Although there are specific signs that indicate a woman is pregnant, it is possible to have the symptoms of early pregnancy without actually being pregnant and it is possible to be pregnant and not display these signs. Therefore, even if a woman is experiencing several pregnancy signs, she should still take a pregnancy test and talk to her doctor before concluding she is actually pregnant.
Implantation Bleeding
Implantation bleeding occurs about six to 12 days after conception and is the earliest sign a woman is pregnant, according to the American Pregnancy Association. This bleeding is caused when the fertilized egg implants itself into the uterine lining. The bleeding may be brownish, pinkish or red in color and the flow is usually light or even just spotting. It typically only lasts a couple days, and may be accompanied by slight menstrual-like cramping.
Breast Changes
Changes in a woman's breasts are another early pregnancy sign. The breasts may start to feel heavy, full, tingly, sore, tender or swollen. The areolas of the breast also undergo changes with pregnancy, becoming larger and darker. According to the Mayo Clinic, breast changes usually begin occurring about one or two weeks after conception takes place.
Missed Period
Although some women who are not pregnant can miss periods, a late or missed period is one of the most common pregnancy signs, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Therefore, women should carefully keep track of their menstrual cycles to recognize any delays or unusual changes in menstruation that may indicate pregnancy.
Fatigue
Extreme tiredness or fatigue is also a common early pregnancy sign. This may be caused by the surge of the hormone progesterone that occurs during early pregnancy, according to the Mayo Clinic, but pregnancy also causes lower blood sugar, lower blood pressure and higher blood production levels which also may contribute to this feeling.
Morning Sickness or Bloating
Morning sickness is a misnomer, as this affliction can happen at any point during the day, and the nausea can occur with or without vomiting. The rapid rising of the hormone estrogen may be responsible for this, says the Mayo Clinic, but an increased sense of smell may also contribute. Although some women can experience nausea as early as two weeks after conception, other women may not experience this sign until a month after conception or later, if at all. Abdominal bloating can also occur with the upset stomach.
Headaches
The sudden hormone surges of early pregnancy and an increase in blood circulation can produce headaches in many women, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although these headaches can occur frequently in early pregnancy, they are generally mild.
Frequent Urination
The amount of blood and other fluids in the body increases during early pregnancy, which can cause an increase in the need to urinate, according to BabyCenter.com. This sign can occur as early as one month after conception, and may increase as the baby grows and places pressure on the bladder.
Raised Basal Body Temperature
A basal body temperature is the temperature of a woman when she first wakes up in the morning, before she even gets out of bed. Women can use their basal body temperature to chart the changes that take place during her menstrual cycle, but also can use this information to monitor for pregnancy as well. When a woman is pregnant, her basal body temperature will stay elevated for more than two weeks after she ovulates, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Other Signs
Food cravings or aversions, lower backache, mood swings, constipation and dizziness are other symptoms of early pregnancy and are all caused by the surge of hormones that occurs in early pregnancy. If a woman has several of these symptoms, it is wise to take a pregnancy test or talk to a doctor to determine if she is pregnant.
