Generally, the first and the foremost sign of pregnancy is the missed period. This, combined with other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, morning sickness, breast soreness and others makes a woman apprehensive whether she is pregnant or not. Here are some common early pregnancy symptoms which have been explained:
Missed or delayed period: Though a missed period is generally associated with pregnancy, there could be other reasons too like fatigue; hormonal problems; tension; stress; etc. when a woman gets pregnant, the egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, and then the placenta starts to form. This contact between the egg and the uterus triggers the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, which means no more periods.
Nausea and Vomiting: Though morning sickness combined with a missed period indicates pregnancy, you could also feel nauseous due to stomach or health disorder. When pregnant, nausea and vomiting happens because of the rise and shift of hormones.
Breast tenderness: Breast tenderness also happens when women are close to getting their periods or could also be due to a hormonal imbalance or birth control pills. During pregnancy breast tenderness begins one to six weeks after conception due to increased hormone levels of estrogen and progesterone. The estrogen production causes a response of the mammary tissue within the breast and also results in engorgement of the breast tissue (fullness).
Tiredness and exhaustion: Tiredness can be associated with pregnancy but can also happen because of stress; fatigue; depression; and other mental strains. During pregnancy, fatigue is often attributed to another rising hormone, progesterone. Like nausea, fatigue tends to improve by the end of the first trimester
Throbbing headaches: Some women experience headaches as an early sign of pregnancy. Headaches can start right after conception and go throughout the entire nine months. This happens because of high estrogen levels.