Early Pregnancy Symptoms

What is the very early stage of pregnancy?

1. Overview

As mothers who have experienced pregnancy and childbirth know, the early stages of pregnancy are said to be a physically and mentally challenging period due to various symptoms, and in some cases, these symptoms are how women first learn they are pregnant. In my own experience, I considered myself quite insensitive to signals from my body, but at some point I began feeling pain in various parts of my body unlike anything I had ever experienced before, which led me to use a home pregnancy test and discover I was pregnant. Since many people go through similar experiences, I think those who are planning a pregnancy would benefit from learning about very early pregnancy symptoms in advance, as it would help them confirm the news sooner. With that in mind, I would like to share detailed information about very early pregnancy symptoms today, and I hope it will be of great help. Before getting into that, I would like to first explain what timeframe constitutes the "very early stage" of pregnancy, as an accurate understanding of this period seems necessary. First, the total pregnancy period is ten months, during which the fetus grows inside the mother's womb. It is generally divided into three stages: early, middle, and late pregnancy. Among these, the early stage of pregnancy is typically considered to last until about 3 to 4 months, and the very early stage of pregnancy is known to correspond to approximately weeks 1 through 6. This period is considered the most important time for confirming the fact of pregnancy.

2. What physical changes occur in the very early stage of pregnancy?

The first very early pregnancy symptom I would like to introduce is the absence of menstruation even after about a week past the expected period date. Since it is well known that menstruation stops when pregnancy occurs, many women check their menstrual cycle and, if their period is about a week late, begin to suspect they might be pregnant and try to confirm it. Many of my friends around me have discovered their pregnancies this way, but even if your period is more than a week late, it is difficult to be 100% certain you are pregnant. This is because irregular or absent periods can also be caused by underdevelopment of the uterus, stress, or ovarian abnormalities, so it may be better to wait a bit longer or visit a doctor for an accurate assessment. The second very early pregnancy symptom is cold-like symptoms. Since pregnancy is characterized by a rise in basal body temperature, one may feel chills and a general sense of malaise similar to having a cold or the flu. Additionally, when pregnant, the basal body temperature often stays elevated without dropping, maintaining a low-grade fever of around 37 degrees Celsius, which reportedly causes many people to think they actually have a cold. At first I also thought my symptoms were simply a cold, but when I went to the hospital I was told it was one of the very early pregnancy symptoms and that this would likely continue until around weeks 13 to 14.

3. What are the hormonal changes and symptoms in very early pregnancy?

Another very early pregnancy symptom, the third on our list, is fatigue. A hormone called progesterone is released to protect the pregnant mother, and since it plays a role in supporting the pregnancy, it continues to be produced throughout this period. However, this surge of hormones is known to cause symptoms such as tiredness and lethargy. This is why you may feel sleepy no matter how much you sleep, and it is said to be a phenomenon you do not need to worry about. At the same time, another very early pregnancy symptom is a feeling of residual urine. Due to the influence of the progesterone hormone mentioned earlier, blood is known to pool around the pelvis, and as this pooled blood presses on the bladder, the uterus also gradually enlarges, which can cause you to need to urinate more frequently and in greater amounts than usual. This feeling of residual urine is a very early pregnancy symptom that exists during the early stage and subsides during the middle stage, only to reappear in a more pronounced form during the late stage. There are also various other very early pregnancy symptoms. When pregnancy occurs, uterine activity increases and various hormones are released, which is also known to increase vaginal discharge. This discharge is understood to have no odor and to be colorless, so if you notice discharge that is white, sticky, smells, and is accompanied by itching or a burning sensation, you should suspect vaginitis. Additionally, similar to premenstrual syndrome, breast enlargement and tenderness is another very early pregnancy symptom. This is also believed to be caused by progesterone, and the mammary glands develop while the nipples may also become more sensitive.

4. What should you keep in mind when checking very early pregnancy symptoms?

Morning sickness symptoms can appear as early as week 5, and may include nausea or vomiting. Loss of appetite, being bothered by certain smells, and feeling too nauseated to eat properly are also commonly reported. Many people suffer greatly from morning sickness, and having gone through it myself and having seen it often, it never feels like something that is happening to someone else. Interestingly, it is said that some husbands also experience a form of sympathetic morning sickness, and some people experience what is called "hungry sickness" (eating more rather than less), so it may be helpful to know that morning sickness can present in various forms. Other symptoms include increased appearance of melasma and freckles, as well as constipation or diarrhea. However, these very early pregnancy symptoms may appear in some people and not in others. I recall that when I was pregnant, some of these symptoms applied to me and others did not. I feel fortunate that none of the symptoms were too severe. Now that we have reviewed these very early pregnancy symptoms together, I hope you will use this information as a reference and confirm your pregnancy news a little sooner by using a home pregnancy test or visiting a gynecologist. By paying attention to these physical changes in your body, you may be able to detect pregnancy earlier than others and begin preparing for a healthy pregnancy. It is important to note that the very early stage of pregnancy is a critical period when the baby's organs are forming, so it is well known to be important to avoid alcohol, smoking, and caffeine, and to ensure adequate intake of necessary nutrients such as folic acid.