Pregnancy

• Pregnancy describes the process from conception to giving birth
• Some signs you’re pregnant are spotting, sore breasts and nipples, morning sickness, tiredness and sudden cravings
• The first symptoms of pregnancy are often already noticeable before you find out you missed your period

Pregnancy symptoms can start during the first weeks of pregnancy and can vary from woman to woman. Recognizing the earliest pregnancy symptoms can help you find out you’re pregnant early on. In this guide by Ada’s medical team, you’ll find more information about the different stages of pregnancy, the signs of being pregnant, how soon you can feel pregnancy symptoms, and the possible risks and complications of pregnancy.

Pregnancy is a term describing the period in which a fetus develops inside the mother’s uterus. This period starts from the moment that a woman’s egg is fertilized until birth. This period lasts for about 40 weeks, which equals to just over 9 months. You can get pregnant from sexual intercourse or through other methods such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). 1

Pregnancy is divided into three different trimesters. During each trimester, the fetus develops a bit more and you can notice different symptoms of pregnancy. 

The first trimester of pregnancy starts when the sperm penetrates the egg and fertilizes it. The fertilized egg will then travel to the uterus and implant itself. These cells will start to multiply and a placenta will form that provides nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the fetus. This trimester takes about 3 months. During the first trimester, you can experience some of the early symptoms of pregnancy. 1

During the second trimester, which lasts from week 13 to week 28, the fetus continues to develop. During this time, a mother will be able to feel the movement of her baby, and the sex of the baby can be determined. Most women find that they experience less symptoms of pregnancy during this trimester. 1

The third trimester of pregnancy lasts from week 29 to child delivery, which usually happens around week 40. During this trimester, your baby will continue developing until the delivery and you may experience some hindrances like difficulties in moving or sleeping comfortably  as your belly will continue to grow. 1

Pregnancy signs can look different from woman to woman. After conception, you will notice that you’ve missed your menstrual period. There are however also other reasons to miss a period, so missing a period doesn’t always mean you’re pregnant. Most pregnancy symptoms will already show before missing your period. Some early pregnancy symptoms are: 2 3

• Slight bleeding or spotting 
• Sore, swollen breasts and nipples
• Fatigue
• Nausea, vomiting, and morning sickness
• Headaches
• Sudden cravings or aversions towards certain foods or smells
• Mood swings
• Frequent urination
• Heartburn
• Bloating
• Weight gain or loss

During your second trimester, you can notice the same symptoms from early on in the pregnancy. You can also experience: 4

• An increase in breast size
• Weight gain
• Vaginal discharge
• Braxton Hicks contractions
• Leg cramps

The third trimester of your pregnancy can cause some other symptoms, such as: 4

• Back pain
• Difficulty sleeping
• Braxton Hicks contractions
• Frequent urination
• Heartburn
• Bloating 
• Constipation
• Hemorrhoids
• Some bleeding from the vagina
• Shortness of breath
• Swollen feet

You can tell if you’re pregnant by taking a pregnancy test. It may be that you have already noticed some symptoms or noticed that you missed a period. Once the test confirms your pregnancy, it’s important to visit your healthcare provider as soon as possible for further follow up. 5

The symptoms of early pregnancy start within the first few weeks after conception. Not every woman experiences the same symptoms. These symptoms also do not occur at the same time for everyone, so your symptoms could start a bit earlier or a bit later. Usually, women will start showing at week 12, although this can also vary from woman to woman. 6

Pregnancy can have complications in some cases. These complications can affect both the mother and her fetus. It’s important to follow up closely with your healthcare provider to manage conditions and to avoid serious complications. Some common pregnancy problems are: 7

• High blood pressure 
• Pregnancy diabetes
• Infections such as STIs can happen during conception and can pass from mother to the baby during the delivery
• Preeclampsia
• Preterm labor
• Miscarriage
• Stillbirth
• Depression and anxiety
• Severe nausea and vomiting
• Anemia 

Some groups of women have a higher risk of facing complications during pregnancy or delivery: 

• Women suffering from underlying health conditions
• Women who are overweight
• Very young women or women over 35
• Women carrying multiple fetuses
• Previous pregnancy complications: eg. a history of miscarriage, preterm birth, or stillbirth may put a mother at higher risk in subsequent pregnancies. Cesarean delivery in the past - A previous C-section, especially if there were complications, may affect the current pregnancy and delivery
• risky lifestyle factors: smoking, alcohol, or drug use during pregnancy. These can significantly increase the risk of complications, including birth defects and premature delivery.

In case of a high-risk pregnancy, additional follow-up and early prenatal care is of the essence to deliver your baby without complications. 

Pregnancy can be prevented through contraception. There are many different types of contraception, and it is helpful to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different methods with your healthcare provider or gynecologist. Some options are: 8 9

• Oral contraceptives
• Male or female condoms
• Vaginal ring
• Intrauterine coils (a copper coil that sits inside the womb)
• Skin patches
• IUD
• Contraceptive injection
• Birth control implant
• Surgeries to tie or cut the fallopian tubes in women or the sperm duct in men

• gestation
• pregnant

Pregnancy symptoms often resemble the symptoms of other conditions, which is why it’s important to take a pregnancy test when you’re in doubt. Once you find out you’re pregnant, it’s important to follow up with your healthcare provider in order to get guidance and prevent complications for yourself and your baby. 

Q: What are some possible symptoms of pregnancy in the first month? 
A: Some possible early symptoms of pregnancy are morning sickness, spotting, sore breasts, fatigue, sudden cravings or aversions, and mood swings. 

Q: How soon do pregnancy symptoms start? 
A: Most women start experiencing pregnancy symptoms during the 4th week after conception. It’s normal for some women to experience the first pregnancy symptoms earlier or later on in the pregnancy. 

Q: How to tell if you’re pregnant
A: The symptoms you’re experiencing might already give you an indication that you’re pregnant. Taking a pregnancy test is the only way to find out whether you’re actually pregnant.

Q: Can I know I’m pregnant at 1 week? 
A: Some women already experience early pregnancy symptoms 1 week after conception Most pregnancy tests can show you're pregnant around 10-14 days after conception. Some very sensitive tests can detect pregnancy a few days earlier than others but usually not immediately after conception.