15 Signs of Early Pregnancy Before a Missed Period
Think you're pregnant? Signs of early pregnancy can help new parents tell if they're pregnant without taking a test.
So what exactly are signs of early pregnancy? And how are they any different than what you might normally experience days before you get your period. Can you tell the difference? This post hopes to explain just that.
15 Signs of Early Pregnancy That You May Have Overlooked
The following are 15 signs of early pregnancy I have personally experienced in my pregnancies. Very early pregnancy is defined as 3 weeks pregnant until 5 weeks pregnant, more specifically the week after conception up until a positive pregnancy test.
1. Waking at Night to Pee
Before I was able to get a positive pregnancy test I found myself waking up at night to go pee. I had no idea I was pregnant so I was completely oblivious that waking up had anything to do with pregnancy. I was so frustrated I couldn't "sleep through the night"! This could be because the body is starting to process more fluids than usual, or shifting hormones.
2. Intense Dreams
Did you know crazy dreams are a common part of pregnancy? For me, intense dreams (ahem... sex dreams) can start in early pregnancy. This may be the best symptom of all. 😉
Some women, however, may have emotionally intense dreams in lieu of sex dreams. Either way, they all seem very real and vivid!
3. Insomnia
Unfortunately, insomnia is another sign of early pregnancy. I hate insomnia! There is nothing worse than being awake in the middle of the night, tired, but unable to fall back asleep. In fact, I remember a time I was awake from 1:30 am to 5:00 wishing to be asleep! Ugh.
TIP: If you're hoping to get some sleep when pregnant try cutting out caffeine (or limiting it to before 11 am), blacking out your bedroom at night, removing electronics from the bedroom, and even daily exercise. If none of those work, just know that it won't last forever.
4. Round Ligament Discomfort
Technically, this is a pregnancy symptom that typically arrives in the second trimester, but for me it is a very early pregnancy symptom. I wouldn't call it round ligament pain, as it's typically called, but discomfort. The time I felt this most was when I was turning from side to side or rolling out of bed.
TIP: A gentle flow yoga practice is a good way to combat this symptom.
5. Hip Joint Discomfort
Again, hip and joint discomfort is typically a symptom women experience later in pregnancy, however, I feel slight discomfort in my hips when I am newly pregnant.
The only idea I have as to why I feel this so early is because of the hormone released called relaxin. Relaxin is a hormone our body creates that prepares our joints for birth by making them all loosey goosey.
Again, a good yoga practice would be amazingly helpful. Yoga is great for the hips and other joints!
6. Spotting
Spotting can be one of the most confusing signs of early pregnancy because spotting is normal right before you get your period too! Spotting could be the beginning of your period, it could also be implantation spotting, or it could also be a sign of miscarriage.
If you've already missed your period and are continuing to spot, it's easy to become concerned. However, spotting in and of itself is not a reason to assume the worst. In fact, I have two children and have had three miscarriages and in every pregnancy I've bleed or spotted. For me spotting was not a predictor of a sustainable pregnancy.
7. Cramping
Cramping, just like spotting, can also be one of the more confusing early signs of pregnancy. Feelings of cramping right before and during your period are typical, so again, in and of itself cramping is not a clear pregnancy symptom.
However, when I have been pregnant I have had cramping every time. Once a pregnancy is confirmed I always found myself visualizing a tiny baby burrowing in my uterus making all the cramping happen.
8. Dizziness
For me, dizziness and early pregnancy always go hand in hand. The dizziness I felt was very slight and nothing too dramatic, but I always felt it.
I chalk the dizziness up to blood pressure changes, dehydration, and hormonal shifts. Even if I didn't take a pregnancy test, the dizziness was always a clear symptom for me as I felt it as early as 4 weeks pregnant.
9. Moodiness
Are you feeling like everything is terrible and nothing will ever change? Crying, mood swings, and irritability can all be very early pregnancy symptoms.
TIP: Make sure to go to bed at a decent time, eat, drink and take life one step at a time. Just know, things will be a little better tomorrow morning.
10. Fatigue
Falling asleep in your car on your lunch break? Coming home from work and can't get off the couch? Waking up in the morning feeling like you didn't get any sleep? Yeah... making a person is exhausting and can also cause one of the toughest parts of pregnancy.
