Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms

What are the symptoms of pregnancy?

Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms

Basal body temperature stays high: If you've been charting your basal body temperature (your temperature when you first wake up in the morning) and you see that your temperature has stayed above the coverline for 18 days in a row, you're probably pregnant.
Braxton Hicks contractions - These start from your 6th week, but you only feel them when you are about halfway your pregnancy.
Constipation - Pregnancy hormones will slow down bowel functions to give maximum absorption time of vitamins and nutrients.
Darkening of areola (breast nipple) - This can be one of the first symptoms which can appear as early as one week after conception and then throughout pregnancy. The symptom is due to increasing amount of hCG hormone that begins at implantation.
Dizzyness - The growing uterus compresses major arteries in your legs which causes your blood pressure to drop. This makes you feel light headed.
Excessive salivation - Glands produce more moisture during pregnancy due to hormones. The spitting stops at about 16 weeks.
Exhaustion or feeling sleepy - Can occur one to six weeks after conception and last your entire pregnancy.
Feeling pregnant - Call it a sixth sense, some women are just "feeling" pregnant.
Food cravings - About 85 percent of women report at least one food craving during pregnancy. They are caused by hormonal changes in the body. Sweet or salty snacks are most popular.
Frequent urination - This symptom is caused by hormone changes. You may see it six to eight weeks after conception and it will be with you for your entire pregnancy. This is caused by hormone changes and growing pressure on the bladder.
Having a positive pregancy test - The most obviuos one, apart from having a huge belly of course. Home pregnancy test are known to be 99% secure, but do see a doctor when your test is positive!
Headaches - As hormone levels fluctuate throughout a woman's pregnancy, the frequency and severity of headaches may vary as well. About 2 in 5 women notice an increase of headaches during the first months of the pregnancy.
Heartburn - Two reasons: The uterus is very swollen and starts to push upward as it grows. The increasing levels of hCG will also slow down digestion making your stomach not empty as fast which increases the stomach acid.
Increased sense of smell - The slightest thing can make you feel nauseous.
Irritability - Hormones cause a lot of mood swings and irritability during a pregnancy.
Light bleeding - Light bleeding (spotting) may occur approximately 4 - 10 days from ovulation. It's pink or brown in color, sometimes accompanied by stomach cramps. Caused by the egg implanting itself in the endometrial lining. Many women mistake this for a normal period.
Lower abdominal cramps - Stomach cramps in combination with a light bleeding: see `Light bleeding`
Missed period (Amenorrhea) or a period with less bleeding than normal - As soon as you get pregnant your periods stop. Instead, you will have a light bleeding (spotting) approximately 4 - 10 days from ovulation. Many women mistake this for a normal period.
Morning sickness - Morning sickness is very common. Most pregnant women have at least some morning sickness, and about a third have vomiting.
Nausea and vomiting - See `Morning sickness`
Tender or swollen breasts - This symptom is one that can appear rather quickly after fertilization - one to two weeks after conception and will most likely be with you your entire pregnancy. The symptom is due to increasing amount of hCG hormone that begins at implantation.
Tiredness - Your body goes through hormonal changes. hCG forms in your body, your temperature is higher due to the amount progesterone circulating through your body which will make you feel tired. Take it easier, eat more calories. (300 more a day)

Other Causes
Stress, illness, changes in diet and other situations can cause the pregnancy symptoms as well. The only way to confirm your pregnancy is to take a pregnancy test and then visit your doctor for confirmation. Home pregnancy tests are very reliable and most can show results as early as 10 to 14 days after fertilization.

Even if you have a postitive pregnancy test and have some or all of these pregnancy symptoms, you will need to visit your health care provider and get a blood test done to get the absolute confirmation of your pregnancy.

If you have these pregnancy symptoms and you believe that you are pregnant, be sure to take care of your health. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. If you are taking prescription or over the counter medication, be sure to check with your doctor to make sure they are safe to take while pregnant. Start taking folic acid to help ensure the health of your unborn child.

