Pregnancy symptoms during the first month can often be confused with premenstrual symptoms. Most Women are not even aware they are pregnant yet until they have a missed Period.
A new life begins immediately a sperm penetrates a matured egg and successfully fertilises it. But early pregnancy symptoms doesn't start immediately after fertilisation. For most women, it usually begins around the same time when your next period is expected. Which is some days after implantation of the embryo to the uterine walls.
First month pregnancy symptoms before a missed period
Even though you are 4 weeks pregnant, the gestational age of your baby is 2 weeks.
Increase in pregnancy hormone (HCG) and reproductive hormones oestrogen and progesterone are the culprits behind first signs and symptoms of pregnancy.
Here are the obvious or common ways women suspect they are pregnant during the first four weeks.
1. Tender Swollen Breast
Breast tenderness before period is both a PMS and a pregnancy symptom.
After conception, the level of progesterone and oestrogen hormone starts to rise gradually to support the new life.
Around a week before your next period is due, your breast may start to feel sore/painful or sensitive to touch due to the increase of progesterone hormone.
Increase in level of oestrogen will also make your breast feel and look fuller.
Your breast will continue to undergo changes throughout your pregnancy in preparation for breast feeding.
2. Darker Areola
The areola is the pigmented area around the nipple. If you notice that your areola is getting darker then you may be pregnant.
A darkened areola is one of the first signs of pregnancy and it can happen as early as 1-2 weeks after conception.
It is caused by increase in pregnancy hormone levels (HCG). Some women also notice they have black lips during pregnancy.
3. Light Spotting before period (implantation bleeding)
If you notice on and off spotting of blood a few days to your period then you may be pregnant.
During implantation of the blastocyst to the lining of the walls of the uterus, a few blood is shed. This is known as implantation bleeding or spotting.
Implantation bleeding usually last for 1-2 days and it is not as heavy as your normal period that it soaks through a pad, tampon or tissue.
Implantation bleeding color can range from light pink to red or dark brown.
Not all women experience implantation spotting. And it is ok if you don't.
4. Implantation Cramping
Also during the process of implantation. Some women experience very mild cramps. This is not a cause for alarm.
Implantation cramps are not severe or painful like your menstrual period cramps.
Infact most women don't notice these cramps.
5. Morning Sickness/ Nausea
Morning sickness is also known as nausea and vomiting and it is common in early pregnancy.
In few cases does morning sickness starts before your missed period. For most women it starts around week 6 of pregnancy.
Some women can experience nausea without vomiting while some will experience both.
Although it is called morning sickness, it can happen at any time of the day or through out the day.
Nausea and vomiting may stop after the first trimester but it can sometime continue to the beginning of the second trimester.
6. Tiredness and Fatigue
Tiredness and exhaustion is also an early symptom of pregnancy.
Feeling fatigue can commence as early as 1 week to 2 weeks after conception.
It is caused by the numerous changes going on in your body to grow your baby from a blastocyst into an embryo.
An increase in progesterone hormone levels can also make you feel more tired than usual.
It is common for women to feel tired through out their pregnancy especially in the first and last trimester.
7. Frequent Urination
Peeing too often is also an early sign that you may be pregnant.
You may start peeing more frequently than normal few days before your next period.
This is perfectly normal. The size of your uterus is expanding to accommodate the growing baby. This can exert some pressure on your bladder
Although frequent peeing is not common in the first four weeks but as you baby continues to grow, more pressure will be placed on your bladder.
8. Food craving and Aversion
You may start craving and desiring foods you normal don't eat often.
Your body knows what it wants and people say craving is a way it fulfils that desire.
For example, some women suddenly starts getting the urge to eat more meat. This may mean they are iron deficient and the body needs them to consume foods rich in iron.
In a similar way to craving, you may notice that the sight or thought of some foods make you want to through up.
This is all due to the pregnancy hormone kicking in at the beginning of your pregnancy.
9. Milky White Discharge
Excessive vaginal discharge before missed period is also one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy.
This excessive white discharge is known as leucorrhea. It is not the normal sticky mucus you see before your mensuration starts.
You will continue to notice an increase in vaginal secretions through out your pregnancy. This is normal and nothing to worry about.