Here are some ideas to combat pregnancy fatigue.
- If you can, take a nap in the afternoon.
- Keep a regular schedule and go to bed at the same (reasonable) time every night.
- Try not to drink a lot of water right before you go to sleep because waking to use the bathroom all night long will only add to your fatigue!
11. Breast Tenderness
Many women notice breast tenderness soon after conception. This is due to the hormonal fluctuations required to sustain a pregnancy.
Some women notice an increase in breast size, color changes of the nipple and/or areola, and even an appearance of blue veins. If you are noticing these symptoms you might be pregnant!
12. Increased Sense of Smell
Another sign is an increased sense of smell. I have a friend that started smelling odd things like burning dust on a lightbulb. She thought it was so strange to smell such a thing, and even asked her husband if he could smell it too. He couldn't. Turns out she was pregnant!
13. Elevated Basal Body Temperature
Some women keep track of their cycles and fertility by "charting" and monitoring slight temperature fluctuations with a sensitive thermometer. After ovulation the body's basal temperature increases by one degree or so, which if sustained over a period of a few days shows a thermal shift or an elevated basal body temperature. If this temperature stays elevated even past when you were supposed to get your period, you're probably pregnant!
14. Missed Period
Missing your period may be one of the most obvious very early pregnancy symptoms. However, it's typically only obvious to women who have very reliable and regular menstrual cycles. If you're anything like me, the days in any given cycle are all over the place.
The only way I know if I will be "late" is by adding 12 days (the number of days in my luteal phase, which is the portion of your cycle after you ovulate until right before you get your period) to the date I ovulated. This is the only way I know how to predict when I'm going to get my period. If I don't get my period by then, then I might be pregnant!
15. Positive Pregnancy Test
Last but certainly not least, a pregnancy test is the mother of all early signs of pregnancy (and the most obvious!). I know women who have seen positive pregnancy tests as early as 7 days past ovulation. Personally, I was only successful at a positive pregnancy test at 11 maybe 10 days past ovulation.
Curious as to what my favorite pregnancy test is? It's THIS ONE. A close runner up are these cheap pregnancy tests on Amazon!
Recap!
Just to re-cap, these are signs of early pregnancy that you may have overlooked.
- Waking at Night to Pee
- Intense Dreams
- Insomnia
- Round Ligament Discomfort
- Hip Joint Discomfort
- Spotting
- Cramping
- Dizziness
- Moodiness
- Fatigue
- Breast Tenderness
- Increased Sense of Smell
- Elevated Basal Body Temperature
- Missed Period
- Positive Pregnancy Test
Want More?
Make sure to check out Mother Rising's first trimester archives, for more articles about the very beginning of pregnancy!
Check out the morning sickness archives, one of the most challenging parts of early pregnancy!
My very early pregnancy symptoms are uterine cramping, bleeding, tender breasts, nausea during teeth brushing and other random times, and fatigue. The earliest symptom is definitely fatigue. It's crazy how such a tiny thing can have such a huge effect on your body.
I have been tired like nobodys business. My breastsare tender and very sore. I have the hip thing but it comes and goes. I have been emotional the past days. I suffer some constipation. I have not yet tested im waiting for My peruods to come and then i will test. I burp a lot. I wake up in the morning tired. Could I be pregnant?
Where you pregnant
Hi l had unprotected sex on the 19th of last month and l was ovulating, lm having cramping, my lower stomach hurts,hips,cant sleep,l feel weak,cant get comfortable, breasts hurts even to shower,my stomach is bloated and farting alot,l feel full,l was due my period on the yesterday l saw brown blood so l was thinking my period was coming, then the blood was dark and then it stopped l didnt need to use pads or tampons in the morning went toliet wiped it was dark blood not so heavy but the cramping is so bad and my hips,l have so much pressure in my pelvis, but when l have my period l only have cramping and back pain not like this,it doesn't feel like a period, l have done 3 pregnancy test all negative, can spotting become heavy like a period, lm going toilet more it wakes me up which never happens to me,can anyone help,whence period does come my stomach goes down it's still bloated, has anybody had spotting heavy like a period.
I’ve been having cramps, light headache, getting dizzy, and sore back pains. And hate the tests of my favourite food, I’ve been going to the toilet more often but have negative uirn test and blood test.
Me too, but I had my period on the 20th.. And finished early & I've been falling asleep almost every 50 minutes & been having really bad headaches...what do u think? Is there a possibility that I might be pregnant?
Did you find out if you're pregnant?
We’re u pregnant?!
I had tender breasts and cravings. I was never full. My sense of smell was ON POINT but mostly tender boobs. ( I was an a AA so breast pain wasn't something I've EVER experienced since breast buds when I was developing as a teenager) lol. Cravings were ridiculous. things I'd never eaten I wanted.
With baby 1: hip pain/back pain/kidney pain. I couldn't really pinpoint where it was coming from, but it was certainly there and uncomfortable.
Baby 2: dizziness and spotting.
Did you ever feel like you was starving even after you've ate?
It's like a hunger/ growling feeling, but you aren't really hungry.
I've been experiencing this, but I'm not sure on what to think and it's still too early to take a test. But stressing is the only thing I can do, this feels like it's taking an life time to find out if I am or not.
When I was pregnant I felt hungry after eating. I could have a sandwich and be starving not even an hour later as if I had never eaten. I thought I may be pregnant with twins because it was so bad and happened often. I wasn’t and it was my first pregnancy. I figured since this was new to me if felt extreme.
Number 14. No kidding?
The first sign of my second pregnancy was mild spotting. Used a home pregnancy test but it came out negative. Tried a few more after a few days still nothing. Frustrated, I went to my doctor and confirmed that I was pregnant...
I'm 10 days late with my period and I'm never late.I had spotting a week before my period was due which lasted 4 days,took 2 pregnancy tests both negative.
You should definitely see your OBGYN and have them do a test for you.
How did he confirm it was positive ?
I thought I was pregnant. I had implantation bleeding 6 days after ovulation and my period didn't start when it should've. My period, or lack thereof, started a week later than it should've and it only lasted 2.5 days. I literally had no cramps and I usually have terrible cramps and would bleed for 5 days, not 2.5 days. It was mainly dark brown. TMI warning- I masterbated yesterday and today (10 days after my period was suppose to start) and I got mild cramps during climax. I read that could be an early signs of pregnancy too. All my hpt are negative. Blood test neg. I'm tired all the time, no sore breasts. I'm just lost.
I hope you find some answers soon!
You should get your AMH leaves tested, or at least your FSH levels. You could be start menopause.
I had every symptom u have it might be your thyroid im so SERIOUS
Many symptoms mentioned are similar to those of period as mentioned in period or pregnancy... For example, cramping, dizziness, fatigue are all signs that the period may come.
As such, I think it will be better for women to perform a pregnancy test to confirm once the period is delayed. Do you agree?
No, I did not have any intense dreams during the first pregnancy. I slept well. But, when my baby was 7 weeks of pregnancy, I had to pee a lot of time at night. This interrupted my sleep. Hic!
My name is sherley and I did sex on my ovulation day and i didn't see my periods last month and I took home pregnancy test twice and results are all negative, last night I experienced severe lower back pain and cramps like periods pains and the following morning I saw brownish on my panty whole day but now it has stopped could I be pregnant?
I'm just curious, so were you pregnant? I am having the exact same symptoms.
The same as me...wonder what’s happening??
I have insomnia and mood swings. My left boob is getting bigger. I could be going by ovulation.but a week pregnant but it's like I almost am 100% am.
I'll keep you posted. Oh. I'm kinda like blahh too and tired and I can put down food. Pee more as well.
I had sex last Tuesday. Since then I have noticed pressure like someone is sitting on my bladder. I've been nauseated off and on and throwing up. My breast feel larger and I've noticed veins in areas I didn't have veins before. Thinking of certain foods makes me sick but I'm constantly hungry after I eat. I've been peeing like crazy, my hips and lower back ache. I've had cramps in my abdomen, and my breasts hurt. I'm deep red almost purple down below and extremely wet too. I've been dizzy and have had headaches. I'm exhausted most of the time and have had some pretty bad nightmares. Which all of this has never happened before my period. I hardly ever have any symptoms of cramping or anything else before my period. I know my mind is not playing tricks on me, or is it?
