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Pregnancy
The Office on Women's Health is grateful for the medical review by:
John W. Schmitt, M.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Virginia Medical School
All material contained on these pages are free of copyright restrictions and maybe copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated.
Page last updated:
February 22, 2021
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Call the OWH HELPLINE:
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Get answers to all of your pregnancy questions and learn what you can do before, during, and after pregnancy to give your baby a heathy start to life.
A federal government website managed by the Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20201 1-800-994-9662 • Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET (closed on federal holidays).
Reviewed by Trina Pagano, MD on October 19, 2020
Are you wondering if you might be pregnant? The only way to know for sure is by taking a pregnancy test .
But there are early symptoms of pregnancy that may point to the possibility. Here's what to look for.
Every woman is different. So are their experiences of pregnancy. Not every woman has the same symptoms or even the same symptoms from one pregnancy to the next.
Also, because the early symptoms of pregnancy often mimic the symptoms you might experience right before and during menstruation , you may not realize you're pregnant.
What follows is a description of some of the most common early symptoms of pregnancy . You should know that these symptoms may be caused by other things besides being pregnant. So the fact that you notice some of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you are pregnant. The only way to tell for sure is with a pregnancy test.
After conception , the fertilized egg attaches itself to wall of the uterus. This can cause one of the earliest signs of pregnancy -- spotting and, sometimes, cramping.
That's called implantation bleeding . It occurs anywhere from six to 12 days after the egg is fertilized.
The cramps resemble menstrual cramps , so some women mistake them and the bleeding for the start of their period. The bleeding and cramps, however, are slight.
Besides bleeding, a woman may notice a white, milky discharge from their vagina . That's related to the thickening of the vagina 's walls, which starts almost immediately after conception . The increased growth of cells lining the vagina causes the discharge.
This discharge, which can continue throughout pregnancy, is typically harmless and doesn't require treatment. But if there is a bad smell related to the discharge or a burning and itching sensation, tell your doctor so they can check on whether you have a yeast or bacterial infection .
Breast changes are another very early sign of pregnancy. A woman's hormone levels rapidly change after conception . Because of the changes, their breasts may become swollen, sore, or tingly a week or two later. Or they may feel heavier or fuller or feel tender to the touch. The area around the nipples, called the areola, may also darken.
Other things could cause breast changes. But if the changes are an early symptom of pregnancy, keep in mind that it is going to take several weeks to get used to the new levels of hormones. But when it does, breast pain should ease up.
Feeling very tired is normal in pregnancy, starting early on.
A woman can start feeling unusually fatigued as soon as one week after conceiving.
Why? It's often related to a high level of a hormone called progesterone , although other things -- such as lower levels of blood sugar, lower blood pressure , and a boost in blood production -- can all contribute.
If fatigue is related to pregnancy, it's important to get plenty of rest. Eating foods that are rich in protein and iron can help offset it.
Morning sickness is a famous symptom of pregnancy. But not every pregnant woman gets it.
The exact cause of morning sickness is not known but pregnancy hormones likely contribute to this symptom. Nausea during pregnancy may occur at any time of the day but most commonly in the morning.
Also, some women crave, or can't stand, certain foods when they become pregnant. That's also related to hormonal changes. The effect can be so strong that even the thought of what used to be a favorite food can turn a pregnant woman's stomach .
It's possible that the nausea , cravings, and food aversions can last for the entire pregnancy. Fortunately, the symptoms lessen for many women at about the 13th or 14th week of their pregnancy.
In the meantime, be sure to eat a healthy diet so that you and your developing baby get essential nutrients. You can talk to your doctor for advice on that.
The most obvious early symptom of pregnancy -- and the one that prompts most women to get a pregnancy test -- is a missed period . But not all missed or delayed periods are caused by pregnancy.
Also, women can experience some bleeding during pregnancy . If you are pregnant, ask your doctor what you should be aware of with bleeding. For example, when is bleeding normal and when is it a sign of an emergency?
There are reasons, besides pregnancy, for missing a period. it might be that you gained or lost too much weight . Hormonal problems, fatigue , or stress are other possibilities. Some women miss their period when they stop taking birth control pills . But if a period is late and pregnancy is a possibility, you may want to get a pregnancy test.
Pregnancy brings changes in your hormonal balance. And that can cause other symptoms that include:
A pregnant woman could have all of these symptoms, or maybe have only one or two. If any of these symptoms become bothersome, talk with your doctor about them so you can make a plan to offset them.
