Early Pregnancy Symptoms: First Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Discover the earliest signs of pregnancy — from fatigue and morning sickness to implantation bleeding. Learn when and how pregnancy symptoms start to appear.

Positive pregnancy test showing early signs of pregnancy

Trying to spot the signs? Learn exactly how early pregnancy symptoms manifest, including morning sickness, fatigue, breast tenderness, and implantation bleeding.

Many people are requesting information on what early pregnancy symptoms are and how they manifest.

Okay, when pregnant, each person experiences different symptoms. Let's learn about the most common ones now.

Woman experiencing morning sickness as an early pregnancy symptom

1. Missed Period:

The first symptom of pregnancy is missing your period at the expected time. Those waiting for pregnancy will be happy, while those not expecting will worry. For both, as the due date gets delayed, anxiety increases.

Early pregnancy fatigue and tiredness in first trimester
Doctors won't perform any tests to confirm pregnancy until at least 10 days after the missed period. 

So, within these 10 days, I'll share some points to give you an idea. These symptoms can appear even before you realize your period is missed.

2. Food Aversions:

This is one of the most commonly known symptoms. Not liking the smell or taste of certain foods. Not just disliking them, but being unable to eat them, feeling nauseous after eating them. 

During pregnancy, the estrogen hormone is highly active, which significantly affects the sense of smell. If these symptoms are accompanied by bloating, nausea, and vomiting, there's a higher chance of pregnancy confirmation. Also, experiencing excessive hunger or no hunger at all can be a sign of pregnancy.

Pregnant woman feeling nauseous and avoiding food due to early pregnancy symptoms

3. Cramps:

Cramps and abdominal pain are common experiences before a period. However, this same pain or cramping can also be a sign of pregnancy. Some women experience this pain when the embryo implants in the uterus. We can't say this happens to everyone, but it can be taken as a positive sign.

Woman holding lower abdomen due to cramps and pain as an early pregnancy symptom

4. Hormonal Changes:

Symptoms of PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome) and pregnancy can be similar. Both involve hormonal changes, so the symptoms can be identical. However, there's a small difference: PMS symptoms subside in a few days. Pregnancy symptoms, however, come with some persistent changes.

Woman comparing PMS and early pregnancy symptoms with hormonal changes

Breast Tenderness and Changes: Breasts feeling tender and painful to the touch is a PMS symptom, but also a pregnancy symptom. Besides tenderness, if the breasts increase slightly in size, or if the area around the nipples changes color or size, this is due to estrogen. As the months progress, the breasts become very sensitive.

Breast tenderness and changes as an early sign of pregnancy and PMS

5. Frequent Urination:

If you find yourself needing to go to the bathroom frequently, it's definitely a sign of pregnancy. If you've been experiencing this problem since your last period, there's a high chance you're pregnant. This is because pressure on the bladder increases from about two weeks after conception, leading to a frequent need to urinate.

6. Vaginal Discharge:

You can also tell if you're pregnant based on the quality of your white discharge. If you're pregnant, your vaginal discharge will be slightly thicker. Discharge that is normally thin will become thick.

7. Body Temperature:

Checking
your body temperature when at rest is also a good option. If your temperature is slightly higher than normal for about 10 days at the same time, there's a high chance you're pregnant.

You can consider yourself pregnant if you observe such symptoms. However, sometimes pregnancy can occur without any of these symptoms. It depends on your body's individual constitution.

So friends, I hope these tips are somewhat helpful. Do a test to confirm if you are pregnant or not. Since each person experiences different symptoms, some may have these symptoms, while others may not experience any at all. Therefore, consult a doctor 10 to 15 days after a missed period.

1. What are the very first signs of pregnancy?
Common early signs include missed periods, breast tenderness, fatigue, nausea, and mild cramping or implantation bleeding.

2. When do early pregnancy symptoms start?
Most women notice symptoms 7–10 days after conception, around the time of implantation or just before a missed period.

3. What is implantation bleeding?
It’s light spotting that occurs when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterus lining — usually 6–12 days after ovulation.

4. Can you feel pregnancy symptoms before a missed period?
Yes. Some women experience mild symptoms such as bloating, tiredness, and mood swings before missing their period.

5. When should I take a pregnancy test?
For accurate results, take a home pregnancy test 1 week after a missed period using the first urine of the morning.

6. Are early pregnancy symptoms the same for everyone?