The Top 10 Pregnancy Symptoms And Signs - BabyCentre UK

Key Takeaways

• Missed period = most common first clue.
• Early symptoms can mimic PMS.
• A pregnancy test is the only sure answer.

Think you might be pregnant? Sometimes the signs show up before a test even does. In those first days and weeks, your body is already busy making big changes, and you might spot some clues. From missed periods to sudden food cravings, here are the early pregnancy symptoms to look out for.Lead midwife and BabyCentre expert Sophie Martin says: "Some women 'just know' straight away that they are pregnant, and others don't have any symptoms at all." She adds: "Some early pregnancy signs can also be symptoms that women experience right before their period arrives, which can be confusing. If in doubt, do a pregnancy test.”

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1. A missed period
2. Tingling or itchy nipples
3. Spotting or light bleeding
4. Nausea or being sick
5. Sore or tender breasts
6. Tiredness and fatigue
7. Frequent urination
8. Darker nipples
9. Increased vaginal discharge
10. Cramping or stomach pain
11. Metallic taste
12. Changed sense of smell
13. Mood swings
14. Food cravings or going off food
15. Positive pregnancy test

Read on to find out more about the most common early pregnancy symptoms that women experience.

Some women 'just know' straight away that they are pregnant, and others don't have any symptoms at all. - Sophie Martin, lead midwife

1. A missed period

If your cycle is usually like clockwork and your period doesn’t show up, chances are you’ll grab a pregnancy test before anything else. A missed period is one of the strongest early signs of pregnancy (NHS 2022a). But if your periods are a bit unpredictable, or you’ve lost track of dates, you might not notice straight away. In that case, other clues – like sore boobs, feeling queasy, or dashing to the loo more often – might be your first hint (Bastian & Brown 2023, NHS 2022a).

Of course, a missed period can happen for other reasons too. Stress, tough workouts, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or changes in weight can all mess with your cycle (NHS 2019b). If you’ve skipped one or two periods and tests are still negative, it’s a good idea to see your GP (NHS 2022b).

2. Tingling or itchy nipples

Packed with extra blood flow thanks to pregnancy hormones, your breasts might feel tingly, prickly, or itchy (Bharj and Daniels 2017, Healthline 2019, NHS 2022a). This can kick in as early as the third week after conception (Bharj and Daniels 2017), so for some, it’s one of the very first signs.

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3. Spotting or light bleeding

A bit of spotting around the time your period should arrive is actually pretty common (Bastian & Brown 2023, NHS 2022a). It’s usually lighter than your normal flow (Bastian & Brown 2023, NHS 2022a) – maybe only needing one or two pads in a day (Bastian & Brown 2023).This can happen when the fertilised egg nestles into the womb lining, known as implantation bleeding (NHS 2022a). Some experts think it’s down to the developing placenta instead, so more research is needed (Hasan et al. 2010). Either way, light bleeding is often part of early pregnancy (Bastian & Brown 2023).It shouldn’t be heavy or painful, and usually only lasts a day or two – though for some, it lingers a little longer (Bastian & Brown 2023). If your bleeding feels heavy, comes with pain, or just worries you, check in with your GP to be safe. (Bastian & Brown 2023)Wondering if bleeding after sex could mean pregnancy? It’s not considered a typical sign. Often it’s harmless, but sometimes it can point to an infection or another condition, so best to get it checked (NHS 2021a).

Advertisement | page continues belowLearn more about spotting or bleeding in pregnancy.

4. Nausea or being sick

The infamous morning sickness can actually strike at any time of day (or night) (NHS 2022a, Willacy 2021). It often kicks in between weeks four and six (Bastian & Brown 2023, NHS 2022a, Bharj and Daniels 2017, Willacy 2021). For some, it’s a queasy, on-and-off feeling. For others, it’s full-on vomiting. If you can’t keep anything down, it could be hyperemesis gravidarum, which sometimes needs hospital treatment (NHS 2022a).Check out our tips for handling nausea in early pregnancy.

5. Sore or tender breasts

Breast tenderness is often one of the earliest changes after conception (Bastian & Brown 2023, Willacy 2021). Your boobs might ache, feel swollen, or make your usual bra unbearable (sports bra = your new best friend) (Healthline 2019).

Advertisement | page continues belowIt’s also a classic PMS symptom (Healthline 2019, NHS 2022a), which is why it’s so easy to confuse. But in early pregnancy, you might also notice veins appearing under the skin and swelling that sticks around (Healthline 2019, NHS 2022a, Willacy 2021).Breast changes are your body’s way of prepping for breastfeeding. Still, if you ever notice unusual lumps, always get checked by your GP.Learn more about breast changes in pregnancy.

Some early pregnancy signs can also be symptoms that women experience right before their period arrives, which can be confusing. If in doubt, do a pregnancy test - Sophie Martin, lead midwife

6. Tiredness and fatigue

That bone-deep exhaustion? Totally normal in early pregnancy (Bastian & Brown 2023, NHS 2022a, Willacy 2021). Hormones are partly to blame (NHS 2022a), but it’s also your body working overtime to support your baby.Fatigue usually peaks in the first 12 weeks (Bastian & Brown 2023, NHS 2022a, Willacy 2021). The good news is you’ll probably feel more energised once you hit the second trimester (Bastian & Brown 2023, NHS 2022a, Willacy 2021).

Advertisement | page continues belowDiscover how to cope with pregnancy tiredness.