I had sex 3 days after ovulation And the week before my period we also had sex like 2 or 3 times that week & my boyfriend nutted in me all times and my period came on the next week the first day on my period we had sex again and he nutted in me.. my period is a little heavier now but IM EXTREMELY TIRED , Dizzy , & having headaches more than usual as if I'm pregnant also with mild cramping ..... can I be pregnant ? Should I check the next month to see if my period doesn't comes
So do you know if your pregnant?
I always have such a hard time with these lists -- Every month I get pretty much every single one of these as PMS (minus the late period and positive HPT obviously). I just wish there was at least ONE sign that wasn't also a PMS sign and was entirely exclusive to pregnancy that didn't make me wait 2 weeks every single month. TTC is so hard and frustrating and I wish I'd known it was going to take so long -- I wouldn't have spent years of my life trying NOT to get pregnant. Maybe we'd be pregnant by now. 🙁
I'm sorry. It's so hard to want to be pregnant and not be pregnant. I've been there and I get it. He's in the waiting...
Same here with the PMS issues.
I had sex on the night of ovulation, my boyfriend came inside me. I stood up and most of it ran out. Now, Tuesday coming I'm expecting my period. But lately I felt really irritated and I am eating a lot and it seems as if my belly can't full. I woke up in the night to use the bathroom and I experienced a mild back pain I ignored it, then I realized that I couldn't sleep trying to find a perfect spot. I finally fell asleep and woke up in the morning the back pain was unbearable I couldn't take it any more. I went back to sleep now I'm up and this time the pain is on the left side of my lower back and I'm farting a lot. Could I be pregnant?
yes double sure
So I've had this yeast infection for a few days now (gross I know but it's relevant), which I think is almost gone. I read that they are common during pregnancy because of a rise in estrogen levels which can produce more yeast. Now, if it was just a yeast infection that I got I wouldn't think anything of it but there's more. A day before I noticed the infection I felt nauseous and warm like my blood pressure was rising which caused me to actually leave a work meeting early. I asked a coworker to feel my head and she said I just felt "flushed" and I was sure I was coming down with something. The next day my nausea was gone but I had this yeast infection. For the past several days I've been not only battling this infection but nausea, really intense heartburn and lack of appetite (I'm hungry all the time but for some reason nothing tastes good). I'm also one that thinks I might be pregnant every month so I really try not to freak out but there's one symptom that is strange for me that I've never before experienced. Lately, I've been waking up at very odd hours of the morning. Sometimes to pee but not always. I woke up yesterday at 4:30am and was just like "I'm awake now! La-de-da!" This is strange because I'm really not a morning person. It takes a lot to get me up and moving before 10am (on a day I don't work). Also my vagina feels really tight and my vulva feels swollen (though this could just be the yeast infection).
I want to know if I'm pregnant but I don't know if it's too early to tell. My periods are never regular. They fluctuate usually anywhere between the 20th and the end of the month. Last month I think I got my period around the 26th or 27th. So I'm expecting it any day now. Do any of these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? Advice? How long should I wait to take the test since my periods fluctuate so much?
Were you pregnant
Someone please help me.. Me and my boyfriend had sex on my ovulation day, he nutted in side me, two days later we did it again nd again the next day with him nutting inside me, i am going on day 11 with no period, I have taken test nd they come back negative. My left boob is so huge nd hurts so bad my hips nd lower back are bugging me to the point I can't sleep, I love pizza nd bread stick oh so yummy walked into a gas station that sold pizza nd I had to walk out nd throw up. I can eat and eat nd still feel like I haven't had a thing to eat all day.. im to the point I'm ready to scream. I'm so lost I don't know what to do. Do you think maybe I could be pregnant?
A pregnancy test would help. I bet they sell them at gas stations! The dollar tree has them too, usually in the checkout lane.
Just wondering, are you pregnant? From experience it sounds like you are, and if so, congratulations, and good luck