The first signs of pregnancy can appear quite soon after conception—that is, after fertilization. However, this varies from woman to woman. After the egg and sperm meet and fertilization is successful, the fertilized egg begins its journey through the fallopian tube to the uterus, where it will attempt to implant itself. Since pregnancy hormones are already needed at this stage—that is, they’re being produced by your body—it’s precisely these hormones that can give you the first signs of your impending motherhood.
Perhaps you’re already feeling a tugging sensation in your lower abdomen, shortly after the egg has implanted, which may be similar to the cramping you experience during your period. This sensation may be caused by the initial stretching of the round ligaments, but for many women, it doesn’t occur until a little later in the pregnancy.
It’s also quite common at this stage for your breasts to feel tight and very sensitive to touch. Many women report this symptom during early pregnancy. Added to this, of course, are hormone-related symptoms such as dizziness, circulatory problems, or the well-known nausea. When it comes to feeling unwell, most pregnant women report that symptoms are most pronounced between the 8th and 16th weeks of pregnancy, although nausea can certainly be a very early sign.
If you suddenly find yourself feeling constantly tired and sluggish, this too could be a sign that you’re already pregnant. The reason is simply that your body is already diverting all its reserves and energy to the growing baby, effectively putting your body into a sort of energy-saving mode. So if you notice these changes in yourself and conception may have occurred during your last cycle, the surest sign of a new pregnancy is a missed period. Your period should occur about 14 days after your last ovulation. However, if an egg has successfully been fertilized by a sperm, your next period will not occur.
If you’re waiting for your period, you can take a pregnancy test starting on the day your period is actually due. That way, you’ll know for sure right away. However, for many women, the first sign is simply a missed period, and they aren’t (yet) experiencing the minor discomforts mentioned above.
