Pregnancy Symptoms: Am I Pregnant?

In the second half of your cycle you may find yourself wondering whether you might have conceived and if you can already detect signs that mean you're pregnant.

You won't get a definite confirmation until about the time your period is due (for more information on when you can test, click here).

However, you may get early pregnancy symptoms after implantation has occurred. This is unlikely to be much before 8 or 9 days after ovulation.

Unfortunately, early pregnancy signs can often be very similar to those experienced pre-menstrually. And whilst some women say they knew as soon as their egg was fertilised, others claim they felt nothing at all until well after their missed period. To confuse matters further, some say they were never more sure their period was just around the corner than when they were actually pregnant. And many women carry on having light periods up to six months into pregnancy.

Nevertheless, here are some of the symptoms that may be experienced in early pregnancy once implantation has occurred:

  • Sore Nipples or Breasts: darkening of the area around the nipple. Greater appearance of veins in the breast.
  • More Frequent Need to Urinate: due to increased blood flow to the pelvic region seems to irritate the bladder long before there is any physical pressure in the area)
  • Light Spotting: this usually occurs about 8 days after ovulation and/or around the time your period is due
  • Extreme Fatigue: although bear in mind that this can be due to progesterone that is present after ovulation
  • Heightened Sense of Smell: this often results in nausea
  • Nausea or Sickness: this can a reaction to certain smells, and can take be experienced, not only in the morning, but throughout the day
  • A Metallic Taste in the Mouth: you may also experience a change in the foods you like or dislike
  • Discomfort or Cramping in the Abdomen: some women describe this early pregnancy symptom as a "dragging" feeling

One Getting Pregnant reader told us the following about her possible early pregnancy symptoms:

"I really did feel as if this month was different to the last 5.
1. I always start spotting 3/4 days before my period is due, this month nothing!
2. I had indigestion and gas.
3. Normally my breasts get sore 3 days before menstruation - this time they only got sore 1 day before. They are especially sore on the sides.
4. Before my period I normally get into a really bad mood and my husband has to keep his distance. This month, I haven't experienced any mood swings.
5. I have had lower back pain as well.
This was also the first month of charting BBT and cervical fluid so I felt a little more confident and relaxed, knowing that I had more of an accurate guideline to work on."

But another one said:


I have had absolutely no symptoms what so ever this month except lower back pain, which has now stopped.
No sore breasts, no spotting, nothing, but several positive pregnancy tests!

For a definite confirmation that you're pregnant, the implanted embryo has to be generating sufficient quantities of hCG for it to be detected by a pregnancy test. Whilst this is generally likely to be the around the day your period is due, a new study found that in up to 10% of pregnancies, the embryo was not implanted by that stage and therefore a negative Home Pregnancy Test (HPT) result was given. So if you do get a negative result, it's worth re-testing after a few more days. (Getting Pregnant readers can buy packs of 10 pregnancy test kits at a special rate - click here for more details)

If you're using Natural Fertility Management, you'll know how many days of elevated temperatures you normally experience. If you exceed these significantly, and particularly if you experience 18, there is a good chance you have conceived. Some women experience a third shift in temperatures after implantation has occurred.

While you're waiting to find out if you're pregnant, try flower remedies in order to keep calm and stres-free.

And if the outcome of all the waiting is good news, you might want to visit this page.

Study conducted by Dr Allen J Wilcox, senior investigator at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, North Carolina

To keep both you and your baby healthy during pregnancy, check out pregnancy plus prenatal supplements.

Start preparing for the arrival of your baby by checking out baby product reviews so that you can find the best baby items for your baby.

 

Learn more about pregnancy symptoms by chatting with other pregnant women in our forum.

Login to comment
(0 Comments)

Post a comment