7. Frequent urination

By around week eight, you may notice you’re weeing more often (NHS 2022a, Bharj and Daniels 2017, Willacy 2021). That’s down to hormones, extra blood in your system, and your kidneys working double-time (Willacy 2021). If peeing stings or burns, it could be a urinary tract infection (UTI), so see your GP (Bastian & Brown 202, Willacy 20213).Learn how to handle all those loo trips.

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8. Darker nipples

Skin changes are common in pregnancy, and your nipples are usually one of the first places you’ll notice them (Bastian & Brown 2023, NHS 2022a, Willacy 2021). The areolas may darken from about halfway through your first trimester (Bharj and Daniels 2017). You may also see little bumps (Montgomery glands) around your nipples become more obvious – they release oils to get your boobs ready for feeding (Healthline 2019). Around the same time, your vulva and vagina may also deepen in colour (Bastian & Brown 2023, Bharj and Daniels 2017), though you might not notice it yourself.

9. Increased vaginal discharge

More discharge than usual? Totally normal in early pregnancy (NHS 2021b, NHS 2022a, Willacy 2021). It’s usually clear or milky white, odour-free, and can be thin or sticky (NHS 2021b, Willacy 2021). This discharge helps protect you from infection. But if it turns green, yellow, lumpy, or smelly, check in with your GP (NHS 2021b).

Advertisement | page continues belowLearn more about vaginal discharge in pregnancy.

10. Cramping or stomach pain

Mild cramps or tummy aches without bleeding can be an early pregnancy sign (Bastian & Brown 2023). But yep – they can also just mean your period’s coming.If cramps are severe, don’t ease up, or come with bleeding, call 111 or head to A&E straight away.

11. Metallic taste

That weird “pennies in your mouth” flavour? You’re not imagining it. Many women notice a metallic taste in early pregnancy (NHS 2022a, Willacy 2021). It’s not pleasant, but strong flavours like mint or citrus can help take the edge off (Ernst 2018). It usually fades as pregnancy goes on.

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12. Changed sense of smell

If smells feel stronger than usual – or suddenly unbearable – it might be pregnancy hormones at play (NHS 2022a, Willacy 2021). This heightened sense of smell can also make nausea worse (Willacy 2021). Get tips on managing smell sensitivity.

13. Mood swings

One minute you’re teary over an advert, the next you’re snapping at your partner – early pregnancy hormones can make emotions swing hard (Bastian & Brown 2023, NHS 2022a, Willacy 2021). If low moods stick around or you’re struggling to cope, reach out to your GP (NICE 2022).

Advertisement | page continues belowLearn more about managing mood swings in pregnancy.

14. Food cravings or going off food

Classic cravings might hit, making you desperate for random foods (NHS 2022a, Willacy 2021). Or you might suddenly go off your favourites, like coffee or greasy takeaways (NHS 2022a, Willacy 2021). Hunger usually ramps up later in pregnancy (Healthline 2020). In the early weeks, nausea can mean the opposite – little appetite at all.

15. Positive pregnancy test

The most certain sign is a home pregnancy test (Bastian & Brown 2023, NHS 2022a). The most accurate results come from testing the day your period is due, though some tests claim to work earlier (Bastian & Brown 2023, NHS 2022b).If you’re not sure when that is, wait 21 days after unprotected sex (NHS 2022b).

Advertisement | page continues belowA positive test is almost always reliable (NHS 2022b). Not sure about a faint line? Check our guide on what a faint result really means.A negative test is trickier – hormones may not be high enough yet, or the timing might be off (NHS 2022b, Bastian & Brown 2023). Certain meds can also affect results (NHS 2022b).If your period still doesn’t arrive, retest in a few days (NHS 2022b, Bastian & Brown 2023). Still negative? Time to check in with your GP.

Other possible signs of early pregnancy

These symptoms aren’t a sure-fire sign of pregnancy since they can pop up for other reasons. But some people do notice them in the first few months, so it’s worth keeping an eye out:

• bloating
• constipation
• heartburn
• a stuffy nose
• feeling breathless
• feeling lightheaded or dizzy
• trouble sleeping
• lower back pain (Bastian & Brown 2023 , NHS 2022a)

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Some other symptoms aren’t usually considered early pregnancy signs, though they might show up later on:

• diarrhoea
• headaches
• dehydration
• fever
• hot flushes
• nosebleeds
• leg pain
• vivid dreams
• dry mouth
• hiccups

If any of these symptoms pop up and you’re not sure why – or you’re just feeling a bit off – reach out to your GP or call NHS 111 to be safe.Check out which pregnancy symptoms you should never ignore.

 

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BabyCentre Community members share their experiences

• “Extreme tiredness, dizziness and headaches for me!”
• “I had bloating and felt pressure, sort of like a stretching feeling in my pelvic area. The first time that happened with a huge amount of white discharge.”
• “Really bad heartburn, which I never really get, and vivid dreams. A few days later I noticed everything smelt so strong.”

Read more experiences of early pregnancy symptoms from expectant mums in our BabyCentre Community.

How soon will I notice early signs of pregnancy?

Some of these signs can show up super early – sometimes just a week or two after conception. But most people don’t notice anything until around four to six weeks (NHS 2022a). The only way to really know is to take a pregnancy test (NHS 2022a).

• Learn more about the signs of ovulation.
• Check out our tips on having a healthy pregnancy.
• Get to know your menstrual cycle.

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