Pregnancy can affect women in different ways, and pregnancy symptoms often vary depending on the woman and depending on the pregnancy. If you think you might be pregnant, here you’ll find some of the most common pregnancy symptoms.
Typical Early Symptoms of Pregnancy
Missed Period
The most commonly reported first symptom of pregnancy is a missed period. If a week or longer has passed since your last period, you could be pregnant. However, if you have an irregular cycle or do not track your menstrual period, this sign can be misleading.
Nausea
Nausea, often referred to as morning sickness, is the second most commonly reported early pregnancy symptom. Most pregnant women experience this somewhere on the scale between mild and severe. This symptom of pregnancy typically appears during the second and eighth week after conception.
Breast Tenderness
After missed period and nausea, breast tenderness is the third most commonly reported early symptom of pregnancy. Swelling or sensitivity in breasts can start as early as one to two weeks following conception.
Fatigue
Fatigue is another commonly reported early pregnancy symptom. Pregnancy creates a number of hormonal changes, like the increased release of progesterone. This particular hormone can cause fatigue or increased tiredness.
Other Commonly Reported Pregnancy Symptoms
While the above listed are most commonly reported first signs of pregnancy, they don’t include all of the possible signs. Other common pregnancy symptoms include:
- Spotting
- Backaches
- Headaches
- Frequent Urination
- Darkening of Nipples
- Food Cravings or Food Aversions
- Dizziness
Unfortunately, none of these symptoms are solely related to pregnancy. Which means that, even though there are a number of symptoms related to pregnancy, the only way to know for sure if you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test.