Comments: Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms

Comments 1 to 24 of about 205.
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Beckie1990 - 244 days ago.
Someone help meee! I have recently come off the pill a couple a months ago which I went on immediately after coming off the depo provera injection in march, I recently started getting really sore nipples and the middle bit of the nipple which I can't remember the name of (haha) is sticking out, I also had some heartburn for the whole day yesterday but today my nipples aren't as sore and heartburn appears to have gone. I haven't been overtired but have had some slight nausea and I aren't due on my period for a week, can someone enlighten me please?!

lorimckinzie - 388 days ago.
Okay , I had my tubes tied about 16 years ago after my 2nd son. I did a detox wrap about 2 months ago then had my period and it ended on the 12th of April. Then about 2 weeks after my breast started getting very sore and still are sometimes I can't even stand for anything to touch them. I always tired some days more then others , have been having headaches everyday and around 4pm everyday get sick to my stomach. Could I be pregnant after 16 years ?

Jaiden.Morgan - 409 days ago.
I am ttc , but I was wondering for all the ladies that are pregnant how long after you started ttc did you start getting symptoms . I have two other children but I dont remember that part , cause it has been awhile . Anyone that has an response can you add me and add a comment to my profile . Thank you so much :))

carlalarner@yahoo.co.uk - 458 days ago.
hi ladies need your help and advice. iv not been on here for ages well since I had my dd in December 2010. i had my period last week that lasted for 2 whole days! then 2days later I had lots of brown discharge. since the day my period started iv had awful headaches and terrible period pain well it feels like period pain and Iv still got the headache and pain now over a later. iv done a test which was negative. what do you all think?

allirose10 - 480 days ago.
I\'m a novice to this so I hope I do this right & get my forum posted for real this time, as I\'m in dire need of feedback, educated guesses, experienced view & opinions, asap. I have a long-ish story to tell, backed up by accurate dates. However, I apologize in advance for bombarding you with so many dates & #s that you\'ll have to read through to keep track of my verbose tale. So, here is how it goes: On Nov. 16th, 2011, my doc put me on Junel 20 mg, which is the lowest hormonal dose. He put me on it for one main reason & one side reason. The main reason for Junel bc was to reduce the severity & the length of my agonizing menstrual cramps.The side reason for it was that my wedding anniv. was Nov. 23rd & I wanted to delay my period. I felt a need to delay my period since its always on time, hardly ever late....I\'m like reliable clockwork! Even when I was on birth control years ago, right after getting married, my periods never fluctuated & I never missed a period ever, except the 2 times I was preg. As you see, my period pattern can hardly be altered...despite the pill! My period still began on Nov. 22nd, regardless. :( Anyway, so I began my new pack of Junel on Sunday, Nov. 27th. I experienced no issues with Junel whatsoever...& had a normal month with a normal 4 day period that started promptly on Dec. 24th, 2011, once I began the placebo pills. I was happy with my low dose Junel!! Too happy, perhaps? For it lead me to complacency. On Jan. 1st 2012 I had unprotected sex 3 times....& also missed my pill. I have a alarm set as a reminder at 8:30 AM, daily, to take my pill....but this time I did not take my pill until about 8:30 PM on Jan. 2nd ~ about 12 hrs later. So I ended up missing almost 2 days. Furthermore, I did not double up on pills as I did not know I was supposed to do so if I had missed a dose. At the time I was also taking Adderal (20 mg) for ADD & I\'m not sure if that hinders the efficiency of Junel bc!? The sex was very intense though he is sure he did not ejaculate inside me.... I know that, that is not a sure preg preventive..! According to the bc pack I was supposed to get my period around Jan. 16th---but never did! Not a drop! Like I said earlier, I am like clockwork & missing a period has never an issue, even when i was on bc years ago. Now I have some minor symptoms such as--- the stomach feeling tight, as though there\'s something in there (psychological???? maybe...), Slight nausea that was more prominent a couple says back but is better today, terrible cramping, upset stomach---again, i hardly ever get an upset stomach, but lately my stools have been soft whereas, generally I\'m constipated & go to the bathrm about 2ice a wk., very gassy. I also have been highly emotional lately. A constant wet, gooieness is inside the vaginal opening with white discharge. I am not overly tired though! But these are some of the main symptoms, and last but not least, I am feeling extreme restlessness & anxiety. My sex drive has not decreased in the least bit, in fact, has been stronger. Does that make sense??? Don\'t quite remember this being the case with my 2 earlier pregnancies, but then I was 29 & 33. Now I\'m on the doorstep of being 40. I am sure that makes a big difference. I took a pregnancy test in the doc\'s office on Jan. 26 which was neg. I also took an ept yesterday that came neg. I\'m very puzzled as to what is going on with my body. Does this sound like pre-menopause? I\'m not experiencing any hot/cold flashes....or mood swings. What could this be??? I stopped taking Junel 3 days ago. Now I am bleeding & hope that it is just the pill withdrawal bleeding & nothing more. Please give me all/any feedback, opinions, & educated/professional guesses. I\'ve a blood test scheduled for later this wk & am very nervous. I thank you deeply in advance for your time.

