Home > Am I Pregnant? > Pregnancy Symptoms

Pregnancy Symptoms

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.

Banner

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

Read More:

Comments

my boobs are really heavy and sore im so tired all the time even wen ive had my normal 8hrs have moodiness severe piercing cramps in my lower abdoman weepiness AND A CONSTANT NEED TO PEE! im not due on til the 13th so a test would show up negative as its to early could i be having early symptoms or could it be something else

Anonymous - Sep 05, 2009
Was this comment helpful?

Hi I lost my verginity about 4 mnths ago because I want to get preg but I havnt hade luck I hade sex about 10 days ago and I'm felling cramps in my left overie and I'm going pee a LOT can it b that I'm preg or is it way to soon? my mens is very off track so I realy dnt know I'm ovulating. Please some one help me out.

Jeanette - Sep 04, 2009
Was this comment helpful?

i'm 16 years of age i had sex with my bf . he linked his sperms on my belly ... there is chances of two drops getting into my vagina..... now i'm not getting my periods ..plz suggest .... is there any problem my vagina ..... or am i pregnant.........

leena - Sep 04, 2009
Was this comment helpful?

so last month on the 18th of Aug I started what I think was my period! It was light as in(same pad all day if i wanted to light) i had so cramps it stopped onth the 19th no sign of any bleeding but had cramps on the 20th started up agian same light with cramps. I was nt feeling so good brest hurt. Ever since then I have hot flashes fill sick off and on all day have a lotion dis chagre also when i wipe as well my brest hurt and have cramps. i took a test yesterday and it said neg. Was it to early to tell should I have wait tell the 16th when my period is due?

Anonymous - Sep 04, 2009
Was this comment helpful?

all this time u r using to post this you could be going to the store for a freakin prego test OMG you women r too funny!!!! so stupid.. use common sense and put togethor 1 & 2 and take a test!!!duh

Anonymous - Sep 03, 2009
Was this comment helpful?

To the girl who has missed her period for 3 months, has tender breasts & been having lower abdominal pains... take a pregnancy test! A missed period would be your 1st sign. To all the rest of you who have missed a period or who have abdominal pain! Take a test or go to the doctor to get a free test!

Anonymous - Aug 24, 2009
Was this comment helpful?

My boyfriend and i have unprotected sex and he ejaculates in me everytime. We have wanted to try for a little while now. I have always had irregular periods so its impossible to calculate ovulation and me missing a month or two is not out of the ordinary. So of course its been almost two months since my last period but lately my breasts have really been aching. Not just nipple tenderness but my whole breasts ache. Ive also have been having lower abdominal pains. But as far as morning sickness or frequent urination i have not experienced any of that. I crave sugar and i have fatigue but i dont know that its anymore than usual or if its just in my head because i could possibly be pregnant. Do you think its a long ovulation period or might i actually be pregnant this time?? Whats going on with me?

Anonymous - Aug 21, 2009
Was this comment helpful?

My boyfriend and i have unprotected sex and he ejaculates in me everytime. We have wanted to try for a little while now. I have always had irregular periods so its impossible to calculate ovulation and me missing a month or two is not out of the ordinary. So of course its been almost two months since my last period but lately my breasts have really been aching. Not just nipple tenderness but my whole breasts ache. Ive also have been having lower abdominal pains. But as far as morning sickness or frequent urination i have not experienced any of that. I crave sugar and i have fatigue but i dont know that its anymore than usual or if its just in my head because i could possibly be pregnant. Do you think its a long ovulation period or might i actually be pregnant this time?? Whats going on with me?

Anonymous - Aug 21, 2009
Was this comment helpful?

my last menses were on 10 july and this month my mense were to start on 7 but until today nothing i have no sign of pregency kindly help.

irene - Aug 14, 2009
Was this comment helpful?

If you think you might be pregnant, take an at-home test. You can get a First Response Test, for example, relatively inexpensively with 2 in a box. To the person who said his girlfriend is anemic, that will not affect the results. These tests look for the presence of a certain hormone in your urine that signals pregnancy. However, you should not use a home pregnancy test the day or even the week after you think you became pregnant because the hormone level is not high enough for the test to measure yet (so the test may be negative and you could be pregnant). It takes a couple of weeks. If the home test is positive, or if it is negative and you have other symptoms that make you think you may be pregnant, then see a doctor to be sure. In the meantime, avoid alcohol, smoking, and drugs to be on the safe side.

Anonymous - Aug 12, 2009
Was this comment helpful?

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
top
First Day of Last Period:
Cycle Length:
top
Luteal Phase Length:
top
Ovulation:
Due Date:
Fetal Age:

Note that you are most likely to get pregnant if you time your lovemaking to occur on the days right before - and on - your ovulation date. Keep in mind that the projected ovulation date above is simply a “best guess” estimate based on your cycle date information. The most accurate way to pinpoint your most fertile time is through the use of urine-based ovulation tests or with a fertility monitor. We have partnered with Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com, the Internet’s leading supplier of preconception products since 2001, to offer low-cost, FDA-approved pregnancy and ovulation tests – with free same-day shipping.

 

Now that you’ve calculated your ovulation date using our ovulation calculator, we have a number of other helpful tools you can use to help increase your chances of conceiving.

 

  • Create your own personalized ovulation calendar! You can even provide an email address so that you receive email alerts of your most fertile days, when you can begin testing for pregnancy, and more.
     

  • Create your own personalized fertility chart! This is a highly accurate way to pinpoint your ovulation date that relies primarily on basal temperature charting. (Visit Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com for an accurate, inexpensive basal thermometer.)
     

  • Connect with others at our online community! If you have questions about trying-to-conceive – or if you just want to vent a bit – we have a wonderful, vibrant community of people who’d just love to hear from you.

Find your most fertile time.
top