American Pregnancy Association: "Pregnancy Symptoms -- Early Signs of Pregnancy."
Mayo Clinic: "Symptoms of Pregnancy: What Happens Right Away."
SavingAngel.org: "Early Pregnancy Symptoms."
Pregnancy Education: "Early Pregnancy Symptoms discharge, heartburn, nausea, and more."
© 2005 - 2022 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Reviewed by Traci C. Johnson, MD on August 04, 2022
If you are newly pregnant or trying to conceive, you have many questions about what to expect. How will your body change? What's happening inside you? Our week-by-week guide will help you through your 9 months of pregnancy so you can be a smarter, more confident, more prepared mom-to-be. Each week offers information about your body and the baby's as well as helpful advice you can use throughout your pregnancy. Let's start with a peek inside the womb.
Baby: Your baby is still just a glimmer in your eye . It’s difficult to know exactly when conception occurred, so doctors calculate your due date from the beginning of your last menstrual cycle. That’s right -- for calculation purposes, you’re “pregnant” before you even conceive!
Mom-to-be: The lining of your uterus thickens to prepare for pregnancy . You may notice sticky vaginal discharge during ovulation . At the beginning of your period, about 20 eggs called ova occupy fluid-filled sacs called follicles. If you typically have your period every 28 days, then about 14 days later, you ovulate: One of these follicles releases one or two eggs, which travel down your fallopian tube to await fertilization. This time -- 14 days after your period started and a day or so longer -- is when you're the most fertile. (Note that if you just stopped taking birth control , you may ovulate sooner than expected.) If you want to get pregnant , this is the best time to try. Once the egg is fertilized -- 24 to 72 hours after ovulation -- it moves into the uterus.
Don't be disappointed if you don't get pregnant the first time. Depending on their age, each month, a woman has a 25% chance of getting pregnant , so you may need to try more than once.
Tip for the Week: Make sure you've scheduled a preconception visit with your OB-GYN to determine risks of genetic diseases and environmental hazards as well as learn about necessary lifestyle changes to ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby. Most important, make sure you've started taking 0.4 milligrams, or 400 micrograms, of folic acid a day. Folic acid taken a few months before conception has been shown to dramatically reduce such neural tube defects as spina bifida.
Baby: Congratulations! If your egg and your partner's sperm have joined successfully, your embryo is really there, although it's very small -- about the size of the head of a pin. It doesn't look like a fetus or baby; it's just a group of about 100 cells multiplying and growing rapidly. The outer layer of cells will become the placenta, and the inner layer will become the embryo.
Mom-to-be: You won't notice any changes in your body at this point. Remember, you haven't even missed your period yet. But hormones are signaling your body to stop the menstruation process and support your pregnancy .
Tip for the Week: Can't wait to find out? Take a home pregnancy test. They're about as reliable as a urine test or blood test done in the doctor's office -- and you get results immediately. To ensure accuracy, read the directions carefully and make sure all the supplies you use are clean.
Baby: Now that your egg is fertilized, it burrows into the lining of your uterus. This is called implantation. It may happen up to 4 days after fertilization.
Mom-to-be: You're probably expecting your period this week, and if it doesn't occur, it might be one of the first signs that you're pregnant. You may also notice light spotting as the embryo implants itself in your uterus. The amniotic cavity, which will be filled with fluid, and the placenta, which will bring oxygen and nutrients to nourish your baby, are forming in your uterus. Your breasts might feel tender and swollen, or you might not feel any different yet. By the end of this week, a home pregnancy test may be positive.
Tip for the Week: Try to eat healthfully, which means choosing a variety of foods from recommended food groups and drinking at least six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. But you don't really need to "eat for two"; you only need an extra 300 calories per day while you're pregnant. And don't worry if your food intake drops in the beginning because of morning sickness . If you've been eating right already, your baby will get what it needs.
The fertilized egg grows, and a water-tight sac forms around it, gradually filling with fluid. This is called the amniotic sac, and it helps cushion the growing embryo.
The placenta also develops. It is a round, flat organ that transfers nutrients from you to the baby and transfers the baby’s wastes.
A primitive face takes form with large dark circles for eyes . The mouth, lower jaw, and throat are developing. Blood cells are taking shape, and circulation will begin.
By the end of the first month, your baby is about 1/4 inch long -- smaller than a grain of rice.
Mayo Clinic: "Fetal development: What happens during the first trimester?"
© 2005 - 2022 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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