Many early pregnancy symptoms are noticeable even before a pregnancy test is able to confirm the pregnancy. Although pregnancy symptoms vary depending upon the individual, some early signs of pregnancy are experienced more commonly than others. While a pregnancy test should always be used to confirm pregnancy, women that may become pregnant can get an early indication from these common early pregnancy symptoms.
Implantation Bleeding
When a fertilized egg implants into the uterus, it sometimes causes implantation bleeding. This bleeding can be brownish, pinkish or red in color, according to the American Pregnancy Association, and is very light and only lasts a day or two. This is one of the first signs of a pregnancy, since this occurs before a missed period and before a pregnancy test would be accurate.
Fatigue
An increase of progesterone and blood production and a decrease in blood sugar and blood pressure may all contribute to to feelings of extreme tiredness or fatigue in early pregnancy, explains the Mayo Clinic. Women who find themselves going to bed earlier, sleeping in later or napping more frequently may be displaying this early pregnancy sign.
Headaches
Headaches often occur frequently as the woman's body struggles to get used to the sudden spikes in hormones and blood circulation, according to the Mayo Clinic, and may occur as early as a week or two after conception and before a positive pregnancy test.
Breast Changes
Breasts may begin to change about one or two weeks after conception takes place and also may be sign of pregnancy that shows itself before a positive pregnancy test. The breasts become larger, fuller and are often swollen, tender or sore. The areas surrounding the nipples, called the areolas, also become larger and darker and the nipples themselves are more erect and sensitive.
Nausea or Vomiting
Rapidly rising estrogen can trigger nausea and vomiting in pregnant women as early as two weeks after conception, although some women will not experience this symptom until later in the pregnancy or at all, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Missed Period
The American Pregnancy Association lists a late or missed period as one of the most common earliest pregnancy signs. Since many pregnancy tests require a woman to miss her period before the test can be accurate, it is not surprising that this is usually the symptom that motivates a woman to finally buy that home pregnancy test to see if she is, in fact, pregnant.
