme anxiety as it is thought to be a definite sign of pregnancy. According to Mayo Clinic, missing a period does not always indicate pregnancy. Mild spotting or heavy bleeding can occur during the week of menses while a woman is pregnant. This is often due to implantation, when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining at the start of pregnancy. According to Mayo Clinic, it is not unusual to have some bleeding during the second and third trimesters and it does not always mean something is wrong. However, any bleeding should be discussed with a health care professional to ensure a serious medical problem, like miscarriage, does not exist. Mayo Clinic points out that bleeding towards the end of pregnancy may be a normal indication of labor.
Senses
One early sign of pregnancy that may go unnoticed is an increase in sense of smell. Mayo Clinic points out that women have an increased awareness of smells and sometimes a sensitivity that triggers nausea. Having an increased sensitivity to smell may make eating some foods more difficult than normal. A woman may also crave certain foods. This is attributed to hormonal changes, according to Mayo Clinic. However, sensitivity to smells or an aversion to certain foods during pregnancy may limit food choices temporarily.
Body Aches
During implantation mild cramping may be felt in the uterus. Stomach cramping may also occur due to constipation brought on by hormone levels during pregnancy. According to Mayo Clinic, some women may have a sore back or tender breasts early in pregnancy. Most women have these symptoms later in pregnancy as well. These type of body aches may falsely be attributed to typical menstrual symptoms or the flu. AmericanPregnancy.org points out that headaches may also be a sign of pregnancy. These headaches can occur due to hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy.
Morning Sickness
According to Mayo Clinic, morning sickness consists of nausea, heartburn, increased or decreased appetite, and bloating. Food aversion and smell sensitivity are often linked to morning sickness. Morning sickness can actually occur at any time of day and even last all day or night. Because of this, it may not be identified with pregnancy early on.
Other SIgns
As pointed out by AmericanPregnancy.org, the areolas may darken early in pregnancy. They remain darker until the pregnancy is over or until breastfeeding has ended. It is also common to experience an increase in the need to urinate. Per Mayo Clinic, waking frequently in the night to urinate may begin early on in pregnancy and is common as the weeks go by.
