Common Signs of Early Pregnancy

Bigger Breasts

Are you spilling out of your bra? The changes in hormone levels that begin very early on in pregnancy often cause your breasts to grow, and they may feel heavier and more tender.¹

Nausea

Does the thought of your morning coffee make you feel sick? Nausea and vomiting can start any time from one to two weeks after conception.¹ Blame the pregnancy hormones for this not-very-nice but very common sign of early pregnancy.

Extreme Tiredness

If usual work tasks or exercise leave you feeling dog-tired, then you’re experiencing one of the most common symptoms of early pregnancy.² Increased levels of progesterone can be the cause of tiredness when you’re expecting, so taking it easy and resting when possible is key.

Spotting

Although any sign of blood in early pregnancy might cause you worry, you can take a lot of comfort in knowing that spotting at around 2 weeks after you’ve conceived is normal.³ You may mistake this ‘implantation bleed’ for a light period, but it’s actually when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of the uterus.

Sensitivity to Smell

If the slightest hint of your favourite perfume makes you want to heave, then you can thank your early pregnancy hormones for that!⁴ The smells you once loved might have to be avoided at all costs for a while, but try not to worry – things usually return to normal after the first trimester!

Peeing More

Running back and forth to the toilet could be a sign you’re expecting.⁵ In early pregnancy, there’s a surge of the hormone hCG, which increases the blood flow in your pelvic area and in turn makes you want to pee more often than usual.

Mood Swings

It’s perfectly normal to cry, feel mad or sink into a low mood (sometimes all at the same time) at different stages in your pregnancy.⁶ A major reason for this rollercoaster of emotions is a fluctuation in – yes, you guessed it – hormones!

Food Cravings

Reaching for the olives at breakfast? Or got a thing for ice cream with fries suddenly? During early pregnancy, your changing hormones might mean you suddenly crave (and often peculiar) flavours.

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1. Mayo Clinic. (2021). Symptoms of pregnancy: What happens first.
2. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. (2017). Symptoms of pregnancy.
3. Mary Marnach, M.D. (2022). Is implantation bleeding common in early pregnancy?
4. Mayo Clinic. (2022). 1st trimester pregnancy: What to expect.
5. Bastian LA, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of early pregnancy.
6. Healthline. (2023). Pregnancy Mood Swings: Why You’re Feeling Them and What to Do.