Could you be pregnant?! Pregnancy signs can appear as early as a few days after sexual intercourse. If you have had sex during your fertile window, had an insemination or an embryo transfer, read on as we’ve gathered some possible signs of pregnancy for you. 

Signs of pregnancy in the first weeks

Some women report that they knew they were pregnant shortly after conception while some women have no symptoms until further into the pregnancy. Either way, it’s clear that this is a very individual experience.

The symptoms mentioned here are not certain proof of pregnancy and can be caused by other factors. Alternatively, you may not notice any early pregnancy signs and still be pregnant.

Fatigue

Do you feel that you could fall asleep at any time of the day? Fatigue is one of the more common signs of early pregnancy. The cause of this fatigue is the hormone progesterone, which is secreted after the egg is fertilized to prepare your uterine lining for implantation.

Increased urge to urinate

Do you feel like you constantly have to go to the bathroom? This increased urge to urinate may be an early pregnancy sign triggered by the hormone progesterone. Progesterone, as well as the hormone estrogen, relaxes not only the uterus but also the bladder, causing an urge to urinate. In addition, the enlarging uterus can press on the urinary bladder.

Discharge

In some women, the increase in the hormone estrogen causes more vaginal discharge. This discharge can be yellowish or whitish, please be sure to contact your gynaecologist if the secretion smells strange or looks abnormal.

Nausea & Vomiting

Morning sickness and vomiting, both of which can occur during any part of the day, are one of the most common signs of early pregnancy. The reason for this is the increase of the pregnancy hormone hCG in a woman's blood. It usually occurs from the 5th to the 12th week of pregnancy and usually disappears around the 12th to 16th week of pregnancy.

Pulling and cramping in the lower abdomen

One of the very first signs of pregnancy is described as a pulling sensation and pain in the lower abdomen a few days after ovulation. This can be implantation pain, that may last for a few minutes to a few days. Unfortunately, this sign isn’t very reliable and may also be attributable to ovulation “mittelschmerz”, or the first signs of your period.

Light spotting

Some women report very light bleeding a few days after ovulation. There is a chance that this in fact may be implantation bleeding or spotting, and a very early sign that you are possibly pregnant.

Sensitive breasts

Pregnancy-related hormones in your body are slowly rising, which may lead to a feeling of tension of tingling in yourbreasts. Some women also report pain and a strong sensitivity to touch. The cause of this symptom is the increased production of the estrogen and progesterone. However, tender breasts can also simply be a premenstrual symptom.

Poor sleep

Restless and poor sleep is also in the list of possible early pregnancy signs. Changing hormonal balance may upset your sleep rhythm and is a symptom that remains with many women later into the pregnancy. A growing belly makes some sleeping positions impossible, and back problems are also not uncommon.

Cravings & hungry appetite

Cravings for certain foods are quite common in early pregnancy. You may eat in unusual patterns, consuming strange food combinations at irregular times of the day and night, in unusual quantities.

Loss of appetite

On the contrary, some women completely lose their appetite due to sickness and a new aversion to certain foods.Nevertheless, gynaecologists recommend to try taking food in smaller portions throughout the day.

Offputting smells and food

In opposition to food cravings, sudden dislike of certain foods and smells also play a role in early pregnancy. The hormonal changes lead to altered sensory perceptions. The resulting change in eating behaviour often leads to digestive problems, and constipation or diarrhea is not uncommon.

Dislike of stimulants

Some women report a metallic taste in their mouth, others suddenly feel disgusted by the taste of coffee, cigarettes or alcohol. This seems to make sense, as it protects the pregnant woman from ingesting substances that could endanger the embryo.

Constipation

More than a quarter of pregnant women unfortunately suffer from constipation, which is again caused by hormonal changes and the associated loosening of the intestinal muscles. Quite a few women also experience flatulence or, later on, haemorrhoids, which are caused by constant pressing on the toilet.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is also not uncommon in early pregnancy. The diarrhea is not caused by the hormonal change, but rather by the change in eating behaviour and an accompanying irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. Please contact your doctor if this is severe.

Mood swings, irritability

Not surprisingly, another effect of hormonal changes leads to mood swings, moodiness and increased irritability.

Pregnancy brain

Pregnant women often describe being absentminded and forgetful. It is difficult to concentrate, appointments are forgotten, things are misplaced. Some scientists see evidence of a connection between increased forgetfulness and the increase in the hormone prolactin in the blood of pregnant women.

Back pain

Back pain often does not occur until the second and third trimesters, but it can also be a pregnancy sign in early pregnancy. The changing strain on the back and abdominal muscles can lead to pain pain or cramps in the abdomen and back. The back pain is often similar in description to the discomfort immediately before and during menstruation.

Headaches

Some women report headaches during the first weeks of their pregnancy. Again, the trigger is the major hormonal changes at the beginning of pregnancy, and often the headaches are exacerbated by the constant nausea and fatigue. The good news is that they almost always go away after the first trimester is over.

Missing a period

Missing your period is a very clear indication that you may be pregnant. However, there are other possible reasons why your menstrual bleeding may not occur at the calculated time as every cycle is different.  Ovulation may have been delayed or you may have irregular cycles in general. A wide variety of conditions, such as PCOS or simply lack of sleep or stress, can also play a role.

High basal body temperature

In a woman's cycle, the body temperature changes for hormonal reasons. It rises around ovulation and then drops again with the start of the next period. If a pregnancy occurs, this basal body temperature (waking temperature) does not drop shortly before the expected period, but remains high.

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So there you have it - 20 possible early signs of pregnancy!

It’s really exciting to symptom spot and speculate but the only sure way to know whether you are pregnant is to test with an early pregnancy test or to seek advice from your gynecologist.

We’re keeping our fingers crossed for you!