4. Nausea and Vomiting
About 70-85% of pregnant women feel nauseous, usually starting around 4-6 weeks of pregnancy. Despite being called “morning sickness,” it can happen any time of day.
Some women feel only slightly sick, while others vomit frequently. This happens because of pregnancy hormones like hCG and estrogen. While unpleasant, this is completely normal.
5. Breast Changes
Your breasts often change before other pregnancy signs appear. You may notice:
Sore, tender breasts
Breasts feeling fuller or larger
Darker nipples
Small bumps around the nipples
More visible veins on the breasts
These changes happen because pregnancy hormones prepare your body for breastfeeding.
6. Strong Sense of Smell
Many pregnant women develop a very strong sense of smell. You might suddenly dislike smells that never bothered you before, like perfume, coffee, or certain foods.
This heightened smell sensitivity often goes along with nausea. It may be nature’s way of protecting you and your baby from harmful substances during pregnancy.
7. Frequent Urination
Needing to urinate more often is common in early pregnancy. This happens because:
Your body makes more blood, so your kidneys work harder
Pregnancy hormones affect your bladder
Your growing uterus puts pressure on your bladder
This is normal and not a cause for worry unless you have pain or burning when urinating.
8. Changes in Taste and Food Preferences
Many women experience taste changes early in pregnancy. You might notice:
A metallic taste in your mouth
Suddenly disliking foods you used to enjoy
Craving foods you never wanted before
Loss of appetite for certain things
These changes happen because pregnancy hormones affect your taste and smell. They usually get better after the first three months.
9. Mood Changes
Pregnancy hormones can affect your emotions early on. You might experience:
Feeling more sensitive than usual
Mood swings
Crying more easily
Feeling anxious or irritable
These emotional changes are normal and caused by hormone fluctuations. Understanding this can help you cope better.
When to Take a Pregnancy Test
Test accuracy depends on timing:
Most accurate: After your missed period (over 99% accurate)
Early testing: 5-6 days before your expected period (77% accurate)
Best timing: 1-2 days before your expected period (96-99% accurate)
Testing too early can give you a negative result even if you are pregnant. If you have symptoms but get a negative test, wait a few days and test again.
When to See a Doctor Right Away
Most early pregnancy symptoms are normal, but call your doctor immediately if you have:
Heavy bleeding with severe stomach pain
Severe one-sided stomach pain with bleeding
Vomiting so much you can’t keep fluids down
High fever with pregnancy symptoms
Severe dizziness or fainting with bleeding
9 Early Signs of Pregnancy: A Gynecologist's Guide
As a gynecologist, I see many women who come to me with early pregnancy symptoms. Recognizing these signs early is important for getting the right care at the right time. Here are the nine most common early pregnancy signs I see in my practice.
1. Missed Period
A missed period is still the most reliable early sign of pregnancy. If you normally have regular periods and you’re one week or more late, pregnancy is a strong possibility.
However, about 20-30% of pregnant women may have light bleeding around the time their period was due. This bleeding is different from a normal period and needs careful attention.
2. Light Spotting (Implantation Bleeding)
About 25-30% of pregnant women experience implantation bleeding around 10-14 days after conception. This happens when the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus.
How to tell the difference from your period:
Light pink or brown color (not bright red)
Very light flow
Lasts only 1-3 days
No blood clots
3. Extreme Tiredness
Feeling very tired is one of the earliest pregnancy signs. This happens because of rising progesterone levels, which make you feel sleepy.
The tiredness in early pregnancy is much stronger than normal tiredness. Many women say they feel exhausted even after sleeping well. This can happen even before you miss your period.
Important Points to Remember
Every woman’s pregnancy experience is different. Some women have many early symptoms, while others feel completely normal for months. Both are perfectly normal.
Trust your body. If you feel different and think you might be pregnant, it’s worth investigating. Women usually know when something has changed in their bodies.
Early pregnancy care is important. Getting medical care early in pregnancy leads to better health outcomes for both mother and baby.
Unplanned pregnancy? If you discover an unplanned pregnancy, it’s important to understand all your options. Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) is a safe and legal procedure when performed under a qualified gynecologist’s supervision, ideally within the first 20 weeks of gestation. Counseling and personalized care can help you make the decision that’s right for you.
At HerDoc, we understand that early pregnancy—planned or unplanned—can bring many questions and concerns. Our experienced gynecologists provide non-judgmental guidance on prenatal care, MTP, and all aspects of reproductive health.
Getting proper medical care early in pregnancy or for MTP is one of the best things you can do for your health and well-being. Schedule a consultation with our gynecologists at HerDoc — where expert medical care meets compassionate support.