kitty584 - 498 days ago.
I wonder if anyone can please help me as i think i am going mad!! We have been TTC first baby for a few months now and my period is 3 days late. I have done 6 home pregnancy tests and have all tested negative. I normally have some spotting before my period comes but havent had anything even though i have had mild cramps like its about to start a couple of times. My other symptoms are:- V Sore, tender breasts (never happened before) On-off bloated stomach Broken out in spots (normally have really clear skin) Had a few funny feelings and pains in lower stomach Have had bouts of nausea and headaches seem a bit worse (i suffer with chronic migraines so hard to know if nausea and headaches are just a symptom of this) Totally lost the ability to drive last night - like i had forgotten what to do! Went our for a meal last night and ordered steak - haven't ate red meat for about 5 years! Has anyone else had similar symptoms and am i just imagining it because i want to get pregnant so much. Would love to hear from anyone who has been in my situation. Thanks xx

frenchie23 - 519 days ago.
Just in case this helps someone, I just got my BFP today and this is the notes I took for myself: TTC cycle#2... **TMI ALERT** CD9, lots of ewcm... Noticed a lil blood thru it... Same with CD10&11, CD12-13 still lots of ewcm, no more blood, boobs started hurting.. Nipples seem a lot darker! CD14 feelin engorged?? Boobs are hard and painful, was able to express quite a bit of milk!!!! ODD!!! ( Weaned my daughter off in october and supply was dryied up untill now!!! ) Lower back started to hurt really bad most of the late afternoon and evening... Feeling weird twinges in my lower abdomen.... Still getting ewcm... CD15 (O?) watery-thick discharge, almost somewhat stretchy but not quite... Lil bits of ewcm.., no more lower back pains, hair is greasy even tho I showered today.. CD16( 1DPO?) feeling off today, feels like I kinda have a weight on my chest and feeling nausious after eating a tuna sandwich, STILL getting bit of ewcm!!!!! 6pm, getting creamy cm now...&ewcm?!? Breaking out.. CD17...(2DPO?). Still breaking out, Getting twinges in lower abdomen, still getting ewcm, not goood :( getting mood swings, annoyied very easily but I think its due to feeling defeated this cycle already. Sensitive gums after brushing my teeth CD18(3DPO?) Tuna still makes me queasy, but I get like that sometimes for no reason... Too early for m/s is my guess anyways.. Cloudy ewcm&creamy cm, feeling the odd twinges in lower abdomen, urine has been very dark the past few days even tho I'm very well hydrated.. Dark and cloudy. CD19 (4DPO?) Lots of ewcm......BLAH!!!!! Getting sick :( ((cold symptoms= shivers, stomach ache, headache, simply feeling like crap)) AF cramps on and off. CD20 (5DPO?) Bleeding gums when I brushed my teeth, hungry!!!!! Keep munching constantly, its like my stomach is a black hole! LOL. CD21(6DPO?) Sick as hell ( cold ) no more ewcm!!!!! (Finally!)Lots of creamy white wet cm. CD22 (7DPO?) Creamy white wet cm, omg, cryied 3 times watching a tv show!!!!!! Soo PMSing!!!!! CD23 (8DPO?). Same as yesterday+breaking out . CD24(9DPO?) Same as yesterday+twinges on left side CD25 (10DPO?) big glob of wet white cm!!! +twinges on the left side again, still very emotional&hungry, 1 sharp painful stab on left side, lasted 10seconds CD26, (11DPO?) Nose bleed..... + BFP!!!!!!!! Omg!! I honestly thought I was about to waiste my last test this morning!!!!I'm still in shock, I only took the test cuz its christmas eve and figured it would be smart to not take a chance since I was planning on drinking tonight so it was the responsible thing to do... Good luck to you all!!! Merry christmas!!

