Pregnancy Signs Before Missed Period

A missed period or a pregnancy test for detecting the hCG or human chorionic gonadotropin hormone in your urine helps determine your pregnancy status. But are you aware that our bodies too give out certain symptoms and signs of pregnancy before missing a period?

If the answer to the above question is no, then you are not the only one with this answer. Many women do not understand these pregnancy signs before missed period. The more these early signs of pregnancy before a missed period match with your symptoms the more likely that you are pregnant.

Signs of pregnancy differ in every women. Early pregnancy signs before missed period can show up within a week after fertilization and conception. Most of the time hCG test proves to be negative even if you are pregnant. This is because hCG enters the blood stream 8-10 days after fertilization and before a missed period. The detectable levels of hCG in urine reach 1-2 weeks after missing your periods. Thus, tests conducted before this time show negative results. The first signs of pregnancy before you miss your period are mentioned below.

Signs of Pregnancy before Missed Period

It is very common for any woman trying to conceive, to think of missed periods as the first sign of pregnancy. You will be surprised to know, that a missed period is not actually one of the first signs. Yes, there are many other pregnancy signs and symptoms that help you know that you have conceived. So, before you miss a period, your body has already given you different hints about an oncoming baby. Let us have a look at some of the early signs of pregnancy before a missed period.

Dip in Body Temperature
Few women actually notice their basal body temperature dip for a week or so after ovulation. After ovulation, there are high chances of impregnation and implantation. Thus, on the day of implantation one may find a drop in their body temperature. This is called 'implantation dip'.

Elevated Body Temperature
After implantation occurs, the body basal temperature may rise slightly. Thus, if you find your basal temperature remains high for over 18 days continuously without any apparent illness, you may be pregnant. A fertilized egg is implanted in the womb about 6 to 12 days after ovulation. This means it happen about 2 to 3 weeks before you miss a period. Because of this, the basal body temperature goes up to about 1º F. If this is what you experience, chances are you are pregnant.

Tender Breasts
The most early sign of pregnancy is tender, swollen breasts. This soreness of the breasts is similar to the breast pain before the start of your menstrual cycle.

Darker Areolas
The nipple area becomes darker and the bumps on the areolas become more prominent. This may be observed within a week of conceiving. It happens due to hormones in the body that are preparing the breasts for nursing the baby.

Nausea and Vomiting
One of the early signs of pregnancy before missing your period is nausea. Feeling of nausea can occur any time during the day or night. However, nausea is not always accompanied with vomiting. The increase in levels of hormones within the body causes nausea. It is important one drinks plenty of water and other healthy fluids to prevent dehydration due to vomiting.

Constipation
The intestines tend to become more relaxed due to the hormonal changes leading to constipation. A changed bowel movement is one of the first signs of pregnancy before a period is missed. If you suddenly start experiencing less than 3 bowel movements a week, blame it on your pregnancy hormones.

Fatigue
Increase in hormone progesterone will cause the body to feel excessively tired. It is one of the early signs of pregnancy before missing a period. The change in hormonal levels make you feel exhausted and sleepy. The new development occurring within your body causes complete burnout of energy. Thus, if you haven't been doing extra work lately, yet feel tired and fatigued, it may be due to an impending pregnancy.

Light Spotting
One of the pregnancy signs before missed period is light spotting. This is actually implantation bleeding. The fertilized egg burrows through the uterus lining that is rich in blood. The spotting is very light with red or pinkish or reddish-brown staining. You may observe such a staining for a day or so. If this spotting is accompanied by pain, speak to the doctor to rule out symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy.

Frequent Urination
The blood supply and other fluids in your body increase during pregnancy. This extra fluid processed by the kidneys fills up your bladder. The hormonal changes due to hCG hormone also cause frequent urination.

Cramps
As the uterus is capable of contracting; exercise, moving around and orgasms may lead to lower abdominal cramps.

Bloating of the Abdomen
The hormonal changes taking place in your body causes a bloated stomach. If your pants are getting tighter at the waist, it may be an early pregnancy sign before missed periods.

And finally, after experiencing all or most of the above pregnancy signs before missed period, if you actually miss your monthly cycle, there is a high chance that you are pregnant. Get a home pregnancy test at least one week after missing your periods. A positive result means you have conceived. Take an appointment with your doctor and get your pregnancy confirmed. Maintain a healthy diet during your pregnancy and abstain from smoking and alcohol. Wish you a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby!