Pregnancy Symptoms 101
Pregnancy Symptoms by Trimester

(Editor's note: Think you might be pregnant? Take our free online pregnancy test, buy an early-detection pregnancy test, or come participate in our online community!)

Different women experience pregnancy in different ways. Pregnancy symptoms may vary in intensity and duration - and some women may not experience some common pregnancy symptoms at all.

Following implantation of the egg, however, the body undergoes many changes, and the levels of several hormones increase drastically. Pregnancy symptoms typically do not appear until 1-2 weeks after you miss your period - and fetal movement is not typically detected until 16 weeks post-conception. Earliest symptoms include:

• Implantation bleeding 8-10 days after ovulation.
• An elevated BBT temperatures for 18 days.
• A missed menstrual period.
• Even before your missed period, you can test for pregnancy with early detection pregnancy tests that allow you to determine a positive result as early as 7-10 days past ovulation.

The First Trimester: Week 1 - Week 12

• Lower abdominal cramps.
• Food cravings.
• Nausea or "Morning sickness" - 3-10 weeks after conception.
• Tender, swollen breasts - 3-4 weeks after conception.
• Your nipples and the area around the nipples get darker and wider.
• Frequent urination.
• Fatigue and tiredness - 3-10 weeks after conception.
• You may have heartburn and constipation - along with headaches.
• Mood swings.

Other Early Symptoms of Pregnancy in Detail

Cravings for Particular Foods
Desiring particular or unusual types of food is a well known pregnancy symptom. About 85 percent of women report at least one food craving during pregnancy.

Implantation Cramping and Spotting
Following ovulation by 8 days, women may experience cramping and slight spotting - caused by the recent implantation of the egg in the uterine lining.

Frequent Urination
Following implantation, frequent urination is a common symptom.

Fatigue, Headaches, and Heartburn - and Morning Sickness
For many women, early symptoms of pregnancy can be a bit perturbing. Fatigue is common, as are headaches and heartburn. And then there is morning sickness - the second most well know pregnancy symptoms after "food cravings". Increases in progesterone can also cause feelings of tiredness.

Basal Body Temperature
If you are charting your Basal Body Temperature, and your BBT remains high - and continues to remain high for 15 days or more without a period - this is a clear symptom of pregnancy.

hCG Testing
Home Pregnancy Tests are available online and at your drugstore. A positive result will confirm your suspicions! Some FDA approved tests (available online) allow you to determine pregnancy as early as 7-10 days past ovulation.

The Second Trimester: Week 13 - Week 26

Here is what you can expect to experience during your second trimester.

• Weight gain - and, after 16 weeks, fetal movement!
• Dryness of the skin on the stomach. Feelings of tightness.
• Breasts become larger.
• Continued heartburn and constipation.
• Edema - or the swelling of your ankles, hands, feet, and face.
• A dark line may appear between your belly and pubic regions.

  See Also > Ovulation-Calculator's Top Ten Signs of Pregnancy

Related Topics

Pregnancy Tests
Pregnancy Test FAQ