frenchie23 - 522 days ago.
You could ask for a blood test, they are more accurate... Good luck! :)

Rourkieee - 523 days ago.
I Have Tested Twice & Both Negative (None Took With FMU As I Didn't Know About That Been Important Then) I Have Left It Almost Two Weeks Now But I Still Have Really Sore BB & They Have Increased In Size, I Have A Slight Back Pain, Feeling Sick Every Morning & Sometimes Night Times, More Sleepy Than Usual (I'm Never Sleepy Through-out The Day!) No Sign Of My Period (I'm Due One) .. I Really Do Want To Be PG. Could The Tests Be Incorrect? I Am Awaiting Test Results Back From The Doctor In The Next Few Days Took With FMU This Time. I Know Y'all Are Not Doctors But If You Could Give Me Some Advice I Would Be Really Thankful :) TIA.

frenchie23 - 528 days ago.
I think every ladies who had their BFPs should post their symptoms from O till the day they tested!!! It would give us TTC ladies something else to obsess about!!! LOL!!! Even tho sometimes there is no signs! I will always remember the first time I got pregnant cuz omg how did I not know?!? Now I know what to look for but back then, I wasn't even trying! I will always remember driving around on my machine ( worked in a warehouse back then ) and wanting soooo bad a bounty bar ( I don't even really like thoses!! ) But I wanted it so bad that I parked my reach truck, went to my locker to get change for the vending machine and it was the best chocolate bar I ever had!! Still hadn't clued in that was abnormal...later on that week I go past security at work and enter the warehouse and I look at my friends! Wow! You guys smell coffee?! Smells sooooo good! Nobody could smell it, when we got to the loading docks there was an order of java logs! everybody thought I was full of shit, that I must have known the logs were there but no! Crazy sense of smell!! Still didn't clue in at that point... A few days later I realised, hum, haven't had a bm for a week now, what's wrong with me?!? Need more fiber I guess...... Its 2months into my pregnancy I realised, whoa! Haven't had a period in a while! Took a test and was indeed 8 weeks pregnant at my ultrasound!!! How did I not realise that before?!? I lost the baby 2week later... Since I didn't know I was prego, was 19yrs old and was in the bar scene and party, I blame myself for losing this child but I moved on... Have a beautiful daughter now and love the man I'm with <3 but the point of this story is that sometimes there's not many signals to early pregnancy, just gotta listen to your body :) and maybe if I knew these were symptoms I would've known.... And really, I didn't get any symptoms with my daughter... Besides coffee made me sweaty and a bit nausious but didn't want to get my hopes up so ignored it and after a few sips, symptoms went away.. We were tryin so that was the only reason I descided to test 5 days before AF and was prego ;)

shania23 - 586 days ago.
I just got a positive pregnancy test and im 8 weeks pregnant it's my first pregnancy how could i not know so far along and why did the test's before say negative\

mamaof2soon3 - 596 days ago.
HEY LADIES THERE A IAP TTC GROUP ON FACEBOOK IF U WOULD LIKE TO JOIN LEAVE ME UR EMAIL ADRESSE THAT IS ON UR FACEBOOK! AND I WILL ADD U :)

soop1dave@yahoo.com - 659 days ago.
stressing some what please help.... went to the er lastnight and so they say baby is fine everthing is where it needs to be. woke up this am and brownish pee :( im 6 weeks. is this normal should i go back to the er? i dont i want to stress about it if i shouldnt have to!! has anyone else been throught this??????

