Here’s to all the mums that had a different experience finding out they were pregnant! Of course, a missed period is a common indicator that you might be pregnant however for some, a missed period isn’t on the list when they got pregnant.
For every woman, symptoms of pregnancy are different. The most talked about though include fatigue and morning sickness. Often, there are similarities to pregnancy that are mimicked by menstruation and therefore the only way to know for sure whether you’re pregnant is to take a pregnancy test.
When do pregnancy symptoms start?
It’s important to remember that not every woman has the same experience during pregnancy and so having said that, the early signs can begin as early as 1 to 4 weeks. To help understand this better, here’s a breakdown of timelines some women may experience as early signs of pregnancy:
· 1 to 4 weeks: Mild cramping and spotting, which may be confused for menstrual cramps.
· 4 to 6 weeks: Breast aches, most times sore and swollen caused by change in hormones, nausea, fatigue, frequent trips to the loo for urination, bloating and motion sickness.
Remember, for some, morning sickness can happen at night. The major cause of nausea is smell sensitivity and food aversions during early pregnancy.
· 6 to 7 weeks: Mood swings and temperature changes. This may be different for some women and can occur as a result of change in levels of hormones in your body. Specifically, estrogen and progesterone.
· 8 to 10 weeks: Extreme fatigue and faster heartbeat. This again is caused by the change in hormones. To help ease your situation, try to sleep and rest as much as you can.
· 11 to 12: Noticeable weight gain which is usually common towards the end of your first trimester, acne and pregnancy glow. If you have acne prone skin but have been able to manage it, this may or may not come back during pregnancy.
Most of the symptoms mentioned above should lessen by the time you begin your second trimester. Then again, some women don’t experience all the early symptoms during pregnancy. I
It’s a different experience for every pregnancy and if you reach a point where you’re unable to cope with the symptoms and that have an effect on your day to day activities, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor or midwife to help make the experience better for you and your baby.