Early Signs & Symptoms

A missed menstrual period is the most obvious sign of pregnancy. Other early signs and symptoms of pregnancy include:

• Tender, swollen breasts: Sensitive, sore breasts, caused by increasing hormone levels, are an early sign of pregnancy. The soreness may feel like a more intense version of how your breasts feel before your menstrual period. The pain and discomfort should decrease after the first few weeks, as your body adjusts to the hormonal changes.
• Frequent urination: During pregnancy, the amount of blood and fluids in your body increases. Your kidneys then process the extra fluid and it ends up in your bladder.
• Nausea or vomiting: Most women do not experience nausea or vomiting until about one month after becoming pregnant. However, some women do feel nauseous earlier, while others never experience it all.
• Fatigue: Fatigue is a common symptom of early pregnancy. You should start to feel more energetic once you enter your second trimester. Fatigue usually returns late in pregnancy, when you’re carrying around more weight and the common discomforts of pregnancy make it more difficult to get a good night’s sleep.
• Moodiness: You may notice that your emotions are up one moment and down the next. Mood swings are normal during this time.
• Bloating: Hormonal changes in early pregnancy may leave you feeling bloated, similar to the feeling some women have just before their menstrual periods. Bloating may cause your clothes to fit tighter around the waistline, even early on when your uterus is still quite small.