Do you know that some women report having signs before they even got a positive pregnancy test? Many women have shared that they just knew they were pregnant and didn't even need a test to tell them what they already knew. I actually knew I was pregnant with my children before the test confirmed my suspicions. There are actually quite a few signs that women have shared were symptoms of early pregnancy.
Sleep Changes: Women report having changes in their sleeping patterns as soon as 7 or 8 days past ovulation. In fact, many women report struggling with extreme fatigue before they even officially found out that they were pregnant. I have been able to figure out I was pregnant before my missed period because I could not keep my eyes open. I started talking to other women and they shared this common sign. When I was pregnant with my first child I slept almost 24 hours straight at about 10 dpo because I could not keep my eyes open.
Pregnancy fatigue is one of the first signs of pregnancy and will continue throughout your first trimester. A lot of women complain about the first trimester because some of the most aggravated and horrible symptoms are in the first trimester. Pregnancy fatigue will let up usually around the second trimester. It will likely return the last few weeks of pregnancy as near labor.
It is very hard to avoid being tired during pregnancy but there are some things that you can do to help with extreme fatigue.
- Take breaks: Taking naps would be ideal but many pregnant women don't have that option. Some women have children that they are caring for or they are still working full-time. Sit down as much as you can and don't work yourself into exhaustion. No more late nights; make sure you are going to sleep at a decent time.
- Diet: Follow the guidelines for a good pregnancy diet, focusing on healthy, long-lasting energy boosters, such as protein and complex carbohydrates. Also, make sure that you are eating often. Keeping your blood sugar on an even keel will help keep your energy steady, so avoid skipping meals. This is especially important if you suffer from hypoglycemia.
Cervical Mucus: When you become pregnant your cervical mucus will change as soon as your hormones begin to increase. Changes to "cervical mucus may be a very early sign of pregnancy. Implantation is the attachment of a fertilized egg to your uterus. After implantation, mucus tends to be thick, gummy, and clear in color. Some women experience implantation bleeding, or spotting." I have four children and I didn't experience implantation bleeding with my first three children but I did with my fourth children. Apparently, 25% of women experience implantation bleeding so that statistic was spot on with my experience.
Cervix: Some women who are trying to conceive have become accustomed to checking their own cervix to see the changes it makes through the monthly cycle. Women who have been tracking their cervix usually more capable to figure out if they are pregnant based on their cervix location. During ovulation, "the cervix rises to a higher level in the vagina. It will be lower in the vagina around the time of menstruation. If you’ve conceived, the cervix will remain in a higher position."
Spotting: Some women have mentioned that they have had a little bit of spotting before they tested positive for pregnancy. Those women thought their periods were starting early but it ended up not being a period at all. The spotting is also referred to as implantation bleeding. Implantation bleeding will happen somewhere between 6 and 12 days after conception. Implantation bleeding occurs when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. According to Dr. Sherry Ross, OB/GYN at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, implantation bleeding is fairly common and occurs in about 25 percent of pregnancies. In many cases, it’s the first sign of pregnancy.
Cramps: When I was pregnant with my second child I was a little bit more tired than usual but I had a 7-month-old and so I thought that was the reason, but I started having really bad cramps. I had had a postpartum period yet and so that was really weird. Well, turns out I got pregnant with my first cycle. I took a test when the cramping was really bad with no other sign of my cycle returning. For some women, "cramping is the first sign that they are pregnant, as it's common to experience cramping when a fertilized egg makes its home in the uterine wall. This is called implantation cramping, and it can feel like your period is about to start, says Dr. Puritz."
Breast tenderness: Breast tenderness isn't a very good sign of pregnancy if they usually get sore breasts around their period. However, if you don't have sore breasts then this would be quite the sign. With my first pregnancy my breasts kept on having really sharp pains with them and they would stop me in my tracks. They started doing this about 8 days past ovulation until about 8 weeks. "During the earliest weeks of pregnancy, breast pain tends to be dull and achy. Your boobs may feel heavy and swollen. They can be super sensitive to the touch."
Vivid Dream: Many women "find that their dreams change when pregnant. Dreams can become more intense and vivid, and some women experience an increase in nightmares and dreams that involve anxiety." Experts don't really know exactly the reason for vivid dreams but they assume that it is due to the increased levels of hormones associated with pregnancy. The hormones can mess with the sleep rhythm.
There are many signs and symptoms that women say showed up even before they tested positive for pregnancy. There are many signs but you obviously won't be able to fully know unless you have received a positive pregnancy test. There are many symptoms of early pregnancy that can also be associated with your period. If you have received a positive pregnancy test you can call your doctor and schedule an appointment to check your HCG levels to make sure your pregnancy is developing properly.