Besides seeing an affirmative sign on an at-home pregnancy test, your body shows some of the telltale signs of pregnancy soon after you've conceived. In the days and weeks following conception, your body is flooded with progesterone and estrogen, which both contribute to noticeable changes. While a pregnancy test is still necessary to give positive proof that you're expecting, your body affirms the news with signs and symptoms that happen early on during your pregnancy.
Changes in Menstruation
One of the first signs that you've become pregnant is a change in your typical menstruation cycle. While each woman's cycle is different in length and regularity, when you're pregnant you may only experience a light period or skip a period completely. This is because the lining that is expelled during your period each month is finally necessary to line the uterus. Still, missed periods often occur because of stress, weight loss and other factors, so see your doctor if you skip periods without being pregnant.
Nausea and Vomiting
Pregnant women know that the idea of "morning sickness" is a myth--nausea and vomiting often occur all day long for the newly expecting. The change in hormones doesn't only cause general nausea, but also leads to food aversions and a general lack of appetite. Pregnancy also causes a heightened sense of sensitive smell, which explains why certain scents are suddenly offensive and stomach-turning.
Breast Changes
Your breasts change rapidly during pregnancy. In fact, breasts swell and become heavy and tender one to two weeks after conception, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Yet another symptom associated with fluctuating hormone levels, darkened areolas are common as well. Swollen, tender breasts are also sometimes a sign of menstruation and are more of a positive indicator of pregnancy when combined with other common early signs of conception.
Fatigue
The progesterone in your body has the potential to make you feel sleepy, which is why fatigue is common in early pregnancy. Sudden and nearly debilitating fatigue is also explained by some of the other changes taking place in your body, namely lowered blood sugar and lower blood pressure. Fatigue can occur as soon as one week after conception and continue until your second trimester, when hormone levels begin to stabilize.
