8 Early Signs of Pregnancy

Whether you're anxious to find out if you're finally pregnant or you're not sure if you have an unplanned pregnancy, your body will probably give you several clues early on. Unfortunately, sometimes these signs are subtle and resemble those you experience before or during your period.In a typical 28-day cycle, your ovaries release an egg around the 14th day during ovulation, when there is the greatest chance for fertilization. When an egg is fertilized, you have conceived. The fertilized egg still needs to travel to the uterus and become implanted in the uterine wall, a process which releases the hormone hCG that is used to detect pregnancy with home and blood tests. This can take up to 5 to 6 days after conception and it's the earliest time at which you can experience symptoms.

1.Tender, Swollen Breasts

Swollen breast and tenderness is a common indicator you are pregnant. Breast changes can begin as soon as 1-2 weeks after conception. For some women, tenderness and swelling last for just the first week, but other women have some level of tenderness for the entire pregnancy. This tenderness may be mild or it can be extreme enough that water from a shower or a loose t-shirt can be uncomfortable.This tenderness is caused by increasing levels of progesterone and estrogen, which boost blood flow to the breasts. This is also why many women also experience breast tenderness around ovulation and PMS as these hormones fluctuate then, too.Supportive, lightweight, and comfortable maternity bras can help ease tenderness and avoid irritation.Next