Could you be pregnant? The early signs and symptoms of pregnancy vary from woman to woman and can also differ from pregnancy to pregnancy. Remember, some women won’t experience any symptoms. To create further confusion, some of the early signs of pregnancy can be similar to those that you experience before you get your period.
While the only sure way to confirm you have a baby on board is to do a pregnancy test (and blood/ultrasound tests from your doctor), let’s help you get your head around and make sense of the early pregnancy symptoms.
How soon can you get pregnancy symptoms?
Just like the symptoms are highly individualised to each woman’s body, as is the case with when they begin. Some women may experience pregnancy symptoms within the first two weeks of conception. Others may only notice them after a missed period or later in the pregnancy.
So, with that said, let’s take a look at the early pregnancy symptoms to look out for.
Early signs and symptoms of pregnancy
The significant hormonal changes during pregnancy can trigger various symptoms, including the following.
- Missed period
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
- Tender/swollen breasts
- Nausea
- Food aversions or cravings
- Spotting (implantation bleeding)
- Heightened sense of smell
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Frequent urination
Don’t worry – you’re unlikely to experience all the above all at once. Most importantly, as we’ve mentioned earlier, you may not experience any of these symptoms and still be pregnant. The only way to be sure is to take an at-home pregnancy test. Alternatively, to avoid the risk of a false negative result due to low levels of the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) hormone and testing too early, head to your GP for a blood test.
When should you take a pregnancy test?
Whether you have been trying to get pregnant or may think you might be pregnant, we understand that the anticipation to find out the results runs high.
While a blood test can often reveal whether you are pregnant much earlier, as a rule of thumb, the best time to take an at-home pregnancy test is one week after your missed period.
Once again, you must remember that every woman’s body is different. While one may get a positive result within a day or two of missing their period, for another, it may take up to another week.
When to book a doctor’s appointment?
If you see the two pink lines or get the digital confirmation of the word pregnant on your home pregnancy test – it’s time to call your GP right away!
To begin with, your GP will carry out the following tests and scans to confirm your pregnancy.
- Urine test
- Blood test
- Ultrasound test
After asking a few routine questions, your doctor will organise a referral to your chosen ob-gyn.
Get your referral for Dr Kothari.
If you have just found out that you are embarking on the journey of motherhood, call our team on
02 4225 1999 to book an appointment with Dr Kothari.
Dr Kothari is dedicated to developing a trusting and supportive relationship with all his patients to ensure a safe and successful pregnancy and delivery. Our experienced team is here to support and help you every step of the way on this incredible journey.