AnnaplusJose - 743 days ago.
very weird browning but i got a very postive pregnancy line... im still spotting brown with discharge i guess its normal obgyn here i ocomw!

AnnaplusJose - 743 days ago.
well i took a tes BFP it was a wir ass period

AnnaplusJose - 743 days ago.
ALSO im having brown staining on the painty liner size of a half dollar with dlittle discharge ( NO ODOR or foul smells NO PAIN) a week an half later i went to the obgyn clinic to get checke dout because i let it all come out naturelly they say im fine everything looks good. the pregnancy test came out negative.. did it go to zero? i guess so my period come wicked weird ive had 2 former pregnancy everything went good im a quick healer an my body is healthy. (ive also had a miss carriage befour both pregnancys) an gotten pregnant soon after. SINCE I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF (very unusal period) it had no fllow i could not feel it come down noone of that no pain ( faint slight funny weird cramp...is it my body adjusting back to the way it was or implantatiion bleeding. i dont use condems an i dont use the pill. o this is day 7 i have a back ach that doesnt seem to leave an getting faint cramping on an off. some constipation. littl heart burn. but this could be many reason. 7 days now an still having brown staiing with little discharge. has anyone experienced this or has personal experience as i have never had this happen to me. is it a infection should i go bac to the obgyn. inside my body i feel completely fine. please anyone has any information that gets me at ease please help. i knnow you no dr just experience from woman who have babys an experienced this thank you (dr's or people who dont no whats its like cant tell you the situation your possibly feeling)

AnnaplusJose - 743 days ago.
i just recently had a misscarriage about 10 weeks of twin pregnncy. it was hard emotionally. i was having sex through the misscarriage. i had no idea i was misscarriing it was very light light pink on an off not even enough for a pad. any way. i went to go get a utra sound an the misscarriage was in progress. 1 day it was very bad second day got so much lighter then the 3rd day it completely stopped by the afternoon is this normal? i would think not. also ince its stoped we continued having sex we had no problems with pain. my period was supossed to come it did 'SO I THOUGHT' i was spotting on a panty liner.(pee problem when cough or sneeze). an for that day it was only like literally no lie 4 small dime spots. next day same thing went on for 2 days 3 days alittle heavyier enough for 2 small pantiliners that day or at the most 3 but never finished it. 4th day very very light 5th day close to nothing spotting. then it completely stopped 6th day i saw pink /red only when i whiped nothing more. not sure if it is done or is gunna keep going. can somone tell me if this sounds like implantation bleeding? why so long? or is it a period? never have had a period like this befour al reguarly even after my 2 pregnancys. any answers would be great thank you. (sorry its so long) somone have any similiar experiences tell me. would bring me comfort

Jbaum - 774 days ago.
Well - here is an update. At 6:30 this morning, I did a pregnancy test and it was POSITIVE!!!!! YAY! We are very excited.

