Pregnancy is both EXCITING and SCARY, all at the same time.
Depending on how old you are or what stage in your life you’re in, it can lean more towards one versus the other. For example, I was 24 when I first remember looking up early signs of pregnancy on google.
I was scared out of my mind of being pregnant!
I had just started a new relationship for about 5months, and I was nowhere near ready to be a mom. At that point in my life, I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life!
Plus, I didn’t know this guy long enough to consider starting a family.
Every day, from the date we were intimate to the date I expected to get my period, I checked for early pregnancy symptoms!
And this was to make sure I wasn’t experiencing any of them!
Thankfully, my period came on time!
Fast Forward 3 and a half years later,
The same guy from the story above (Charlie) and I hit it off. We moved in together. I was 27 years old when we decided we were open to having a baby! This time after being intimate, I was looking up early signs of pregnancy before missed period.
I wanted to be pregnant!
And I was too anxious to wait until my missed period to find out.
And guess what?! I’m pregnant!
So, what were my first signs of pregnancy as a first-time mom?
Below, I listed the five early signs of pregnancy I experienced that let me know I was pregnant before my missed period or positive test!
I also added 11 additional early pregnancy symptoms you may experience that I didn’t (or didn’t notice) in this first pregnancy.
Table of Contents
5 Early Signs Of Pregnancy (I experienced)
1.Fatigue “Extreme Tiredness”
Fatigue is said to be one of the first noticeable signs of pregnancy!
This was my first sign!
According to Premier Health, the pregnant body is working overtime to maintain the pregnancy and develop milk-producing glands in the breast.
This is why we so tired and have no energy to do anything but laydown and rest!
Story Time: when I first realized I was pregnant, my energy was so low that I couldn’t open coconut oil or peanut butter jars. I couldn’t even open my single blender cups after making smoothies in the morning. I would get so angry and frustrated! I would have to ask Charlie for help, and of course, he would open it like nothing! I remember thinking this is weird!
2.Breast Tenderness
This is when your breast feel sore, swollen, heavy and sensitive to the touch.
When expecting moms told me their first early signs of pregnancy was breast tenderness, I thought,
Well, my breast usually hurt when I’m about to get my period, so breast tenderness wouldn’t be one of those early signs I would be able to tell apart from period symptoms.
But, I’m here to say I was WRONG!!
The breast pain and soreness I experienced, you could DEFINITELY tell apart from period breast tenderness! Your boobs hurt on another level!
I couldn’t even sleep on my tummy because my boobs would hurt so much.
3.Darken Of The Areola (the area around the nipple)
I was about one week from my expected period, when I noticed my areola was larger and darker than usual. I almost overlooked this sign!
I thought I saw just seeing things I wanted to see because I wanted to be pregnant (lol)
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4.Intuition
Sometimes you just know! You know something is different inside.
I honestly remember thinking “I know I’m pregnant” in just the first week after we conceived.
5.Missed Period
For those of you that like me, get their period around the same time every month without fail, would see this as a red flag.
I decided to wait 5 days after my missed period to take a pregnancy test (just to give it sometime). But, because of the symptoms above, I had an immense feeling that it would be a positive test.
And it was!
11 Additional Early Signs of Pregnancy
6.Nausea With Or Without Vomiting
Nausea with or without vomiting is also known as morning sickness.
(And it doesn’t only happen in the morning!)
Morning sickness happens because of the rapid increase in hormone levels. It starts two to eight weeks after conception.
My morning sickness started at seven weeks pregnant.
Post you may also like: Morning Sickness Relief: First Trimester
7.Food Aversions/Cravings
Food aversion is when you no longer want to eat or be around food you use to enjoy. Food cravings are when you desire to eat something, and you won’t be satisfied until you get it!
8.Increase Urination
In early pregnancy, hormones stimulate your kidneys to expand and produce more urine, which helps your body get rid of extra waste more quickly.
9.Implantation Cramping/Bleeding
Implantation bleeding is light bleeding or spotting that occurs between 7- 14 days after fertilization. You may confuse it with the start of your period, but then it goes away.
Implantation bleeding happens when the embryo implants in the uterus’ lining, which may cause little blood vessels to burst. You may also experience cramping as a result.
What does it look like? Light bleeding, pinkish, red to brown discharge. How much bleeding? Not enough to fill up a pad or tampon.
Post you may also like: Morning Sickness: What to Expect!
10.Increase Vaginal Discharge
Early pregnancy discharge increases to prevent infections as your cervix and vaginal wall soften. So, you may notice more discharge in your toilet paper or underwear after using the bathroom.
What does it look like? Sticky, white, or pale-yellow mucus.
11.Headaches/Dizziness
Headaches and dizziness are common during early pregnancy due to the changes in your hormone levels and the increase in blood volume.
12.Lower Back Pain
According to Healthline, your body releases hormones that help the ligaments and joints in your pelvis loosen and soften during your pregnancy.
This is to prepare your body for labor later in the pregnancy. The hormones affect the pelvis and your entire body, including your back, which can result in lower back aches and pains.
Post you may also like: 13 Great Questions For First Prenatal Visit
13.Smell
Your sense of smell is like a dog’s; you can smell anything and everything! Near or far (lol). This is also due to the increase in your hormone levels. I noticed a change in smell when my morning sickness started at seven weeks.
14.Stuffy Nose/Cold-Like Symptoms
Pregnancy lowers your immunity. You are more prone to cough, colds, and the flu during early pregnancy.
Cold-like symptoms was one of my mom’s early pregnancy symptoms.
15.Increased Basal Body Temperature
Basal Body Temperature (BBT) is the temperature taken when your body is at rest. Like right when you wake up in the morning.
The way it works is that you take your temperature as soon as you wake up in the morning to know your rest temperature. A change in your BBT indicates when you are ovulating and when you are pregnant.
When your BBT increases and stays elevated for a few days after ovulation, then you are most likely pregnant.
Post you may also like: Best Prenatal Vitamins in 2022.
16.Metallic Taste In The Mouth
According to Healthline, The increase in estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy can lead to changes in taste. A condition called dysgeusia is what has some pregnant women tasting metal.
Last Thoughts
Remember, every woman experience pregnancy differently! Some women may experience my five early signs of pregnancy and others may experience more or fewer symptoms then I did.
The only way to be sure is to take a pregnancy test.
If you are 24 years old me,
Hoping you have none of these symptoms because you don’t want to be pregnant, Breatheee …and take it one step at a time!
If you are 27 years old me,
Hoping you are pregnant; Then I hope that you are!
I hope this post was helpful!
In the comments below, let me know what some of your early pregnancy symptoms?
I am Not pregnant but wanted to leave a comment and say thank you for sharing your experience. This was so informative 🙂
Thank you so much for leaving a comment and I’m glad you found this post helpful!