You should call the doctor if your discharge is itchy or smelly. It could be a sign of yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis or even a sexually transmitted disease.
10. Constipation
Constipation in pregnancy could start as early as 1 week after you have conceived. That would be your week 3 of pregnancy.
Constipation happens in early weeks of pregnancy due to the increase in progesterone. This hormone relaxes the muscles of the body including the stomach muscles.
Due to this relaxation, the digestion process becomes slower than normal. And hence you feel constipated.
11. Headaches
Is headache a sign of pregnancy. It is common for women to have headache as a PMS symptom.
Having constant headache could also serve as a sign that you may be carrying a baby. The exact cause of continuous pain in the head is not known.
But a research done by university of rochester maryland suggest that it may be due to the changes in your blood volume and hormone levels.
Headaches in pregnancy can start around week 3-week 4.
12. Increase Basal Body Temperature
Your basal body temperature could also help indicate if you are pregnant or not.
Your basal body temperature is your body's temperature when you are at rest.
BBT is commonly used by women trying to conceive to detect their most fertile days.
But your basal temperature can also indicate pregnancy very early and embryo implantation.
13. Missed Period
A missed period is one of the obvious signs of early pregnancy. Women expect to see their monthly period every 28-35 day. Any deviation from this is an indication that something is wrong.
When a woman falls pregnant her period usually ceases. This is because the uterine lining that is shed 2 weeks after ovulation is now a home to your baby. The lining is needed to support your baby for the next 9 months of pregnancy.
Carry out a home pregnancy test if you have a late or missing period. This is the best way to confirm if you are pregnant or not.
You can also take a pregnancy quiz or test to see if the signs and symptoms you are experiencing is pregnancy related.
What happens in the First Four Weeks of Pregnancy
Week 1-2
At this stage of your menstrual cycle you are not yet pregnant. Your body is preparing for ovulation. Ovulation is the release of an egg(ovum) from one or both of your ovaries around day 14 of your cycle.
Week 3-4
If conception occured during ovulation then you are pregnant. You may not notice any symptoms yet as it is still too early.
At this stage, the fertilised egg is dividing slowly into a ball of multiple cells known as blastocyst as it travels slowly from the fallopian tube into the uterus.
The blastocyst reaches the womb around 6-10 days after conception.
When it reaches the womb, it attaches its self to the walls of the uterine lining in a process known as implantation. Some physical symptoms of implantation are spotting and cramping.
How Early can pregnancy Symptoms Start?
It can start as early as a week after fertilisation around week 3-4.
But the most obvious sign is a missed period which is noticed on the 4th week.
The best time to take a pregnancy test is a few days after you have missed your period.
One Month Pregnancy Belly
By the end of the 1st month their wouldn't be much changes to your tummy yet. People won't even notice you are pregnant unless you tell them.
Your baby at this stage is about the size of a blueberry fruit (0.14 inches).
Here is what a pregnant belly looks like at around 1 month :
The baby gets bigger week by week. By the third month of pregnancy, you should see noticeable changes in the appearance of your stomach as it gets bigger.
Pregnancy Symptoms week 1 after conception
You will not necessarily feel pregnant yet. The egg fertilised at conception will continue to divide into multiple cells until it reaches the uterus.
You may notice slight movements in your lower abdomen but it is not painful at all and should not cause any alarm.
If you have an early implantation, you may see spots of blood in your underwear.
Taking a pregnancy test this early will likely result in a false negative except you use an early detection pregnancy kit like this one from clearblue.
What happens in Second Month
This means you are 8 weeks pregnant. You are still in your first trimester. So you will still be feeling nauseous, tired or fatigued, your breast will be tender or sore, you will be visiting the toilet more often,heartburn and some trouble sleeping.
Your baby is also growing rapidly at this stage. And it is as big as a kidney beans. Your baby now has webbed fingers and toes. And tiny arms and legs.
When To See the Doctor
If you have not yet seen your period, you should take a test to see if you are pregnant.
If you have a positive test at home, go to the doctor to reconfirm with a blood test.
Your Doctor will calculate your due date from the first day of your last period. You will also be advised to keep taking your nutritional supplement especially folic acid to prevent neural tube defects.
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