Early pregnancy symptoms in Hindi: While every pregnancy is unique, there are some common symptoms you can expect early on including a missed period, breast tenderness, and nausea.
Dr. Sweta Gupta — an OB-GYN with the Reproductive Fertility Center in India — says most people will start to experience symptoms between weeks 6-14. However, symptoms may appear as early as a week after conception.
Here are 13 early pregnancy symptoms and why they happen.
1. A missed period
Not getting your period is one of the most obvious signs that you may be pregnant. It’s important to note, though, that this isn’t the most reliable way to tell, because you can still have light bleeding or spotting when you’re pregnant.
You can also miss your period aside from pregnancy — such as stress, excessive exercise, and taking certain medications (including low-dose birth control pills).
2. Changes in your breasts
“As the pregnancy hormones estrogen and progesterone rise, you may notice your breasts becoming fuller, heavier, or more sensitive starting in the first trimester and this may last throughout pregnancy,” says Temeka Zore, a board-certified OB-GYN with the Spring Fertility clinic.
Goldstein notes that breast tenderness and sensitivity can occur right around the time of the missed period. Additionally, many women also notice an increase in breast size around weeks 6-8.
3. Unusual vaginal discharge
According to Zore, it’s not uncommon to experience increased vaginal discharge, (specifically a thin, clear or milky white discharge).
4. Morning sickness: Nausea and/or vomiting
An estimated 70%-80% of pregnant women experience nausea and/or vomiting. While this is often referred to as “morning sickness” it can strike any time, day or night.
Nausea is more common during the first trimester due to your human chorionic gonadotropin ( hCG) levels. HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy that’s made by cells formed in the placenta/
Levels of HCG start to rise around weeks 5-6 and peak around weeks 9-10, according to Zore. These symptoms will typically subside after the first trimester when hCG levels will begin to fall.
5. Sudden craving changes
An estimated 50%-90% of pregnant women experience cravings for specific foods. Pregnancy cravings typically emerge during the first trimester and peak in intensity during the second trimester, likely because estrogen and progesterone are continuing to increase to help the baby grow.
A 2014 study found that the top pregnancy cravings include sweets, savory carbohydrates, meat, and fruits.
While there’s little scientific evidence to explain why these cravings happen, Zore says one widely accepted theory is that rapidly changing hormones during the first and second trimester could be the culprit.
6. Peeing more than normal
Over your first trimester, your uterus will grow, which will press on your bladder and cause the need to pee more often. Your pregnancy hormones also increase blood flow to your bladder which leads to increased urination.
Mary Jane Minkin, MD, an OB-GYN at Yale-New Haven Hospital, also points out that you will also very likely be consuming more fluids early in your pregnancy to stay hydrated, which may mean more frequent trips to the bathroom, and an extra interruption in your sleep!
7. Spotting
An estimated 15% to 25% of pregnancies will involve bleeding early on. This bleeding is normal and often a result of when the embryo attaches to the uterine wall. Also called implantation bleeding, this spotting is usually lighter in flow than a period, and the color can vary from pink or red to brown.
However, if you notice persistent, heavy, or otherwise abnormal vaginal bleeding, it’s best to consult your OB-GYN.
8. Cramps
Some people may have cramps during the first trimester. According to Goldstein, cramps early on in pregnancy are usually caused by the uterus expanding, which forces the muscles and ligaments supporting it to stretch out.
Zore advises speaking with your OB-GYN if your cramps or abdominal pain is severe and does not go away after a few hours.
9. Constipation
Constipation is more common later in pregnancy, but it can still be an issue early on, too.
Goldstein recommends trying stool softeners and increasing your intake of soluble fiber. Some good sources of soluble fiber include:
- Apples (4.2 grams in one medium fruit with skin)
- Blackberries (3.1 grams in ½ cup)
- Black beans (3.8 grams in ½ cup)
- Oatmeal (2.4 grams in 1 cup)
- Green peas (3.2 grams in ½ cup)
10. Tiredness or fatigue
“I tell my patients that they are ‘sleeping for two,'” says Minkin.
Zore says fatigue is a common symptom in the first trimester as certain hormones surge and your body begins expending more energy to support the pregnancy. Specifically, progesterone is known to have sedative-like effects and is associated with fatigue.
Sleep deprivation during the first trimester has been linked to a number of health problems, so Mayo Clinic advises aiming for a minimum of eight hours of sleep per night.
11. Change in nipple color
You might notice that your nipples and areolas get darker during early pregnancy — Minkin says this is due to a rise in certain hormones, like estrogen, that affect skin pigmentation.
It’s also not uncommon for the veins in your breasts to darken as a result of increased blood flow to that area.
12. Mood swings
It’s not surprising that many pregnant women experience mood swings during the first trimester (between 6 and 10 weeks).
During this stage, you’re experiencing a flood of hormones — specifically, estrogen and progesterone, both of which can impact your emotional health. Estrogen is present in the part of the brain that regulates mood and has been linked to anxiety and depression.
Not to mention, pregnancy is a life-changing event.
“You might think it’s your hormones making you irritable, euphoric, or sentimental,” says Goldstein, “but I would not discount the very real and understandable emotional weight that goes with the adjustment to expanding your family.”
13. Lower blood pressure
Don’t be surprised if your blood pressure starts to drop during the first or second trimester. According to Minkin and Zore, this sometimes happens because an increase in progesterone relaxes the walls of the blood vessels, and the blood vessels may dilate to accommodate the increased blood flow during pregnancy.
Insider’s takeaway
The type and timeline of symptoms can vary significantly from pregnancy to pregnancy. However, some of the more common symptoms — like — breast changes, morning sickness, mood swings, cramps, fatigue, and spot — start during the first trimester, when there are drastic changes in hormone levels.
“Once you get a positive home test you should alert your OB-GYN, and they may have you come in for a blood test or ultrasound to confirm.”
When in doubt about any severe symptoms, always check in with your OB-GYN to rule out any pregnancy complications or other health issues.