Look Out for These 8 Early Signs of Conception
Every pregnancy is different, but there are certain common signs of conception that occur for the majority of women in the first few weeks. After an egg is fertilized, it takes around a further six days for it to reach the uterus, and it’s usually at this point that pregnancy symptoms can first appear. Here are some of the most common, though note that using a pregnancy test is the only way to know for sure.
- Implantation bleeding and cramps
When the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall, you can experience spotting. This implantation bleeding is usually light, and may be accompanied by more white discharge than usual. Cramps can occur at this time as well, though they should not be as severe as menstrual cramps.
So-called “morning sickness” can actually occur at any time of day, and this nausea often appears early in a pregnancy. You may notice an associated change in taste–for example, previously loved foods may become intolerable, and foods that once lacked appeal may become your favorite snacks. Luckily, most women feel less nauseated by the 14th week of pregnancy!
The movement of food through your digestive tract slows during pregnancy, making constipation a common early sign of conception. You can combat this by increasing water intake, and by eating foods that rich in fiber.
- Breast changes
As your hormone levels adjust, your breasts can become achy, swollen and noticeable heavy. If you look closely, you may also see a darkening of the skin around the nipples. Some women also report a mild tingling sensation in the breast tissue.
Progesterone levels rise sharply once you become pregnant, and this can sap your energy. Further, some pregnant women suffer from low blood sugar or low blood pressure during these early weeks, and these issues can cause lethargy as well. You may notice this tiredness as early as just one week into your pregnancy.
As with tiredness, dizziness during pregnancy can sometimes develop in response to blood vessel dilation or decreased blood sugar levels. However, if you get dizzy before your period, you may be sensitive to progesterone and therefore experience similar symptoms in early pregnancy.
- Frequent urination
Frequent urination doesn’t usually start until the 6th or 8th week of pregnancy, but some women do report an increase very early after conception. As with most early signs, this change in bladder habits owes to hormonal fluctuations, but if you experience any pain then you should be tested for a UTI.
- A missed period
Finally, perhaps the most obvious early sign of conception is a missed period. A pregnancy isn’t the only cause of a missed period–and to complicate matters further, some women experience a degree of bleeding during pregnancy. However, missing a period does give you good cause to do a pregnancy test as soon as possible.
How did you first figure out you were pregnant? Did you notice some (or all) of the signs discussed above, or did you notice other subtle changes not mentioned here?
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