How i knew i was pregnant before missed period

In this article

• Missed period
• Nausea
• Breast changes
• Fatigue
• Smell sensitivity
• Frequent urination
• Temperature changes
• Food cravings
• Changes to mood
• Taken by surprise!

Think you might be pregnant? Discover the first signs that these BabyCentre mums knew they were expecting, and get the lowdown on some of the early signs and symptoms of pregnancy.

Missed period

"I've always had regular periods. When I was a few days late one month, I pretty much knew I was pregnant."
Sarah

"My period was a few days late, but I'd been really stressed and so I didn't think much of it. My boyfriend got really worried, so I took a test mostly just to shut him up. Turns out I was the one lost for words!"
Natasha

"I didn't realise I was pregnant until I was already two months gone! I'd always had an irregular cycle, and I didn't get any symptoms to begin with, so it took me a while to think that anything might be happening! It wasn't until I sat down with my calendar and saw just how long it had been since my last period that I decided to take a test."
Kat

Nausea

"I had really bad nausea and almost no appetite. I was even sick a few times. I'm very rarely ill, and we'd been trying for a while, so I hoped it would be time for my BFP – and it was!"
Jen

Breast changes

"My boobs were so sore! I don't usually get any symptoms around the time of my period, so I knew exactly what it meant."
Sazz

"I'd heard that sore boobs could be an early sign of pregnancy, but no one said anything about tingling nipples! It was a really strange sensation."
Maja

"It was actually my hubby who first gave me the idea I might be pregnant. We went out for dinner, and he made a comment about my boobs looking massive, which got me thinking…"
Erin

Fatigue

"I woke up one day feeling absolutely exhausted. We'd been trying for ages with no success, so I just thought I was coming down with something, but my partner insisted I take a test. Lo and behold, it was positive!"
Laura

"I just felt really groggy and dizzy. At first I thought I was coming down with something, but my mum was adamant it was something more. In this case, mother really did know best – now I'm going to be one too!"
Holly

Smell sensitivity

"For me, it was all about smells! When the washer fluid on my car was making me feel light-headed, I knew something must be up. I drove straight to the chemist to confirm my suspicions with a pregnancy test."
Charlie

Frequent urination

"For several days, I found myself needing to pee all the time. It was only when I searched for my symptoms online that the penny dropped I might be pregnant!"
Jess

Temperature changes

"We were trying everything to get pregnant, including charting my temperature to see when I was ovulating. One month, my temperature stayed high for longer than normal, and somehow I just knew!"
Anna

Food cravings

"I craved ketchup on everything during my first pregnancy, but went off it as soon as I gave birth. So two years later, when I found myself reaching for the squeezy bottle at breakfast, I thought: here we go again!"
Amara

Changes to mood

"I'm not a very emotional person, but suddenly I found I was crying at everything. When I burst into tears at the hairdresser because "The royal family are just so beautiful", I knew it was time to take a pregnancy test!"
Ellie

Taken by surprise!

"This is going to sound really strange, but my cat started acting extra protective of me. He's not normally very cuddly, but suddenly he insisted on sleeping in bed with me! I checked online, thinking something was wrong with him, and found a few women saying their cats had done this while they were pregnant. Turned out, so was I!"
Belle

"I went to get the contraceptive implant. I knew they’d want to double-check I wasn't pregnant first, so I did a test beforehand and got a positive! It was a massive shock for both of us!"
Gemma

Polly Logan-Banks is an experienced editor with a keen interest in producing evidence-based content. Polly is passionate about ensuring that every child gets the best start in life.

Do you know the early symptoms of pregnancy? From nausea to fatigue, know what to expect.

Could you be pregnant? The proof is in the pregnancy test. But even before you miss a period, you might suspect — or hope — that you're pregnant. Know the first signs and symptoms of pregnancy and why they occur.

Classic signs and symptoms of pregnancy

The most common early signs and symptoms of pregnancy might include:

• Missed period. If you're in your childbearing years and a week or more has passed without the start of an expected menstrual cycle, you might be pregnant. However, this symptom can be misleading if you have an irregular menstrual cycle.
• Tender, swollen breasts. Early in pregnancy hormonal changes might make your breasts sensitive and sore. The discomfort will likely decrease after a few weeks as your body adjusts to hormonal changes.
• Nausea with or without vomiting. Morning sickness, which can occur at any time of the day or night, often begins one to two months after you become pregnant. However, some women feel nausea earlier and some never experience it. While the cause of nausea during pregnancy isn't clear, pregnancy hormones likely play a role.
• Increased urination. You might find yourself urinating more often than usual. The amount of blood in your body increases during pregnancy, causing your kidneys to process extra fluid that ends up in your bladder.
• Fatigue. Fatigue also ranks high among early symptoms of pregnancy. No one knows for certain what causes sleepiness during the first trimester of pregnancy. However, a rapid rise in the levels of the hormone progesterone during early pregnancy might contribute to fatigue.

Other signs and symptoms of pregnancy

Other less obvious signs and symptoms of pregnancy that you might experience during the first trimester include:

• Moodiness. The flood of hormones in your body in early pregnancy can make you unusually emotional and weepy. Mood swings also are common.
• Bloating. Hormonal changes during early pregnancy can cause you to feel bloated, similar to how you might feel at the start of a menstrual period.
• Light spotting. Light spotting might be one of the first signs of pregnancy. Known as implantation bleeding, it happens when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus — about 10 to 14 days after conception. Implantation bleeding occurs around the time you would expect to have a menstrual period. However, not all women have it.
• Cramping. Some women experience mild uterine cramping early in pregnancy.
• Constipation. Hormonal changes cause your digestive system to slow down, which can lead to constipation.
• Food aversions. When you're pregnant, you might become more sensitive to certain odors and your sense of taste might change. Like most other symptoms of pregnancy, these food preferences can be chalked up to hormonal changes.
• Nasal congestion. Increasing hormone levels and blood production can cause the mucous membranes in your nose to swell, dry out and bleed easily. This might cause you to have a stuffy or runny nose.

Are you really pregnant?

Many of these signs and symptoms aren't unique to pregnancy. Some can indicate that you're getting sick or that your period is about to start. Likewise, you can be pregnant without experiencing many of these symptoms.

Still, if you miss a period and notice some of the above signs or symptoms, take a home pregnancy test or see your health care provider. If your home pregnancy test is positive, make an appointment with your health care provider. The sooner your pregnancy is confirmed, the sooner you can begin prenatal care.

If you're planning to conceive or just learned you're pregnant, start taking a daily prenatal vitamin. Prenatal vitamins typically contain important vitamins and minerals, such as folic acid and iron, to support your baby's growth and development.

Dec. 03, 2021

1. Bastian LA, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of early pregnancy. //www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 13, 2021.
2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Committee on Obstetric Practice. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 189: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2018;131:e15.
3. Norwitz ER, et al. Overview of the etiology and evaluation of vaginal bleeding in pregnancy. //www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 13, 2021.
4. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Months 1 and 2. In: Your Pregnancy and Childbirth: Month to Month. Kindle edition. 7th ed. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; 2021. Accessed Oct. 1, 2021.
5. Lockwood CJ, et al. Prenatal care: Initial assessment. //www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 13, 2021.
6. Marnach, ML (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Oct. 15, 2021.

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See also

1. Can birth control pills cause birth defects?
2. Home pregnancy tests: Can you trust the results?
3. Pregnancy due date calculator

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