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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.

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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

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Comments

Hi, me and my husband are tyrin for our 4th baby, i last period woz on the 14th july 2009 not like i can 4get coz it woz my weddin anniersary, i stopped takein my pill over a month ago now, i woz due on 10th aug 09, but me and my husband had sex on the 27th n the 28th of july, the 28th woz on ovultion date, i'm now bin feelin very sick, get headaches, feel tired.. cant stand the smell of food cookin, and i jus wanna eat sweet stuff all the time, now wen i woz pregnant with my 1st, i cudnt even stand the sight of my husband even cummin near me or touchin me the smell of lynx make me feel really sick, n i'm now gettin it all bk again.. i'm a smoker aswell, but now i can even smell a fag without gaggin on it n it makes me feel very sick.... Mrs G

Mrs G - Aug 12, 2009
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hi, last thrsday 6/08/09 hd unprotectd anal sex wit my gfrnd. She was supp 2 get her mens on 7/08/09. Bt she's late n stil cnt get her mens. I didnt cum inside her. Plz hlp me. I dnt no wat 2 do. Sth hap, i'l die. Evn she. I cnt get a prgnancy test. My g.frnd says she's anemic. Ya since child nw she's 19. She oftn get pblm in mens. Plzz hlp me. Wat can zis b.

Anonymous - Aug 12, 2009
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me and my fiance have been having unprotected sex. He doesnt cum inside me, but my period is 10 days away and im feeling alot of lower abdomin cramps and pressure and lots of lower back pain. I just had a baby 5 months ago. Could i be pregnant?

Anonymous - Aug 04, 2009
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my fiance and I have sex everyday (exept when im on my period). I take birth control (the pill) every day and we just recently started having unprotected sex...and I missed my period this month. Im not sure if I missed it becuase im stressed out or if im pregnant. Although for the past week I have been feeling sick (throwing up and just real nauseous). I keep getting really bad cramps on and off and I have a huge headache that just wont go away. I have been sleeping a lot lately and havent really felt like myself. I took a home pregnancy test...and it came up negative (not pregnant). Although being that I take birht control pills, my hormones arent the same - could this have affected the pregnancy test? Do I just have some type of flu or could I possibly be pregnant?!

Anonymous - Aug 03, 2009
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OKAY LAST WEEK ME AND MY FIANCE AHD UNPROTECTED SEX DURING MY OVULATION DAYS.HE DID EJACULATE IN ME TWICE AND NOW IM HAVING CRAMPS IN THE LOWER SIDE OF MY STOMACH,TIRED, AND EVERYTHING THATA I EAT SEEM TO MAKE ME NASEAUS.MY BOYFRIEND SAID HE HAD A DREAM ABOUT FISH IN WHICH I HEARD MEANS THAT SOMEONE IS PREGNANT.EVERYTHING THAT I USUALLY EAT DOESNT HAVE ANY TASTE AND THINGS THAT USED TO TASTE SOUR THAT I DIDNT REALLY LIKE NOW TASTES SO GOOD TO ME.I BE HAVING THE FEELING OF WANTING TO THROW UP BUT IT DOESNT COME OUT...COULD I BE PREGNANT

Anonymous - Aug 03, 2009
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I've had a couple "unprotected" experiences with my partner, and naturally I have suspicions. Normally I experience breast tenderness about a week BEFORe I get my period. I have been taking the mini-pill for about 4-5 months now, and I think that may be affecting my cycle significantly. Sometimes my period is early, sometimes late, and it was sometimes ON time. I tend to get worried when my period is late, of course. But I have not been experiencing my "usual" mentsrual symptoms. Could that also be a sign of pregnancy?

Anonymous - Jul 05, 2009
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First Day of Last Period:
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Ovulation:
Due Date:
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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.
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