Early pregnancy symptoms can be difficult to recognize and understand for first-time mothers. In fact, most women are under the impression that the first sign of early pregnancy is their missed period. However, plenty of other minor signs are often overlooked as potential early signs of pregnancy (before your missed period).

Today, we will take a look at some of the more common signs of pregnancy in the first trimester while also looking at some unusual early pregnancy symptoms as a checklist, so you know what to look for if you are trying to get pregnant.

Early Signs of Pregnancy Checklist

So to be clear, there is only one official way to confirm your pregnancy and that is with your doctor. But as we mentioned, there are some subtle ways that your body might be letting you know that there is a “bun in your oven” before you miss your period or take a pregnancy test.

Pregnancy symptoms can sometimes be very subtle, causing some women to mistake them for just plain tiredness or even premenstrual symptoms. With that being said, early pregnancy symptoms can start at different times for different women. And some symptoms are more common than others.

Here are some of the more commonly reported early pregnancy symptoms that most people know to look out for:

• Swollen, enlarged, tender breasts – Due to hormonal changes in your body, enlarged breasts that are swollen or tender can be a very common sign of early pregnancy. 
• Increased urination – You might find yourself urinating more often than usual if you are pregnant. This happens because the amount of blood in your body increases during pregnancy, and your kidneys need to process the extra fluid that ends up in the bladder.
• Fatigue – One of the most commonly reported early signs of pregnancy in women is tiredness and fatigue.
• Morning sickness – Perhaps one of the most well-known early signs of pregnancy is morning sickness. Although nausea can occur at any time of day (with or without vomiting), it is most common in the morning. Although the exact cause is unknown, it is likely that hormonal changes play a role.

Uncommon or Unusual Early Pregnancy Signs Checklist

Now that we have discussed some of the more common early signs of pregnancy that some women may experience, let’s go over some of the weird or uncommon symptoms that no one really talks about. It’s important to understand some of these signs so you know what to look for if you are trying to get pregnant. Instead of waiting for your missed period, here are some unusual early pregnancy symptoms as a checklist, so you can stay aware of what’s going on in your body:

• Spotting or “False” Periods – Although this doesn’t happen to everyone, one of the earliest signs of pregnancy can be light and sporadic spotting before a woman’s first missed period. 
• Moodswings – If you feel unusually emotional in the days following unprotected sex, it could be one of the first signs that you are pregnant. The body experiences a flood of hormones after the sperm meets the egg and this can cause you to feel moody, weepy, or overly emotional. 
• Bloating –  Most women experience bloating in the days leading up to their period, but early signs of pregnancy can include bloating as soon as a week after conception. This is due to hormonal changes, and although it’s a more unusual symptom for early pregnancy, if it is caught early on (since the timing would be different than a normal PMS symptom) it could be one of the first indicators of pregnancy. 
• Discharge – While vaginal discharge can be very common in women at any given time, it can be an early sign of pregnancy. During the first trimester, many women report sticky, white or yellowish discharge due to the increased hormones. The discharge may appear in conjunction with some of the other mentioned symptoms and can be an early sign (before your missed period) that you are in fact pregnant.
• Headaches – If you don’t usually get headaches often and then you notice an increase in headaches after having unprotected intercourse, it can also be a sign of hormonal and blood volume changes associated with pregnancy. 
• Constipation – Another early sign of pregnancy that isn’t talked about enough is constipation. You know your body more than anyone, so if you are a fairly “regular” person, then having issues in the bathroom may be something that you notice right away. The reason why your digestive system will slow down and cause constipation is because of the hormonal changes that your body is experiencing.
• Tasting Metal – This is definitely one of the more unusual symptoms of early pregnancy and although not all women experience it, it can be very common in the days before a missed period. As your estrogen and progesterone levels increase, your taste buds can change significantly, and some women report tasting a metallic flavor.

Takeaway

The early signs and symptoms of pregnancy can be difficult to differentiate from the everyday discomforts of a woman’s normal cycle. The first trimester, especially, is hard to pinpoint because of the similarities between the symptoms and side effects of pregnancy and those of premenstrual syndrome. And if you have irregular cycles, spotting can be mistaken as menstruation until it turns thick and brown. If you think you are pregnant, pay attention to signals in your body for several days and hopefully, this checklist helps you to keep track of common and unusual early pregnancy symptoms.

Once a medical professional has confirmed that you are pregnant, it is never too early to start planning for your newborn’s future. One of the best ways to protect your newborn and family is by preserving the stem cells found in the cord blood, cord tissue, or placenta after your baby is born. If you want to learn more about newborn stem cell banking,  contact CellSave today!