When trying to conceive, the typical two week period between ovulation and a missed period can seem like an eternity. While the only sure sign on pregnancy is a positive pregnancy test, there are other signs that can indicate that conception efforts may have been successful.
Implantation Bleeding
When the fertilized egg implants into the uterine lining, some women will experience implantation bleeding. This is a small amount of spotting. Some women, especially those who are on birth control that minimize their monthly periods, may mistake this for a very light period. Implantation bleeding does not occur for everyone and the absence of it does not have any impact on the success of implantation.
Missed Period
A missed menstrual period is one of the most common signs of pregnancy. For those with a regular cycle, a missed period can be a fairly reliable indicator. Those with a more irregular cycle may have a harder time relying on this sign. While some pregnancy tests state they are accurate as soon as five days before a missed period, for the most accurate results, wait to test until the day of the missed period. If the results are negative but the period has still not started a week later, test again as the first test may have been performed too early.
Morning Sickness
For most pregnant women, morning sickness begins around week six of pregnancy. But for some, morning sickness may be one of the first signs of pregnancy. Contrary to what the name implies, morning sickness can happen at any time during the day or night. It may include nausea, vomiting or both. There are remedies that can be used to ease morning sickness.
Increased Sense of Smell
Early in the pregnancy, most pregnant women will experience an increased sense of smell. This increased sense generally contributes to morning sickness. Smells that before pregnancy did not cause any reason for alarm may now send a pregnant women running for the closest restroom.
Sore Breasts
While it can also be a sign that the menstrual period is imminent, sore breasts is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Many women describe the sore breasts of pregnancy as different than the soreness associated with the menstrual period. A marked increase in size may also occur early in the pregnancy as well. For some women, breasts can increase by several cup sizes in the first trimester alone.
Moodiness
A change in moods can be part of premenstrual syndrome or could also indicate a pregnancy. When conception occurs, the hormones in a woman’s body begin to change dramatically to support the pregnancy. These fluctuations in hormones can cause a variety of symptoms including moodiness. A pregnant woman may find herself weeping one minute and angry the next for no real reason.
If a pregnancy is suspected, home pregnancy tests are a fairly reliable indicator if performed as directed within the right time frame. It is much more likely to get a false negative result with a home pregnancy test than a false positive. For a definite answer, head to the doctor’s office for a blood test.
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