Jbaum - 780 days ago.
My husband and I have been trying to concieve since our miscarriage in August of 2009. My period has been somewhat irregular over the last 15 months. 5 were 29 - 30 days, 2 were 28 days the rest were early (25-27 days). Today is Day 28, no period. 5 days ago a had a small spot of blood when i wiped. But that was it. I have been nausious on and off all week (puked 3 times), very tried one minute (feels like I need a nap), but then waking up between 6:30 and 7 every day - and wide awake full of energy (I usually don't get up till 8:30 and I haven't been a morning person...ever). Boobs are swollen and sore, Nose bleeds almost every morning (it's dried and crusty when I blow my nose, but blood is there) and a runny nose like crazy during the day, I'm also spitting more. I can start crying at the drop of a pin, but I'm not sad. I tell my husband I just can't turn it off, but then I can rip someones head off in a heart beat (I do bite my tongue 99.9% of the time), but then I can be incrediably happy and in a great mood, singing and dancing. Im not a big eater during the day (but i eat lots at night), but I have recently found my self absolutely starving by 10 am and eating less at night. I can smell anything and everything lately (which is driving me crazy). and I've been having these crazy foot and leg cramps waking me up in the midldle of the night. I pee 10 - 15 times a day and have been having frequent headaches. I feel a little bloated but no cramps as of yet (and I have painful cramps which require heavy duty medication). and (to put it lightly) my 'plumbing' is backed up...I haven't done a pregnancy test (just cause I don't want to get my hopes up considering I have had a few longer than normal cycles). Does it sound like I am pregnant or could it just be my period is on a longer cycle???

MomE2Abi - 873 days ago.
ok I have lower abdominal cramping, sore bbs , and a little darkening of the areola. i cannot take a test until january 9th. my last period was dec 14 and accordin the calcualtor i ovulated on the 27th. so i'm 7 dpo and having these symptoms is it possible i'm pregnant, ya think?

falloutgirl2010@yahoo.com - 879 days ago.
Okay so here is the deal. My last AF started Nov 8th, 2010. My cycle is 32 days long and was due Dec 10th. I never got it. I still haven't gotten it. I have taken like 5 or 6 pregnancy test all came up negative. The last one I took was on Christmas morning. I have very regular periods usually. I know that logically yes it is POSSIBLE that i am pregnant, but my question is if it is PROBABLE that I am? What should I do? I asked my mother and she said to wait and see if I get my next one but I want to know if I'm pregnant cause I need to know if I should hurry up and stop smoking.

beegee - 896 days ago.
watered- stop stressing and buy a test. If money is an issue, you can go to a planned pregnancy center for a free test, or the doller Store to get a test. The people at planned parenthood might be able to help you in case you are pregnant, but I woulndt put it off anymore

wateredsun@gmail.com - 897 days ago.
ok. here's the deal. i tried that pregnacy calculator and the ovulation calculator but now that i am not on any form of birth control and havent been for some time now (we are both allergic to latex and spermicide so the latex free condoms are out because they have spermicide). anyways as i was saying when i was on the pill my cycle was 24-26 days. now that im not on anything i dont know what my cycle is because i was on the pill from 17 to 27 im 28 now. and actually last year i was on the needle and it took a while for my period to come back.. but anyways i wasn't on any b/c because of mine and my b/fs current living situation. we dont live together and not by choice either. heres the deal: the last day of my last period was around the 20th of october as i dont know when it started. the on halloween weekend i broke some rules and snuck the b/f in for pretty much two nights where we had our fun. and havent had a period since. i didn't think much of it for like the first 6 weeks cuz we've had scares b4 but now its been more that that and still no period. also like 3 weeks after i started craving milk and lots of it in the form of vanilla shakes (i am allergic to milk) constipation (i am also on methadone so i think im double constipated cuz at least before i was still going about once a week) i sleep all the time. i've been constantly feeling nauseous for like 2 or 3 weeks now all the time. tender nipples. pee all the time which sucks b/c i messed up my bladder a few years ago from holding it in all the time so now when i have to go i HAVE TO GO. lol. anyways im afraid to buy a test.

babaydoll - 912 days ago.
my last period b4 this month was oct 24th and before this month i have been feeling pregnant, tired,frequent urinating . I am concerned now because my period came 21st Nov( that was 3days late) but not as heavy has my normal period and not as painful. This is my first time trying to get pregnant, right not i feel full (pregnant). Am i pregnant?

Emmalynandwyattsmom! - 936 days ago.
oh and as for testing if you only have one test I would say wait maybe a day or two just so your sure your period is really late because If you are wanting to be pregnant and you have been spending a lot of time thinking about it, it can make u late (or maybe thats just me) I was just like you though it always came on time and in the am.