Okay sooo… you think you might be pregnant? Or maybe you just wanna know what early signs look like? Either way, there’s a bunch of things that start happening in the body really early on — even before you miss your period sometimes.
People always talk about morning sickness like it’s the only thing that happens lol. But truth is, pregnancy does all kinds of stuff to your body. And everyone is diff, so what one person feels might not be what another person feels at all.
This article just gonna break down some of the most common early pregnancy symptoms (in regular people words, not doctor talk lol), so you have an idea what’s up.
First thing’s first – what even counts as “early”?
When we say “early” pregnancy symptoms, we usually mean:
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around the time of a missed period, or
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even a week or two before that
Some ppl feel things within a week after conceiving, others don’t feel anything for weeks. So don’t panic if you don’t feel all the things. Or any of them tbh.
1. Missed period (obviously)
This one’s kind of the biggest sign. If your period is usually regular and suddenly it’s late, that might be a clue. But keep in mind: stress, travel, PCOS, or other stuff can mess with your cycle too. So missed period doesn’t always mean pregnant.
But yeah, if you’re sexually active and your period’s gone missing… def take a test.
2. Sore or tender boobs
This is honestly one of the first signs for a lot of people. Your breasts might feel:
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heavier
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kinda achy or sore
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nipples more sensitive than usual
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even a bit itchy sometimes?
Some ppl say it feels like period boobs but stronger. Bras might suddenly feel super uncomfy. This is all cuz of hormone changes.
3. Feeling tired ALL the time ️
Like…exhausted for no reason. You wake up tired, you yawn all day, you wanna nap but also can’t sleep properly at night. It’s annoying lol.
Blame progesterone – that’s the hormone that goes wild early in pregnancy and makes u feel like a zombie.
4. Nausea (aka the famous “morning” sickness )
First of all: it’s NOT just in the morning. Some people feel sick in the afternoon, evening, all day, or randomly. And some lucky folks don’t get it at all.
You might:
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feel nauseous but not throw up
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actually throw up (ew)
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be fine one minute and then feel gross the next
It usually starts around week 6, but some feel it sooner.
Smells become a whole thing too. Like stuff you used to love (coffee?? perfume?? eggs??) might make you gag now.
5. Food cravings / aversions
You might be hungry all the time… or not want to eat at all. Some people start craving weird combos (pickles + ice cream is not a myth lol), while others can’t stand the smell of stuff they used to eat every day.
And it’s not always junk food cravings. Sometimes it’s just really specific like “I NEED mangoes rn or I will cry.” ♀️
6. Peeing. So. Much.
You’ll feel like you’re going to the bathroom every 10 minutes. It’s not even cuz the baby’s big yet — it’s cuz your body makes more blood and fluids early on, and your kidneys are doing overtime.
If you’re waking up at night just to pee… that’s actually a sign.
7. Mood swings
One minute you’re chill, next minute you’re crying at a TikTok where a dog finds its owner. The hormones are raging and your emotions can be all over the place.
Some ppl get super irritable too, or anxious. Totally normal (but also super annoying).
8. Cramps or spotting (yes, it can happen)
Mild cramps in early pregnancy are a thing. They can feel like period cramps, which is why some people don’t realise they’re pregnant at first.
You might also see a little spotting — called implantation bleeding. It’s usually light pink or brown and doesn’t last long.
But if bleeding is heavy or painful, go to the doctor ASAP just in case.
9. Bloating and gas
Your jeans might feel tight, even if it’s way too early for a bump. That’s the hormones again (they really be doing the most ).
Gas, burping, or constipation can also start early. Not cute but very real.
10. Dizziness or headaches
Because your blood pressure might drop a bit early on, some people feel dizzy when they stand up too fast or walk around too much. Headaches can also start (again… hormones, sigh).
Make sure you’re drinking enough water, especially if you’re also throwing up.
11. Weird dreams / can’t sleep
Some people say they start having super vivid or strange dreams when they’re newly pregnant. Or they just toss and turn a lot, even though they’re tired.
Maybe it’s stress, maybe it’s hormones. Either way, it’s kinda spooky lol.
12. Metallic taste or dry mouth
One of the weirdest signs — some people say they get this weird metallic taste in their mouth that won’t go away. Like chewing on coins kinda?
Or they wake up with suuuper dry mouth even if they drank water before bed.
Sooo… am I pregnant or what?
Here’s the thing — early pregnancy symptoms can feel a lot like PMS, so it’s easy to confuse them. You might have ALL the signs and not be pregnant. Or NONE of them and still be pregnant.
Best thing to do? Take a pregnancy test. You can usually take one around the time your period is due (some tests even say 6 days early, but results are more reliable after your missed period).
And if the test is positive — congrats or good luck, depending how you feel
If it’s negative but you still feel off, try again in a few days or talk to a doc.
Final thoughts (just keeping it real)
Early pregnancy is WILD. Your body starts changing even before you know what’s happening. Some people feel every symptom in the book, others feel totally normal till they’re 2 months in.
If you think you might be pregnant, listen to your body, take care of yourself, and get a test. And if you are pregnant — welcome to the rollercoaster
Hope this helped and didn’t scare you too much lol.