When you’re trying to get pregnant, you want to know as soon as possible that you are. This can lead you to look for the immediate signs of pregnancy. While there are certain signs that indicate you’re pregnant, you need to take them with a grain of salt — most signs also relate to PMS or other factors. Remember, though, that every woman is different, and you may not experience any early symptoms.
Cramping and Spotting
As the embryo implants in your uterus, you may experience mild cramping, followed by light spotting. This spotting would typically occur around the time that you would normally expect your period — though maybe a bit earlier — and should be significantly lighter than a normal period.
Raised Basal Body Temperature
If you track your basal body temperature every morning, you may have a good sign that you’re pregnant long before a pregnancy test would show a positive result. If a sperm fertilizes your egg, your basal body temperature will remain elevated and may even slightly increase once it’s implanted in your uterus. In a month where you don’t become pregnant, the temperature will start to decrease again after you’ve peaked following ovulation.
Fatigue
You may notice that you’re more tired than usual, which is a result of the extra work that your body is doing to make a baby. This can occur as early as one week after conception, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
Tender Breasts
Tender, sore or swollen breasts are also a sign of pregnancy, but many women experience this as a PMS symptom. If this often happens to you, don’t take tender breasts alone as a sign that you’re pregnant.
Nausea
The increase in hormones when you are pregnant causes many women to feel nauseated, a feeling referred to as “morning sickness.” This can start as early as two weeks after conception, though it more commonly occurs about four to six weeks.
Missed Period
Missing your period — especially if your cycle is usually regular — may be one of the surest signs that you’re pregnant. Once you’ve missed your period, it’s likely that you’ll get a positive pregnancy test result.
