Pregnancy Symptoms Week 1

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 1! Here is the surprising answer: in week 1 of pregnancy, you are not actually pregnant yet. Doctors count pregnancy from the first day of your last menstrual period, so week 1 is your period.

According to MedlinePlus, an egg is released near the end of week 2, and conception happens in week 3 when a sperm meets the egg in the fallopian tube. In week 4, the tiny ball of cells (the blastocyst) implants in the wall of the uterus. Implantation can cause light spotting, sometimes mistaken for a light period and known as implantation bleeding or spotting of pregnancy.

After implantation, the body starts making the pregnancy hormone hCG. Home pregnancy tests detect this hormone in urine, and it is the basis for confirming pregnancy. Many early symptoms are caused by rising hormone levels.

Because there is no pregnancy yet in week 1, there are no true pregnancy symptoms. The bleeding, cramps and mood changes you may notice are from your period. Early Pregnancy symptoms usually start around week 4 or later. The first clear sign for many women is a missed period, around the end of week 4. The early signs below may appear in the weeks after conception:

1- Nausea with or without vomiting

Nausea, often called morning sickness, is very common in early pregnancy. It usually starts during the first month of pregnancy and can happen at any time of day, not only in the morning.

2- Implantation bleeding or spotting

When the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus, around week 4, some women notice light spotting.

3- Abdominal cramps or bloating

Hormonal changes can cause mild cramps or bloating, which can feel like period symptoms.

4- Headache

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 1

Headaches can occur in early pregnancy, especially in women who get headaches or migraines around their periods. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any pain reliever while pregnant or trying to conceive.

5- Frequent urge to urinate

Many pregnant women need to urinate more often, partly because of hormone changes and more blood flow to the kidneys.

6- Increase appetite

Some women feel hungrier in early pregnancy, while others lose their appetite because of nausea. You do not need to eat for two; in early pregnancy, a balanced diet without large extra portions is usually enough.

7- Increase the sensation of smell

Many women become more sensitive to smells, and some odors can trigger nausea.

8- Fatigue

Feeling very tired is common in early pregnancy, probably in part because of rising progesterone.

9- Mood Swings

Hormone changes can make you feel emotional or weepy, much like before a period.

10-Vaginal bleeding

Light spotting can be a sign of implantation. Heavy bleeding, or bleeding with pain, needs prompt medical attention.

11- Low back pain or backache

Some women have mild low back pain or a dull ache in early pregnancy, similar to period discomfort.

12- Breast soreness

Breasts can feel soft, tender or sore because of rising estrogen and progesterone hormone levels.

Hormones Responsible For Pregnancy Symptoms Week 1

Early pregnancy symptoms are linked to rising levels of hCG, progesterone and estrogen once pregnancy begins. In week 1 itself, your hormones follow the normal pattern of a menstrual cycle.

If you are trying to conceive, week 1 is a good time to start taking a daily prenatal vitamin with folic acid, avoid alcohol and smoking, and talk to your doctor about any medicines you take.

Sources

Fetal development, MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
Morning sickness, MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
Pregnancy, U.S. Food and Drug Administration