When Do You Start Feeling Pregnancy Symptoms?

There are many types of pregnancy symptoms. Some happen before you realize you’re pregnant, and some happen throughout your pregnancy. Some happen during the last trimester, and some don’t happen at all. Every woman is different and experiences different pregnancy symptoms.

In most cases, the first sign of pregnancy is a missed period. Typically, the nausea, vomiting, indigestion, bloating, breast tenderness, and constipation begin shortly after. While the time frame varies, studies show these things usually happen between the fourth and eighth weeks of pregnancy.

There is no way to tell how severely you may experience these symptoms. For example, some women never experience morning sickness, while others deal with it 24 hours a day throughout their entire pregnancies.

During the first trimester, most moms deal with the morning sickness, bloating, breast tenderness, fatigue, and irritability.

During the second trimester, some moms continue to experience these pregnancy symptoms in addition to new symptoms such as constipation and indigestion. Despite this, most moms in the second trimester will tell you that they feel a lot better than they did in the first trimester.

During the third trimester, the baby can feel like it’s taking over your body. You’ll probably notice it’s harder to breathe, that pain, swelling, and soreness have increased everywhere, and that you’re exhausted easily.

Take a look at these pregnancy symptoms and learn what they are, why and when they occur, and how to treat them.

Inside This Section

• Bloating in Pregnancy >

  Bloating happens to lots of women right before their periods, but it also is an early pregnancy sign.

• Breast Tenderness During Pregnancy (and Other Changes in Your Breasts) >

  Many women experience this as a period approaches, however it’s also a pregnancy symptom and if you miss your period coupled with this symptom, it’s a good sign you could be pregnant.

• Colostrum and Nipple Discharge — When Do You Start Lactating? >

  Nipple discharge, or colostrum, is a normal part of being pregnant. Many women experience colostrum leakage throughout their pregnancies and after giving birth.

• Constipation During Pregnancy >

  Constipation is one of the most common problems pregnant women face. Learn what causes constipation and how to deal with it if you are experiencing it.

• Darkened Areolas During Pregnancy >

  Like other parts of your body, your areolas darken and undergo some form of hyper pigmentation. Your breasts are constantly changing throughout pregnancy, and the darkening of the skin around the nipples is a normal part of being pregnant and preparing for childbirth.

• Dizziness During Pregnancy >

  Feeling dizzy, faint, or light-headed during pregnancy is common. In most cases, these symptoms are part of the normal changes that occur in a woman’s body during pregnancy. Occasionally the cause of dizziness during pregnancy may require treatment, especially if it is persistent or interferes with daily activity. Pregnant women should take care when they […]

• Frequent Urination During Pregnancy >

  Most women claim they are constantly having to “go”, and at all hours of the day and night. This usually happens after you’ve been pregnant for a couple weeks, or after implantation has occurred and the hormone hCG is produced.

• Hair Growth During Pregnancy and Hair Loss After Pregnancy >

  Your body is apt to undergo many unexpected changes while you are pregnant, but one of the most surprising may be hair growth or hair loss during pregnancy—and hair loss after pregnancy. The hair on your head may become thicker while you are pregnant, while the hair on the rest of your body may grow […]

• Heightened Sense of Smell During Pregnancy >

  Wondering why smells that you used to love now make you sick to your stomach? Or why smells that would normally test your gag relexes are suddenly pleasant? Find out more..

• Missed Period and Pregnancy >

  This is one of the most symptoms of pregnancy. Sometimes during implantation a woman will bleed lighter and for a much shorter period of time, usually a day or two. If this happens, and your menstrual cycle has not kicked into high gear, you may be pregnant.

• Pregnancy Cravings >

  Cravings during pregnancy are normal, even if the thing you are craving is abnormal for you. Learn what causes these cravings and how to deal with them.

• Pregnancy Fatigue >

  Excessive exhaustion, even after many hours of sleep, is a reliable sign of pregnancy.

• Pregnancy Headaches: Causes and Remedies >

  When hormones fluctuate, headaches can occur. Although this isn’t really a sign or symptom of pregnancy, the fact that your hormones are changing does bring them on.

