Early Pregnancy Symptoms Before Missed Period

There are certain early pregnancy symptoms before missed period. Keeping an eye out for these vital signs could help detect pregnancy within the first two weeks after conception. So before you grab that home pregnancy testing kit, read all about these early pregnancy symptoms before missed period.
Early Pregnancy Symptoms Before Missed Period
Pregnancy is an exciting and important time in the life of a woman. Most women plan out their pregnancy meticulously, like going on diets to help prepare the body by taking calcium and vitamin supplements. However, sometimes women may have doubts on whether they're pregnant or not, and this may trigger off a panic attack of sorts. In those cases, there are certain early pregnancy symptoms before missed period which one can lookout for when in doubt.

Although getting a home pregnancy testing kit makes sense, it always helps to check for these early pregnancy symptoms before missed period. These earliest possible signs of pregnancy may vary from person to person, and most women experience only a few of them at a time. It all depends on the hormonal state of a woman at that time. These early pregnancy symptoms before missed period can often be vital indicators towards pregnancy, especially if a person happens to be traveling or is not a position to procure a pregnancy home testing kit.

Early Pregnancy Symptoms Before Missed Period
  • A slight but sudden dip in body temperature is normally seen on the day implantation takes place. This is a one of the relatively common early pregnancy symptoms before missed period.
  • There maybe lower abdominal cramps (which are also called 'implantation cramps') seen in certain cases.
  • Sporadic bleeding maybe seen, in the form of slight pink or brown staining a week or two after implantation. This is called implantation bleeding. Know more on symptoms of implantation bleeding.
  • Morning sickness is one of the most common early pregnancy symptoms before missed period. It may manifest itself quite early on, in the form of nausea, which occurs immediately after or before meals, or at anytime of the day. More on signs of morning sickness.
  • Fatigue, tiredness, lethargy or even exhaustion symptoms may set in three weeks after conception.
  • One of the more common and universal early pregnancy symptoms before missed period is frequent urination. A woman might feel the need to relieve herself every two or three hours. Read more on pregnancy signs before missed period.
  • Food cravings are often seen in pregnant women. These may set in earlier on, like within the first month of pregnancy.
  • Mood swings are synonymous with pregnancy. Irritability and difficulty in concentrating may become a mainstay during the first few weeks of pregnancy.
  • Changes to the breast is one of the most common early pregnancy symptoms before missed period. This includes nipple or breast tenderness or breast pain that may occur during the first few weeks after conception. The breasts may seem larger and swollen. The nipples maybe sore, and there is often darkening of areola seen in most cases. Read more on breast pain during pregnancy.
  • Some women may feel extremely thirsty during the first few weeks. This maybe aggravated by frequent urination.
  • Some women experience nausea, while some develop a voracious appetite as one of the early pregnancy symptoms before missed period.
  • In some cases, women may experience indigestion, constipation and loss of appetite, coupled with nausea.
  • Lower back pain normally doesn't set in till the second month or so, but some women may experience lower back pain.
  • Some women might experience headaches.
  • Sometimes, women may experience severe heartburn, which may aggravate the nausea. In such cases, women tend to avoid eating spicy food.
A woman may experience some of these early pregnancy symptoms before missed period even before, or during her normal menstrual period. Also, most of these symptoms may, or may not appear in all women. Some women may experience them so often during normal menstruation, that they may not take them seriously. Hence, the only way to ensure whether a woman is pregnant or not is by taking the pregnancy test for hCG hormone. This is the only reliable way of checking for pregnancy. However, these early pregnancy symptoms before missed period maybe a few pointers to lookout for, so that you know that a bundle of joy is on its way!

By Dr. Sumaiya Khan
Published: 9/23/2009
 
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