The earliest pregnancy symptoms can help you know you are pregnant. Many women remember spotting early symptoms of pregnancy when they were pregnant before. Some women know the moment they are pregnant, while other women will only be able to tell they are pregnant after missing a period and doing a pregnancy test.

These are the most common earliest pregnancy symptoms that most women 

agree on. Spotting early symptoms of pregnancy should be followed by using one of the better home pregnancy tests to confirm your pregnancy.

Here are common earliest pregnancy symptoms to look for:

• Light Spotting or Bleeding from Implantation - spotting or bleeding from implantation can be pinkish or brownish and not heavy. This spotting can also be a yellowish vaginal discharge. A normal menstrual flow should begin light, become heavier, then taper off again before ending. About 4-5 days after conception, the embryo will implant itself into the wall of the uterus. Some women will experience light spotting early symptoms of pregnancy plus cramping around this time.

• Basal Body Temperature Stays Elevated - an increase in body temperature usually happens at ovulation. Your basal body temperature remaining elevated after ovulation and through when your period should begin can be one of the earliest pregnancy symptoms. A basal thermometer should be used to chart the slight elevations in your body temperature when you wake up each day.

• Tender and Enlarged Breasts - early in pregnancy, the body's hormone levels begin changing. A hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is produced with implantation which has the side effect of causing changes in the breasts. The body reacts to the new hormone levels, and the earliest pregnancy symptoms include changes in the feelings of tenderness in the breasts. The breasts may also feel fuller. The feelings of tenderness and fullness usually go away as the body becomes accustomed to the new hormone chemistry.

• More Frequent Urination - urinating more often can be one of the earliest pregnancy symptoms and can happen even before a missed period. The reason, as with tender and enlarged breasts, is the change in hormone levels produced by implantation of the embryo and hCG production. Spotting early symptoms of pregnancy can be mistaken for other conditions or as a reaction to the consumption of various foods or other substances. Pregnancy needs to be confirmed by the results of a pregnancy test.

• Fatigue - spotting early symptoms of pregnancy related to fatigue is sometimes hard to distinguish from other kinds of tiredness and exhaustion. Health professionals attribute this fatigue to the change in hormones in the body, which usually disappears as the body adjusts to the new hormone levels.

• Missed Period - missing a menstrual period is one of the obvious earliest pregnancy symptoms. However, many women have missed periods for other reasons and conditions. These reasons include illness, stress, hormone imbalance and adverse reactions to certain prescription drugs. For a missed period to be one of the first pregnancy signs symptoms, pregnancy should be confirmed by a pregnancy test.

Your last menstrual period will be considered your first pregnancy week, and your due date will be 40 weeks from the start of your last cycle. Conception happens about two weeks after your last period began, and implantation in the uterus begins about 4-5 days after fertilization. Within about twelve days after fertilization, the developing embryo has firmly attached itself to the uterine wall and receives nourishment from the mother's bloodstream. The placenta also starts developing about this same time.

Remember that the baby's health begins with the mothers health before conception as well as during pregnancy. Studies have estimated that about 75% of the lost pregnancies are due to failure at the implantation stage. Avoiding exposure to harmful chemicals and infections during the first ten days or so after conception is crucial for the implantation process. Alcohol, drugs, household chemicals, medications and tobacco should be avoided especially during this time to help prevent pregnancy loss. In general, however, keep in mind that most of the time, pregnancy loss at this stage is beyond anyone's control.

Becoming pregnant and enjoying a successful pregnancy is a complicated and wonderful experience. Learn as much as you can about fertility, pregnancy and your health so the new baby will have the best beginning to life that you can provide them.

Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing

 * This website does not intend to give medical advice. You should consult a competent physician with important questions about your health.

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