Can Early Pregnancy Be Detected Before a Pregnancy Test?
There are many early signs and symptoms of pregnancy but not all women will experience them. Some may experience them more than others, some may experience none at all and some may experience them at different times during their pregnancy. The only positive way to identify pregnancy is to take a pregnancy test. You can test pregnancy at home with a home pregnancy test kit from your local pharmacy as early as two weeks into your pregnancy.
Early Pregnancy Symptoms
1. Spotting.
Some women may experience light spotting (bleeding) during the early stages of their pregnancy as the embryo fixes itself to the womb. This could also be a light period however, so it’s not a definite sign of pregnancy.
2. Cramping.
Some women may also experience cramping as though they are on their period. This usually occurs during spotting so it makes it very difficult to determine the cause of the cramps.
3. Tenderness of the breasts.
You may begin to notice changes in your breasts such as tenderness or a change of shape. They may also be sore or swollen. These symptoms are unfortunately also common prior to your period and can occur one or two weeks into your pregnancy. If you are unsure, take a home pregnancy test.
4. Missed Period.
The main symptom of early pregnancy is a missed period. This can be normal for people who have irregular periods throughout their life and not an indication of pregnancy. However, if you miss your period it is a very strong indication that you may be pregnant and it’s a good idea to get a pregnancy test to make sure.
5. Morning Sickness.
Not every woman experiences morning sickness whereas others may experience it throughout their pregnancy. Morning sickness doesn’t have to be in the mornings, some women experience morning sickness at all times of the day or night. Morning sickness can be an indication of pregnancy but you may not experience this symptom at all. Usually morning sickness begins approximately 8 weeks into the pregnancy so you are likely to notice two missed periods before you notice the symptoms of morning sickness.
6. Fatigue.
Feeling tired or lethargic is a common symptom of pregnancy that can occur as early as a week into the pregnancy. However, this is a very generic symptom which can be caused by a large range of other conditions so it’s not a very reliable indicator of pregnancy on it’s own.
7. Change in Taste and Smell.
Some women experience problems with foods and smells. Foods that you loved before your pregnancy can disgust you or make you feel like gagging whilst you are pregnant. Smells may bother you even more during the early stages of your pregnancy.
8. Frequent Urination.
When you become pregnant the amount of fluids in your body increases which means you will find yourself needing the bathroom much more than usual. As your pregnancy develops your baby will grow and push on your bladder causing even more frequent trips to the bathroom.
