Earliest Possible Signs of Pregnancy

When you are trying to conceive, it is natural to want to know if you were successful as early as you can. At one time, missing your period was usually the first sign that you might be pregnant, unless you know some of the earliest possible signs to pregnancy to look for. Medical technology has improved to the point that you can take an at home pregnancy test as soon as two weeks after you ovulate. The test will measure the hCG levels in your urine to determine if you are pregnant.

If you are really impatient, here are some of the earliest possible signs of pregnancy that you will want to look for.

Before we start, it is important to note that not only is every woman different but every pregnancy is different. I had two boys just 14 months apart and my pregnancies were very different. (Ok – I had all day sickness with both of them, but that is where the similarities ended.) So, just because you do not have these a symptom (or do) does not mean much. Their presences are merely signs of being pregnant.

• Breast Tenderness – Does is hurt to roll over when you sleep and do you feel like crying when you but on your bra?
• Blue Veins – Spider man anyone? Blue veins in your breasts are a common pregnancy indicator. If you are very fair this may be especially pronounce
• Darkening of areolas
• Mild cramps may occur due to an expanding uterus
• Hormone changes can cause extreme fatigue. When this hits depends on the individual. I can remember long before I knew I was pregnant with my first son, my husband getting frustrated with me because we had been given prime hockey tickets and I was too tired to go. I do not take naps usually and I slept more in my first trimester that I ever have in my life!
• Is the smell of chicken enough to make you gag? Or do you suddenly just HAVE to have chocolate covered peanuts? Food cravings or aversions are a common indicator of pregnancy.
• Headed to the bathroom every 10 minutes? Frequent urination occurs with pregnancy when the uterus begins to swell over the bladder
• Headed to the bathroom for another reason? Morning sickness thanks to those wonderful pregnancy hormones can begin long before you miss your period. (I should know…mine started within a week of ovulation) The up side? It has been shown that morning sickness can reduce the chance of miscarriage.
• Do you track your basal temperature? If so, you will find that a high basal temperature can be a sign that you are pregnant. (This is due to progesterone levels)
• Implantation bleeding can occur between 6 and 12 days after you ovulate. This is when the fertilized egg burrows into the lining of your uterus.
• Do you usually get PMS but find yourself absent of your normal symptoms? You could be pregnant!
• On the other hand, pregnancy hormones can make you so emotional so that you might not notice the lack of PMS induced crappiness! The joke about pregnant women crying at commercials…not really all that funny.
• Increased breast size. It is rare that this occurs significantly early on, but women who are very small may notice.

Do you know of other earliest possible signs of pregnancy? I would love to hear form you!