Suspecting that you may be pregnant can be very scary. Unfortunately, you will need to wait before you can take a home pregnancy test to confirm whether you are or not. Is it possible to experience the early signs of pregnancy after only one week? The answer is yes, many women do have pregnant symptoms right away. Here are some of the early signs of pregnancy to watch out for and some of the other potential causes.
Nausea and Morning Sickness
If you wake up feeling sick to your stomach and find that every scent bothers you, there is a chance that it could be a sign of early pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, some women do not experience nausea and morning sickness until two to eight weeks after conception. However, there are many women who experience nausea and morning sickness during the first week of pregnancy. Keep in mind that nausea and morning sickness can also be caused by stomach viruses or the flu, as well as stomach conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or acid reflux.
Breast Tenderness or Soreness
One of the earliest signs of pregnancy is breast tenderness or soreness. If your breasts feel sensitive when touched or a bra suddenly feels uncomfortable, it may be a sign. This occurs due to the change in hormones. Some women may also notice that their breasts look swollen, itchy or that their nipples feel bumpier than usual. However, switching to a new method of birth control, PMS and other changes in hormones can cause this early pregnancy symptom as well.
Fatigue and Headaches
Do you suddenly feel overly tired? There are many causes for fatigue, including stress, illness and depression. Fatigue can also be one of the earliest signs of pregnancy, however, beginning as early as week one or two for some women. Although this symptom may not seem like anything to worry about, it is actually one of the most common early pregnancy symptoms, according to WebMD. Many pregnant women also begin experiencing headaches, which are due to hormonal changes, during the first week or two of pregnancy.
Keep in mind that early signs of pregnancy vary from woman to woman. While there are some who may not even suspect that they are pregnant for several weeks, others can experience symptoms right away. Some women may experience frequent urination, back pain and food cravings only one week after conception. The best thing that you can do is pay attention to the signals your body sends you and take a home pregnancy test if you suspect that you may be pregnant.
Sources:
American Pregnancy Association, “Pregnancy Symptoms – Early Signs of Pregnancy.”
WebMD.com, “8 Early Signs of Pregnancy.”
