Some women may notice symptoms in the first week of pregnancy, such as a missed period, mild cramping, breast tenderness, and excessive tiredness. These symptoms can vary from person to person and may be easy to overlook.
However, pregnancy symptoms at this stage are usually very subtle. Only some women are able to notice changes in their body this early.
Pregnancy symptoms happen as the body begins to adapt to support a developing baby. These changes are mainly related to shifts in hormone levels, including progesterone, hCG, and estrogen.
Symptoms in the first week of pregnancy
The most common symptoms in the first week of pregnancy are:
1. Missed period
A missed period is a possible common symptom starting in the first week of pregnancy.
However, this symptom is more common in women who have very regular menstrual cycles.
2. Excessive tiredness
Excessive tiredness, or fatigue, is another possible symptom during the first week of pregnancy.
This tiredness is usually related to the rapid increase in progesterone, a hormone that can cause sleepiness and fatigue.
3. Breast tenderness or swelling
Another possible symptom in the first week of pregnancy is breast tenderness or swelling.
This happens because hormonal changes during this time can make the breasts feel sensitive and sore. However, as the body adjusts to these hormonal changes, this symptom usually starts to improve after a few weeks.
4. Mild cramping
Mild cramping in the lower abdomen is a very common symptom in the first week of pregnancy and can happen as the embryo attaches to the uterus.
In addition to abdominal cramping, a woman may notice that her belly feels a little more bloated than usual. This happens because hormones can affect the tissues of the uterus and the female reproductive system.
5. Light bleeding
Light bleeding, such as spotting or bleeding that is lighter than a normal period, is a possible symptom during the first week of pregnancy.
This can happen when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, which may occur 6 to 12 days after conception. However, light bleeding is more common during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
6. Mood changes
Mood changes are another symptom that may appear during the first week of pregnancy.
These changes happen because of hormone fluctuations, which can cause a woman to feel happy and then suddenly feel sad or even irritable.
7. Morning sickness
Although morning sickness is more common around the 4th to 6th week, this symptom may also appear in the first week of pregnancy in some women.
Although it is called “morning sickness,” this symptom can happen at any time of day and may be accompanied by vomiting.
8. Changes in cervical mucus
Changes in cervical mucus are another possible symptom in the first week of pregnancy.
Cervical mucus may become thicker and remain this way until the end of pregnancy.
How the belly looks in the first week of pregnancy
In the first week of pregnancy, a woman’s belly has not increased in size yet. The belly usually only starts to become noticeable around the 8th week.
However, hormonal changes that happen in the first week can slow digestion. This can cause gas and abdominal bloating.
How to confirm pregnancy
Because many symptoms in the first week of pregnancy are similar to symptoms that can happen at other times in a woman’s life, they should not be used to confirm pregnancy.
To confirm pregnancy, it is recommended that a woman take an over-the-counter pregnancy test starting on the first day of a missed period. She can also see an obstetrician for a blood test to check beta-hCG hormone levels.
What is the first week of pregnancy?
For an obstetrician, the first week of pregnancy is counted as the week that starts on the first day of the last menstrual period.
This is because, during this first week, the woman is not actually pregnant yet. The new egg has not yet been released and, therefore, has not yet been fertilized by sperm.
However, what many women consider the first week of pregnancy is the 7 days right after the egg is fertilized. This only happens about 2 weeks after the gestational age counted by the doctor begins.
Therefore, the week that is popularly considered the first week of pregnancy usually happens around the second week of pregnancy, or the 2nd week after menstruation.