Early signs of pregnancy

When you are trying to get pregnant – or possibly desperate to get pregnant – every passing month and every failed pregnancy test is a huge disappointment.

You are so on the look-out for some of the early pregnancy symptoms that the slightest thing raises your hopes that you’ve spotted one of the clear pregnancy signs and you have a baby on board!

But are you aware of all the possible early pregnancy symptoms?  Could you be missing some pregnancy signs which can kick-in just days after conception?

Some women say they just “know” the moment it happens. They just feel different, funny or even strangely serene. Others immediately have a certain “glow” about them. But here are some other, perhaps slightly clearer, early pregnancy signs to look out for…

Tender breasts : Of course boobs can be tender at some stages of your menstrual cycle, but some women say their breasts don’t just feel tender, they also feel slightly bigger from the outset of pregnancy.

Change of taste :  Dysgeusia is the medical term for a change in your sense of taste. When you are pregnant it can cause you to completely reject some food items you previously enjoyed – or crave something new.

Hormones, and in particular, oestrogen play a role in controlling our sense of taste. So when you’re pregnant, and oestrogen levels fluctuate, your sense of taste and sometimes your sense of smell are strongly affected.

Metallic taste : Some women don’t just have a change in taste, they say their mouth tastes like they have been sucking metal, it’s a lingering, not very pleasant sensation.

Feeling moody : Again this can sometimes be a side-effect of the menstrual cycle, but some women report uncharacteristically bursting into tears or throwing a total wobbly for some trivial matter that wouldn’t normally affect them.

Frequent peeing : Even from very early on a pregnant woman may find she has the need to wee frequently due to pressure from the enlarging uterus on the bladder. When baby is bigger she, or he, will start pressing on mum’s bladder and trips to the loo become more frequent again.

Tummy pain : Some women experience some short-lived discomfort when the egg is implanting in the womb. They describe it as similar to menstrual cramps but more like bad wind!

Vaginal discharge : An increase in white or clear vaginal discharge is normal in early pregnancy. Coloured, smelly discharge or one that causes itching or soreness could be a sign of a vaginal infection so check with your GP.

Tiredness : More than sleepiness really, it’s an all over fatigue or exhaustion that can really only be remedied with a nap. If you are normally wide awake all day, but suddenly find yourself nodding off at your desk, it could be an early sign of pregnancy.