Not so fast. Keep in mind that most women experience no signs at all of conception or implantation — and are still pregnant! Something on the internet that may not be true?
Up to 25 percent of women experience bleeding or spotting in the first trimester — and implantation is one cause of first trimester bleeding. This bleeding can be confusing, because it may happen around the time that your regular period would start.
Most commonly though, it will occur a few days to a week before you expect your menstrual period. There are other differences that can help you determine whether you are experiencing implantation bleeding or your period:. This spotting may occur once, or last for a few hours, or even up to three days. And the changing hormonal tide can also cause cramping. This may seem like a mild version of how you feel before your period starts.
During ovulation, your cervical mucus will be clear, stretchy, and slippery sort of like egg whites. You probably already know this as your green light to get your baby dance on.
And in the days of early pregnancy, rising progesterone and estrogen may cause your mucus to become even thicker, more profuse, and white or yellow in color. We hate to say it, though: Cervical mucus can be affected by a number of things hormones, stress, intercourse, pregnancy, implantation bleeding or your period, etc.
Rising progesterone which happens in early pregnancy slows your digestive system down. This can make you feel bloated. But as so many of us know, this feeling can be a really common symptom of your period, too. Want to know why?
Progesterone also rises when your period is imminent. Thanks, hormones. After implantation, levels of hCG, estrogen, and progesterone all increase rapidly. This can cause your boobs to feel very sore. These hormones sure are multitaskers! While many women experience breast swelling or tenderness before their periods, this is likely to be more noticeable than usual in very early pregnancy. Increased levels of progesterone following implantation can make you feel nauseous.
But again, this most commonly occurs around 4 or 5 weeks of pregnancy about the time you miss your period. They go on to make connections with the capillaries in the endometrium, which supply nutrients and remove wastes. Over time this mass of cells will become the placenta, which will nourish and protect your baby throughout your pregnancy.
During the process of implantation the tiny embryo is actively secreting the pregnancy hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin hCG , which will keep you from menstruating and expelling the embryo from your uterus. In a blood test, hCG will show up as soon as six to eight days after you ovulate, indicating that you are pregnant. One caution: Don't decide whether you're pregnant based on how you feel.
The signs of early pregnancy resemble premenstrual symptoms, and include breast swelling and tenderness, bloating, nausea, and fatigue. During these early weeks, the embryo continues to grow as cells multiply and take on specific functions in a process known as differentiation. These specialized cells will eventually form your baby's organs and body parts. This stage of development is crucial, so if you know you are pregnant or even suspect that you could be , it's important to avoid alcohol, street drugs, and tobacco.
Avoid these substances throughout your entire pregnancy, but the first 12 weeks --during which the basic formation of organs and body parts is nearly complete -- are especially crucial.
Also, don't take any prescription or over-the-counter drugs without checking with your doctor to ensure they're safe to use during pregnancy. By four weeks, the embryo is made up of three distinct layers.
The inner layer will gradually develop into the lungs, liver and digestive system; a middle layer will be the baby's bones, muscles, kidneys, heart, and sex organs; and an outer layer will eventually form the skin, hair, eyes, and nervous system. By the end of the second week after fertilization, you may also begin to experience the first signs of morning sickness.
About 70 percent of all pregnant women have some traces of morning sickness, but the severity of the condition can vary from mild nausea to daily bouts of violent vomiting. For some women, symptoms are not confined to the morning, either: many complain of a rocky stomach at the end of the day. Experts believe that morning sickness is caused by the increase in hormones coursing through the system of a pregnant woman.
You may also feel more fatigue than usual: Many women feel extremely tired during their first trimester of pregnancy. Experts attribute this fatigue to the additional work your body has to do, now that it is making a baby. Your blood flow has increased to accomplish the job of feeding your baby.
As a result of the increased blood flow, your heart has to pump harder and your cardiac volume will increase by as much as 50 percent.
Because it can cause light spotting, some women mistake it for their menstrual cycle. If your period doesn't come and you are wondering whether or not you are actually pregnant, take a home pregnancy test or see your practitioner for confirmation.
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Medically Reviewed by Mark Payson, M. Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals. Getty Images. Learn more about the possible signs and symptoms of implantation during pregnancy, plus when and why it happens.
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