• Pregnancy Linea Negra >

  Our linea alba, or the faint, pale vertical line that stretches down our abdomen, darkens while we are pregnant. Experts refer to the darkened line as the linea negra. Learn more about it, what causes it, and how long it takes to go away in this informative article.

• Pregnancy Mood Swings >

  Mood swings are a normal part of being pregnant, but severe, constant battles with depression and anxiety are not. Learn what you can do to manage your mood swings.

• Pregnancy Weight Gain >

  Gaining weight is a natural part of being pregnant, but it’s important to know how much weight to gain. Gaining too much or too little can encourage complications throughout the pregnancy.

• Pseudocyesis (False Pregnancy) >

  Pseudocyesis, also known as false pregnancy, phantom pregnancy, or hysterical pregnancy, is a form of somatoform disorder—i.e., a psychosomatic condition—that causes a woman to believe she is pregnant despite medical evidence to the contrary.

• Spotting During Pregnancy >

  Spotting during the early part of your pregnancy is normal. In fact, up to 25 percent of pregnant women experience spotting during their first trimester. Spotting can be tricky, however, as it can be confused with menstrual or period symptoms. Lower back pain, cramps, abdominal pain, and spotting are all normally signs of a period beginning. If you are pregnant and do not know, you can easily confuse the two.

• Unusual Signs of Pregnancy >

  Your body changes during pregnancy. In addition to the more common signs of pregnancy — fatigue, nausea, frequent urination, breast enlargement, mood swings, and a metallic taste in the mouth — some women experience unexpected symptoms. You can have so many different symptoms during pregnancy that hardly anything you might experience can be considered “abnormal.” […]

• Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy >

  As your cervix begins to build a mucus plug to block the opening of the cervix and protect the baby from infections during pregnancy; there may be some vaginal discharge. It’s different than other discharge associated with yeast infections since it will not have the itch, burn or smell.

• Varicose Veins During Pregnancy >

  Women are more susceptible to varicose veins during pregnancy, mainly because of the pressure that is applied to the inferior vena cava, among other causes.

• Weight Loss — Pregnancy Symptoms >

  Weight loss occurs during the early stages of pregnancy more often than not, mainly due to the amount of vomiting and nausea pregnant women experience. It’s a normal part of pregnancy during the first trimester.

• When Do You Start Feeling Morning Sickness? >

  The term “morning sickness” is misleading, since not all women experience it during the morning hours. Many women get morning sickness during the afternoon and evening hours, or when certain smells enter their nostrils.

• When Do You Start Feeling the Baby Kick? (Pregnancy Quickening ) >

  Perhaps the most exciting pregnancy milestone is the first time you feel the baby kick. This first movement, which is called the quickening, generally comes shortly before the halfway mark in your term, and it is in some ways a mother’s first bonding experience with her baby.

Am I Pregnant?

• Am I Pregnant FAQ’s
• Bloating in Pregnancy
• Early Signs of Pregnancy
• Missed Period and Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Test
• Pseudocyesis (False Pregnancy)
• Signs of Pregnancy
• Unusual Signs of Pregnancy
• When Do You Start Feeling Pregnancy Symptoms?
  • Breast Tenderness During Pregnancy (and Other Changes in Your Breasts)
  • Colostrum and Nipple Discharge — When Do You Start Lactating?
  • Constipation During Pregnancy
  • Darkened Areolas During Pregnancy
  • Dizziness During Pregnancy
  • Frequent Urination During Pregnancy
  • Heightened Sense of Smell During Pregnancy
  • Missed Period On Birth Control
  • Pregnancy Cravings
  • Pregnancy Fatigue
  • Pregnancy Headaches: Causes and Remedies
  • Pregnancy Linea Negra
  • Pregnancy Mood Swings
  • Pregnancy Weight Gain
  • Spotting During Pregnancy
  • Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy
  • Varicose Veins During Pregnancy
  • Weight Loss — Pregnancy Symptoms
  • When Do You Start Feeling Morning Sickness?