once we decide we're ready to be pregnant most of us are ready to be pregnant now. suddenly we're much more aware of our cycles and our bodies. we chart our ovulation carefully we time our bd and then we wait — which is the hardest part. we watch for any symptoms that might indicate pregnancy and with every pang or every woozy feeling we think "is that a symptom? " to talk a little about the science of symptoms… most current pregnancy tests are based on the presence of a chemical called human chorionic gonadotropin (hcg). although this chemical is present very early the pregnancy has to connect with your blood system before it can be detected and before you would expect your body to have any symptoms of pregnancy. this connection is made with implantation which occurs 8-10 days after conception. so symptoms (and a positive pregnancy test) might occur a few days before you actually miss your period. breast changes: there can be a dramatic increase in breast volume early in pregnancy resulting in breast tenderness tingling or noticeable increase in size. this symptom can happen days before you miss your period. nausea and vomiting: this symptom tends to happen a little later than the breast changes but definitely in the first trimester. it generally happens around the time of your missed period or slightly later (4-6 weeks pregnant) and resolves around 14-16 weeks of your pregnancy. it has been called morning sickness but actually is present throughout the day. fatigue: it can be dramatic through the first trimester but doesn't usually show up before you've missed your period. pelvic cramping: many women complain of cramping in early pregnancy. they usually describe it as feeling "like my period is about to start. " it can last for weeks but usually remains more of a background nuisance discomfort than real pain. although it is a very common normal symptom you should discuss any pelvic pain in early pregnancy with your physician because it can sometimes be a warning sign of a dangerous medical condition. bleeding: this is a scary one! many normal pregnancies can have light bleeding with implantation. but when you tell us about bleeding we're worried about the same thing you're worried about could this be a miscarriage. fortunately we can usually sort things out fairly quickly and put everyone's mind at ease. although it's a very common "normal" symptom it's another symptom that is sometimes a warning sign of a dangerous medical condition so be sure to tell your physician about any unexpected bleeding. of all of the symptoms listed above breast changes are really the only symptoms that usually occur before you've missed a period. but of course as human beings we have not only the "science" of symptoms to consider but the emotional component as well — after all deciding to get pregnant is an emotional decision. so the tricky part for most women is that we can sometimes experience some of these symptoms — or think we are experiencing the symptoms — but we're not pregnant at all. quite an emotional rollercoaster to ride month after month! **to re-emphasize: the symptoms listed above can be symptoms of pregnancy but they can also be symptoms of other medical conditions — please see your doctor if you experience these symptoms. **
what are some pregnancy symptoms?