What are the symptoms of pregnancy?

On our main page we have discussed what the earliest signs of pregnancy are, but not everybody will necessarily be looking out for signs and symptoms of being pregnant straight away. So here we discuss just what are the symptoms of pregnancy along with providing you with information on pregnancy symptoms before a missed period, pregnancy symptoms week by week and answering one of the most frequently asked questions on the subject, 'when do pregnancy symptoms start?'. Some women will miss very early pregnancy symptoms and it can be some time until they actually realise why their body is acting in a certain way.

This page really is the all you need to know guide when it comes to the symptoms of being pregnant.

When do pregnancy symptoms start?

So when do pregnancy symptoms start, or how soon do pregnancy symptoms start? These are two very common questions with rather an ambiguous answer for those that are looking for something exact. A woman's body can work in mysterious ways and this means that there is no generic rule as to when pregnancy symptoms begin.

Although it is possible for early pregnancy symptoms to start just a couple of days following ovulation, that is not always guaranteed to be the case. Even when these very early symptoms of pregnancy do occur it is possible that they could be for a variety of other reasons. Although it is very unusual not to have any pregnancy symptoms at all early on, it is possible that the most synonymous symptoms of pregnancy such as morning sickness, may not become apparent for up to 8 weeks after ovulation. This is why it is important to recognise what all of the signs and symptoms of pregnancy are so that there is less chance of being caught unawares.

Although the first symptoms of pregnancy can occur in the first month, they will become a lot more apparent during the second month. For more information see further down the page where we have a pregnancy symptoms week by week section.

Very early pregnancy symptoms

Before we go on to discuss what all of the most common symptoms of pregnancy are, we are going to briefly cover what the very early pregnancy symptoms are that you may encounter. It would be very unusual not to experience any of these signs early on, however everybody is different and often people can put them down to something else, PMS being a common example.

In order to become pregnant you need to have unprotected sex, when we talk about very early symptoms of pregnancy we do not mean how you feel a few hours after intercourse. A basic explanation is that the female's egg is not fertilized during or immediately following sex. The egg is released from the ovary to the fallopian tube during ovulation, taking a couple of days to get down. The male sperm travels through the cervix in order to reach the egg, if one of them makes it that far then fertlization occurs. Fertilization is most likely to occur when a woman has unprotected sex during the six days before ovulation. However, a further six to twelve days will pass before implantation in the uterus occurs. This means that you are not going to experience the first symptoms of pregnancy right after conception. If and when you do begin to experience symptoms, it is usually advised to wait until after your first missed period to take a test, as this is when your body will have produced a larger amount of the HCG hormone, which will determine the outcome of the test.

Here are a list of very early pregnancy symptoms:

• Missing your period
• Morning sickness
• Mood swings
• Passing urine more frequently
• Feeling more tired than usual
• Spotting
• Cramps
• Sensitive nipples
• A change in how your breasts look and feel
• Headaches
• Bloating

If you experience any of these early signs of pregnancy then you should consider taking a home pregnancy test or speaking to your doctor in order to arrange for one to be done through them. For more in depth information on the earliest signs of pregnancy please see our main page.

Early Pregnancy symptoms before missed period

For the majority of women the first symptom of pregnancy is missing a period, but many people will ask 'what are early pregnancy symptoms before a missed period?'. This may be because they know that there is a chance that they are pregnant, or that their body feels different and they have experienced some unusual symptoms.

You know your body better than anyone else so if you are feeling 'different' and you recognise that there is a chance that you could be pregnant because you have had unprotected sex, then it is wise to look up what early pregnancy symptoms before a missed period are.

Although you may be able to relate to one or several of the early symptoms of pregnancy in the above list, that does not necessarily mean that you are pregnant. It is not possible to make a self-diagnosis simply because it is possible that these symptoms are related to a number of other things such as PMS. The best thing that you can do is find out when to take a pregnancy test.

What are the symptoms of pregnancy? - Pregnancy symptoms week by week

In this next section we are going to talk about what pregnancy symptoms week by week are, covering the typical symptoms and changes that you will be experiencing throughout the pregnancy. We are going to break this down into months to keep it simple from the pregnancy symptoms early on right through to the ones that may be experienced right before the birth. When people ask 'what are the symptoms of pregnancy?' they do not necessarily mean the first ones.

The first month - Pregnancy symptoms weeks 1 to 4

This is what we have mainly covered on this page prior to this section, the early symptoms of pregnancy during weeks 1 through to 4. Pregnancy symptoms early on will include:

As we have said it is likely that one of these signs of being pregnant will be noticed early on, however following these there are many other things that you will soon begin to experience to signify that you are pregnant. We hope you find out pregnancy week by week guide of the symptoms useful.

