A peculiar fact to note is that your first week of pregnancy is determined by the date of your last period. The average pregnancy term is 40 weeks and you may not feel any symptoms during the first two weeks.
Pregnancy symptoms present themselves as your condition progresses. Here is the timeline for symptoms and when you can expect them to present themselves in early pregnancy.
Weeks 1 to 4
- Spotting & cramping
- Missed Period
- Increasing levels of low energy & fatigue
Week 4 to 6
- Nausea & Morning sickness
- Sensitive breasts
- Frequent urination
- Bloating & swelling
- Mood Swings
- Increase in body temperature
Week 8 to 10
- Blood pressure increases and fluctuations
- Extreme Fatigue
- Heartburn
Missed period, Cramping & Spotting
The changes in week one to four are made at a cellular level and the first two weeks can display no signs of an early pregnancy. The egg develops into a blastocyst that begins to divide every 12 hours. The blastocyst implants itself in the wall of the uterus around week two. This implantation can cause light bleeding or spotting that may be confused with a period.
After implantation, the body releases extra amounts of hCG ( Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) to assist in the development of the egg. The elevated levels of hCG in your system are used as the identifying hormone for a positive result in a home pregnancy test.
Elevated Body temperature, Fatigue & Increased Heart Rate Associated with Early Pregnancy
Your basal body temperature will increase due to elevated hormone production. You may feel hot flushes and increased heart rate around week four. These two factors may also cause heart palpitations and arrhythmia, so don’t be alarmed if this occurs. Fatigue may also begin to set in. Stay away from stimulants during these tiresome moments, rather persist through them for the health of your baby. Wear looser fitting clothes and try and keep cool.
Breast Changes During Early Pregnancy
After the fourth week of pregnancy, you will begin to notice that your breasts become sensitive. There may also be a bit of swelling that occurs and subsides after your hormones have adjusted to a favorable balance.
Purchase a comfortable maternity bra to reduce friction and help you mitigate the effects of sore or sensitive breasts.
Mood Changes During Early Pregnancy
Your hormones will be at very high levels in the early stages of pregnancy. You can expect wild swings in mood and aversions to food, as well as powerful cravings. Supplement with some evening primrose oil to help you balance your mood.
Heartburn, Nausea & Morning Sickness During Early Pregnancy
Although it may be named ‘Morning sickness’, nausea and vomiting can strike at any time of the day. This ill feeling begins at around the fourth to the sixth week of the pregnancy and can carry on right until the last trimester in some women. Other women have also reported that they have felt no symptoms of morning sickness or nausea at any stage of their pregnancy.
Science isn’t exactly clear on what causes nausea, but it is thought that changes in hormone levels play a huge role.