Early signs of pregnancy

Most people who have waited anxiously for the famous two lines on a pregnancy test are familiar with the intense mix of hope, fear, and anxiety. It often feels as if the body develops a whole new language.

Every little tingle, twinge, and unexpected sensation is interpreted. Is it now? Is your body sending you a message? When will the first sure signs appear? And what should you actually be looking out for? Perhaps you are waiting right now, or maybe you are just curious about what actually happens in your body when you are pregnant. Whatever the case, the early signs that something big is happening can be many and varied.

When your body starts whispering – the first early signs of pregnancy

Before a pregnancy test has time to react, the body often starts sending small, cryptic signals that only you can interpret. It's not always logical. In fact, it can feel as if your body is trying to trick you. Many people find that the early signs are very similar to what you expect before your period.

• Sore breasts that seem to creep up on you, as if they are bubbling inside.
• Tiredness like nothing you have ever experienced before, almost as if it would take a minor miracle to get out of bed.
• An unmistakable feeling of being “out of it” – almost inexplicable.

Some feel it almost from the moment of conception, others feel nothing until weeks have passed. This makes the experience very different from woman to woman.

The classic – and not so classic – signs

It's a classic: missed periods. Many women know this as the first real sign that something is happening. But in reality, there are often signs long before that.

Let's take a look at the earliest signs – both the most common and the more surprising ones:

It is important to note that not everyone experiences all of these signs, and even if you recognize them, the intensity and order in which they occur will vary greatly.

Sore breasts

You may feel like putting up a “no entry” sign for your cleavage. Sometimes it feels like they've been put through a rolling pin. This happens because the hormonal processes are already rebuilding your breast tissue from the very beginning. It's not a pretty sight or a particularly pleasant feeling – but it can be one of the earliest and clearest signs.

Overwhelming fatigue

You may well have felt tired after a hard week or a bad night's sleep before. But the fatigue that accompanies the first weeks of pregnancy is in a league of its own. It is heavy, pervasive, and almost boundless. Your body is undergoing a kind of internal construction project, and it requires all the energy you have available.

Mood swings and unfiltered emotions

Suddenly, you find yourself crying at a dishwashing detergent commercial or feeling super annoyed by little things. This is because hormones are rolling through your body with such force that they affect both your mood and your emotions. Many pregnant women describe it as feeling like they are “seeing themselves from the outside” at times.

Spotting and increased discharge

Amidst all the familiar and expected changes, you may suddenly experience a little bleeding – spotting. This can be alarming, but it is often caused by the fertilized egg implanting itself in the uterus. At the same time, many women will notice that their discharge changes in both quantity and consistency. Many mistakenly believe that their period is on its way, but it is often the body's new status that is manifesting itself.

Less visible changes

Some signs are more subtle. You may notice that your sense of smell becomes so acute that the rest of the household is told to stop eating fish – once and for all. Or perhaps you develop a distaste for foods you used to love. The list is long:

• Strange taste in the mouth, often metallic.
• Sudden cravings, where the thought of strawberries with ketchup suddenly doesn't seem so crazy.
• Feeling dizzy, especially if you stand up too quickly.
• Headaches with no real explanation.

It can be frustrating that most of the early signs of pregnancy, such as a bloated stomach and headaches, are easily confused with what happens before your period. So it's not because you're “smarter” than others if you spot it earlier – many people only really notice when the test is positive.

Stomach feeling and intuition

Something that is not on the list of symptoms but should not be underestimated is that feeling that is difficult for others to understand. Some people just wake up and know that something is different. There is not always a logical explanation, and it can feel strange to follow your gut feeling, but for many people, it is accurate.

Food you suddenly can't tolerate (or a specific craving)

It's as if your body is making its own food policy. You may have once loved coffee, but now you can't stand the smell. It can also go the other way: some people get an uncontrollable craving for certain tastes or foods.

There are countless stories of pregnant women who suddenly can't think of anything but pickled cucumbers or cheese sandwiches. It can't be explained or predicted – but it can feel quite intense.

Frequent urination

It sounds completely undramatic, but having to pee constantly is something most pregnant women can relate to. Shortly after conception, the amount of blood in the body increases, putting extra strain on the bladder. It is simply one of the less glamorous but very common signs.

When expectation becomes reality

The wait can feel unbearably long as you look for signs that your body is doing something completely groundbreaking. It feels a bit like you're in your own private detective game, where every bodily signal is analyzed to the bone. Sometimes you're right—other times it's just your imagination. And actually, both longing and nervousness can trick the brain into creating symptoms that are indistinguishable from those that actually occur during pregnancy.

Decoding your body can sound like a lottery, and for many people, that's exactly how it feels. Some experience the full range of symptoms, while others hardly notice anything until their belly starts to bulge. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to experience the early signs.

When should you take the test?

It's not easy to wait. Still, the best thing you can do is try to relax and let your body do its thing. The most sensitive pregnancy tests can in some cases show a result as early as 10 days after conception, but most people should wait until the day of their expected period—or preferably a few days longer—to get the most accurate result.

Pharmacies and supermarkets are full of different brands and models. What they all have in common is that they try to measure whether the hormone hCG is present in your urine. If you are unsure or concerned about any of the signs you are experiencing – or the absence of them – it is always a good idea to contact your doctor.

When your body sends mixed signals

Symptoms can be confusing because they don't always behave as expected. One moment your breasts are sore, the next the fatigue suddenly disappears. The body is dynamic and reacts differently from day to day – and hour to hour.

There are also other factors that can play a role:

• Stress and lack of sleep can intensify or mask certain signs.
• Dietary changes and physical activity can also have an influence.
• Previous pregnancies or use of contraception can affect your experience.

Listening to yourself and taking your concerns seriously, no matter how far along you are, is never unnecessary.

No one knows your body better than you do.

There is something wildly fascinating about how the first weeks after conception can feel both hugely significant and completely unaffected. For some, the days are filled with speculation, loud symptoms, and extreme fatigue. For others, it is barely noticeable that a new beginning is underway.

No matter how your body tells its story, the early signs of pregnancy are a reminder of how magical (and sometimes tricky) it can be.

But if you dream of getting pregnant, we're rooting for those two lines with you.