The second month - Pregnancy symptoms weeks 5 to 8

During the second month of pregnancy is when the symptoms will become much more apparent. If you have not noticed any early pregnancy symptoms during the first month then you surely will during the second. Week 5 pregnancy symptoms through to week 8 will include the following:

• Breasts feeling sensitive
• Heart burn
• Sickness
• Tiredness
• Urinating more frequently

The third month - Pregnancy symptoms weeks 9 to 12

It is unlikely that you will experience any new pregnancy symptoms in the third month, however the ones that have already affected you will carry on and may even become more prominent so be prepared! Commonly you may experience:

• Your breasts will be noticeably enlarging
• Your nipples may become darker as they too get bigger
• This may be where you start to experience slight weight gain.

The fourth month - Pregnancy symptoms weeks 13 to 16

Now you are really into your pregnancy some of the initial pregnancy symptoms become less of a hassle. However, there are a few more irritating signs of pregnancy that pop up. Your body is going through some pretty serious changes at this point and this prompts increased blood flow that can lead to the following:

• Bleeding gums
• Blocked up nose like you have a cold
• Feeling dizzy
• Nosebleeds
  

Other symptoms that you may find are:

• Breathing difficulties
• Constipation
• Heartburn
• Soreness of the breasts as they continue to get bigger

The fifth month - Pregnancy symptoms weeks 17 to 20

This is pretty much the half way stage in your pregnancy and the symptoms of being pregnant that you are likely to experience here are a continuation of the fourth months. In addition to these it is possible for you to begin to feel movement.

The sixth month - Pregnancy symptoms weeks 21 to 24

The last two month's symptoms of being pregnant will continue in the sixth month. What may also occur is:

• Production of colostrum - early milk from the breasts
• Mini contractions - The body is kind of getting ready for labor and this can feel like abdominal squeezing. There is no need to worry the baby is not coming it is jut the body's way of preparing and these are not painful, unlike the real ones unfortunately.

The seventh month - Pregnancy symptoms weeks 25 to 28

Not long to go now! During the seventh month of pregnancy it is likely that early symptoms will continue to be a factor. One other pregnancy symptom that you may find beginning here is:

• Back pains

The eighth month - Pregnancy symptoms weeks 29 to 32

During the eighth month of pregnancy some of the stresses and strains of the process will begin to show. Be prepared for:

• Constipation
• Continued breathing difficulties
• Continued mini contractions that feel like abdominal squeezing, these are actually known as 'Braxton-Hicks contractions'
• Heartburn
• Hemorrhoids
• Increased tiredness
• Stretchmarks - Sadly ladies these are almost unavoidable
• Urination when straining your body by laughing, coughing or sneezing
• Varicose veins on your legs

The ninth month - Pregnancy symptoms weeks 33 to 36

With the baby almost being ready to be introduced to the world, this is the period where the most strain is being placed upon you. Earlier pregnancy symptoms that we have mentioned will continue, most commonly you though you will experience:

• Back pains
• Breathing difficulties
• Difficulty sleeping
• Increased tiredness
• Increased urination and difficulty in holding it in
• Stretch marks - To find out how to get rid of these after pregnancy please see our dedicated page
• Varicose veins

The good news is that it is almost over though as the week by week pregnancy symptoms draw towards a close

The tenth month - Pregnancy symptoms weeks 37 to 40

This is the end of the pregnancy where you will finally be giving birth and meeting your new born baby, or babies as the case may be. The symptoms of being pregnant can differ here depending on when the fetus drops to the bottom of the uterus. Some of the earlier symptoms that have been present for months such as heartburn, breathing difficulties and constipation may begin to subside.

• Increased urination and trouble holding it due to the position of the fetus.
• The cervix will begin to dilate in order to get ready for the birth, this may happen a few weeks before the actual birth though, or even just as you go into labor. This will cause vaginal pain.

You are now a mum!

The above is a general example of the symptoms of pregnancy week by week, and is meant to act as a guide. It is always advisable to speak to your doctor or health care professional to talk you through what to expect during your pregnancy.

Find out more than symptoms of being pregnant

We trust that this page has been able to enlighten you as to what the symptoms of pregnancy are as well as what very early pregnancy symptoms you should be looking out for. It may not be easy for a first time mother to recognise the symptoms of being pregnant but hopefully this page, and furthermore this whole site, can be of assistance to helping you along the way. Besides the information on this page regarding pregnancy symptoms week by week and pregnancy symptoms before a missed period, we also have a wealth of information on when to take a pregnancy test and what the earliest signs of pregnancy are.