“The key difference between the two, however, is that with pregnancy, your period doesn't occur.” Nausea and vomiting are symptoms that can accompany pregnancy and are often not experienced with PMS.
That painful menstrual-like sensation can also occur in the early weeks of pregnancy, María, so don't worry. The most important thing is that it isn't associated with bleeding. Have you spotted at some point?
Unfortunately, no matter how much we feel that we may know our bodies, pregnancy cannot be self-diagnosed. The only way to know whether or not you're pregnant is through a pregnancy test.
Implantation can cause light cramping and other symptoms like bloating or constipation in some people. There is not a lot of research on implantation cramping, but the sensation appears slightly different for everyone. On the other hand, period cramps may feel more intense, noticeable, severe, or painful.
Many people experience what seem to be pregnancy symptoms shortly before their period arrives. This happens because the hormone progesterone rises both during early pregnancy and in the premenstrual period. 1 In short, PMS symptoms and early pregnancy symptoms can sometimes be exactly the same.
In early pregnancy, a bigger belly or feeling of tightness is probably due to digestive changes. As your uterus takes up more room in your pelvis, it's pushing your intestines upward. In addition, hormonal changes are slowing your digestion, leading to increased gas and constipation.
What does it look like? Healthy vaginal discharge during pregnancy is called leukorrhea. It is similar to everyday discharge, meaning that it is thin, clear or milky white, and smells only mildly or not at all. However, pregnancy can cause the amount of discharge to increase.
You may feel your body making changes before you know you're pregnant or you may not notice any symptoms at all. Symptoms of early pregnancy include a missed period, needing to pee more often, tender breasts, feeling tired and morning sickness.
Abdominal or tummy pain is common during pregnancy. In the first trimester (weeks 0 to 12) it is common to feel mild pains in the lower tummy area. These are caused by hormonal changes and by your growing womb.
Early pregnancy bloating and normal bloating feel exactly the same. Your pregnancy bloating may feel slightly more uncomfortable due to the additional symptoms and increased amounts of gas which can worsen gas pains.
Normal discharge during pregnancy is clear or white, and usually a bit sticky; it should not have a noticeable odor. It's OK if your discharge looks a little yellow on your underwear or panty liner during pregnancy, too.
Pseudocyesis, or false pregnancy, is when a person believes they are pregnant. Physical symptoms like weight gain and morning sickness may trick the body into believing conception occurred. Despite feeling pregnant, there's no fetus. Don't be afraid to ask for help and don't feel ashamed or embarrassed.
You may feel very tired and have nausea, breasts that feel tender or sore, and heightened sensitivity to smell. You may also notice light spotting (from implantation bleeding). Other common early pregnancy symptoms include mood swings, frequent urination, bloating, food aversions, and excess saliva.
Don't Drink A Lot Of Water Before Taking The Test
Diluted urine tends to also have diluted hCG levels which can skew the test results. Take a test when you naturally need to pee. This way, you'll avoid diluting your hCG level and getting a false 'Not Pregnant' result.
At-home pregnancy tests
The first (and easiest) way to determine if you're pregnant is to take an at-home pregnancy test. These over-the-counter products are quick, accurate, and readily accessible.
A pregnancy test is the only way to know for sure. But if it's too early to take a test, you may be on the lookout for early signs – or maybe you think you're already experiencing some early pregnancy symptoms.
Most people realize they're pregnant about 20 weeks into the pregnancy. However, a person can be unaware they're pregnant during the entire 40 weeks of pregnancy.