7 Subtle Symptoms in the First Week of Pregnancy
It is unlikely for there to be any dramatic physical symptoms of pregnancy during the very first week. However, your body is already undergoing some significant changes during those first crucial seven days, and so it’s possible to detect very subtle changes that indicate pregnancy. Look out for these seven, which are arguably the most common.
- Fatigue
This is a general symptom, so it it’s easy to assume you’re simply tired because of premenstrual tension or a particularly busy week of work. Nevertheless, if you suspect you might be pregnant, look out for lethargy as early as the first week. The extra progesterone in your system can sap your energy and leave you wanting to nap throughout the day.
- Heightened temperature
If you’ve been trying to get pregnant, you may have been monitoring your basal body temperature in the morning (in order to track your most fertile days). Once you do conceive, your temperature will remain elevated after you ovulate (rather than lowering, it would normally), making heightened temperature one of the very first signs of pregnancy.
- Tender breasts
Since your body produces so much progesterone and estrogen in the early weeks of your pregnancy, your breasts retain fluid and can feel achy as a result. They may also be heavier, and can be unpleasantly sensitive to touch.
- Increased urination
Increased urination plagues most women during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, but you can begin to need more regular bathroom breaks even just one week into your journey. Uterine swelling can put pressure on the bladder, and increased blood flow to the kidneys will stimulate more urine production.
- Digestive disturbances
You may not notice digestive changes the second week of pregnancy, but some women do report uncomfortable symptoms like flatulence, constipation and trapped wind. These issues may be especially noticeable if you have preexisting digestive sensitivities, such as those associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Headaches
If you’re prone to headaches, you may notice that more of them crop up during the early weeks of your pregnancy. This is particularly bad news if you suffer from debilitating migraines. You can blame an increase in progesterone levels again, but it’s also important monitor your fluid intake to ensure your headaches aren’t caused by dehydration. Thankfully, headaches–especially migraines–typically decrease in frequency as pregnancy continues (and especially once estrogen levels stabilize).
- Mood swings
Finally, hormone levels start shifting very quickly once you become pregnant, and so you may feel angry, apathetic or sad. Once again, however, many women experience mood swings as they approach their monthly period, and so you may not be sure whether your erratic emotions are due to premenstrual tension or pregnancy.
What little clues first made you wonder if you were pregnant? And did you notice these signs during the first week, or did it take longer for physical changes to become apparent? Be sure to let us know if you’ve experienced any other symptoms in the first week of pregnancy!
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