10 Signs That You May Be Pregnant Before a Missed Period
Did you know pregnancy symptoms can start appearing before you miss a period? For many women, there are pregnancy signs before a missed period, but they’re easy to overlook. These symptoms are often very subtle and easily confused as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), stress or fatigue from everyday life, allergies or even another illness.
In this post, we’ll break down ten signs that you may be pregnant before a missed period. These signs could indicate that it’s time to take a pregnancy test.
#1: Fatigue and Unusual Tiredness
Extreme tiredness is common in early pregnancy, even if you’re usually energetic. During the first trimester, there is a sudden increase in the production of progesterone, which is a hormone that can make you feel relaxed and sleepy. The extra energy required to support the growing fetus can leave you feeling drained, often needing more sleep or daytime naps.
#2: Nausea and Morning Sickness
One of the most notable early pregnancy symptoms is unexpected nausea and morning sickness. The differences between morning sickness and a run-of-the-mill stomach bug aren’t always noticeable. A typical illness often comes with other symptoms like fever, diarrhea, and dehydration, while pregnancy-related morning sickness does not. Instead, morning sickness is frequently accompanied by other early pregnancy symptoms that can feel like PMS, such as cramps and moodiness.
#3: Breast Tenderness and Changes
During early pregnancy, the increase in hormones circulating in your body can leave your breasts feeling sore, tender, and heavy. You also might notice that your areolas look darker than usual or that your veins are more visible. This is because the additional hormones result in extra circulation and fluid retention in the breasts.
#4: Spotting or Light Bleeding
Light spotting, known as implantation bleeding, can occur in early pregnancy when the embryo attaches to the uterus. Unlike a period, it’s much lighter, lasting only a day or two and producing just a few drops of red, pink, or brown blood—not enough to fill a pad or tampon.
#5: Cramping Without a Period
Cramping is a common early pregnancy sign often mistaken for period symptoms. These cramps occur around the same time as period cramps but are milder and not accompanied by heavy bleeding.
Early pregnancy cramps are typically brief, lasting a few minutes to a few hours. They can be caused by hormonal changes, implantation, or the uterus gradually expanding.
#6: Changes in Mood and Emotion
Hormonal changes in early pregnancy can make you feel moodier or more emotional than usual, with sudden shifts from happiness to sadness or anger. Fatigue from early pregnancy often worsens these mood swings.
While mood changes are common with PMS, pregnancy-related mood swings are usually more intense and less predictable.
#7: Food Cravings and Aversions
During early pregnancy, you might suddenly find yourself craving unusual foods or beverages. Conversely, foods that you normally love might seem off-putting.
Scientists aren’t clear on exactly what causes pregnancy cravings, but there are a few possible theories. Hormone shifts during pregnancy could affect our sense of taste and smell, making foods that normally seem enticing feel off-putting (and vice versa).
Some also theorize that cravings coincide with nutritional deficiencies. For example, if you aren’t getting enough potassium, you might crave bananas. However, this theory hasn’t been proven.
#8: Frequent Urination
Frequent urination is an early pregnancy sign, causing multiple bathroom trips during the day and at night. Hormonal changes, especially HcG, increased blood volume and the pressure from your uterus pushing on your bladder are the culprits.
#9: Headaches and Lightheadedness
Hormonal changes and increased circulation can also cause abnormal headaches during early pregnancy. These could be dull headaches that persist throughout the day or more intense migraine headaches. Fatigue and stress can make these symptoms worse.
You might also feel lightheaded more often than usual in early pregnancy. Increased circulation sends blood to your reproductive system and away from the head, which can leave you feeling dizzy.
#10: Heightened Sensitivity to Smells
Many women experience an increased sensitivity to smell, for some as early as a few days into their pregnancy. This often happens because of the sudden increase in hormones. In particular, you might find certain smells very unpleasant that you wouldn’t have noticed before.
I Think I May Be Pregnant, When Should I Take a Pregnancy Test?
Any combination of the above symptoms may indicate a pregnancy, but you can’t be sure until you take a test. The most accurate testing is done after a missed period, but some of the more advanced tests on the market claim to be able to tell even before then. Most home pregnancy tests can detect pregnancy hormones (hCG) as early as the first day of your missed period, though some sensitive tests can work a few days before. For the most accurate results:
- Wait until after your missed period: Testing too early may lead to a false negative if hCG levels are too low to detect.
- Use first-morning urine: hCG levels are most concentrated in the morning.
- Follow the instructions carefully: Each test brand may have slightly different usage instructions.
- If the test is positive, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to confirm the pregnancy and begin prenatal care. If it’s negative but your period doesn’t start, wait a few days and test again.
When to See an OB-GYN if You Think You’re Pregnant
While every woman’s experience is unique, these signs could indicate that you’re pregnant, even if you haven’t missed a period yet. The best way to confirm your pregnancy is to take a pregnancy test.
If you think you may be pregnant, or have just found out that you are and need prenatal care, make an appointment with a Genesis OB-GYN provider today. Our providers work with thousands of women annually to confirm pregnancies and help you chart the next steps with empathy, knowledge, and care.
