In your two week wait? Now that a lot of pregnancy tests are sensitive enough to detect pregnancy at very early stages you may already know you are pregnant by the time you notice these. But whether you are an early tester in the know or letting yourself wonder until after your missed period here are a few of the earliest signs to look out for!
1. Breast Changes
You may notice some breast tenderness early in pregnancy as your breasts prepare for breastfeeding. Later in pregnancy you may notice darkening of your areola and prominence of the veins of the breasts. Even before you miss your period, you may notice Montgomery’s Tubercles, little bumps on the areola, which are glands that secrete a moisturising and antibacterial oil which protects your nipples during breastfeeding. They tend to stick around after pregnancy, so really are reliable as signs of a first pregnancy but they may be the first sign you notice.
It is important to be familiar with your breasts as they change throughout pregnancy, so if you regularly self examine, continue to do so and if you don’t, it is a good time to start. If you have any concerns, speak to your doctor or midwife straight away.
2. Food Cravings and Aversions
Early pregnancy is a strange time when it comes to food, you may find yourself craving plenty of a particular food, even if it is something you don’t usually like. The opposite can also happen and you may notice strong aversions to food you previously enjoyed. You may experience a heightened sense of smell, so if you find yourself passing up your usual packet of cheese and onion for plain crackers, you might want to take a pregnancy test! Some mothers notice very unusual cravings such as a desire to eat clay or ice- this is called pica and may be a sign of a nutritional deficiency, so if you notice this particular symptom be sure to contact your doctor or midwife sooner rather than later.
3. Tiredness
This is one of the most common signs of early pregnancy. Try to listen to your body and take rest when you need to, growing a baby is hard work! Although the tiredness tends to last for the whole first trimester, take heart that it usually lifts after week 12.
4. A Funny Taste In Your Mouth
One of the more strange symptoms of pregnancy is a strange taste in your mouth, this may contribute to food aversions and is known as dysgeusia. It can taste different to individual mothers but is most commonly described as metallic.
5. A Missed Period
You couldn’t have a list of early pregnancy symptoms without the missed period but, let’s be honest- not many of us will have waited for this sign before testing so most mothers will already know they are pregnant by the time they notice a late period. However, if you have managed to wait and you notice a missed period- it’s definitely time to take a test!
What signs and symptoms did you notice in your pregnancies? Share them with us below!
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