Symptoms of pregnancy can vary among different women. Certain early signs, like the absence of menstruation and weight gain, are common to all pregnancies.

Sometimes, symptoms of PMS, including pre-period mood changes, fatigue, and breast tenderness, may be mistaken for early pregnancy symptoms.

The first signs and symptoms of early pregnancy can also be similar to symptoms experienced prior to the menstrual period. They may vary in quality or severity, and even the same woman may not experience the same symptoms in every pregnancy.

Possible early symptoms and signs of pregnancy include:

• Mood changes.
• Increased urination.
• Headaches.
• Low backache and/or pain.
• Sore breasts.
• Darkened areolas.
• Tiredness.
• Nausea, often referred to as “morning sickness”.
• Implantation bleeding.

Late pregnancy symptoms:

• Leg swelling.
• Backache.
• Heartburn.
• Leakage of urine.
• Shortness of breath.

Braxton-Hicks’s contractions are non-labor contractions of the uterus that occur in late pregnancy. Unlike true labor, these contractions do not increase in intensity and are irregular.

Home remedies and self-care strategies can bring relief for many pregnancy symptoms.

A pregnancy test is based on levels of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin – a hormone produced after the fertilized egg has implanted in the wall of the uterus) in the urine or blood and is the characteristic diagnostic test for pregnancy.

Modern home pregnancy tests are to measure rectal temperature right when lady/patient wakeup in the morning.

Missed (late) period: A missed menstrual period is the hallmark symptom of pregnancy, and menstruation is absent throughout the pregnancy.

Implantation bleeding or cramping: Mild bleeding or spotting may occur when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining, anywhere from 6 to 12 days after fertilization.

Vaginal discharge: Some women may notice a thick, milky discharge from the vagina in early pregnancy. This occurs in the first weeks of pregnancy as the vaginal walls thicken. This discharge may occur throughout the pregnancy. If there is an unpleasant odor associated with the discharge, or if it is associated with burning and itching, this is a sign of a yeast or bacterial infection (Leucorrhea). 

Breast changes: Many women experience changes in the breasts as early as the first weeks of pregnancy. These changes can be felt as soreness, tenderness, heaviness, fullness, or a tingling sensation. The discomfort typically decreases after several weeks.

Darkening of the areola: The areola, or area around the nipple, may darken in color.

Fatigue: While this symptom is very nonspecific and may be related to numerous factors. Perhaps related to hormonal changes affecting glucose levels or blood pressure, dizziness, lightheadedness, and feeling faint can occur in early pregnancy.

Morning sickness, nausea, and vomiting: This is actually a misnomer because the nausea of pregnancy can occur at any time of day. Some women never experience morning sickness, while others have severe nausea. Its most typical onset is between the 2nd and 8th weeks of pregnancy. Most women experience relief from the symptoms around the 13th or 14th week, but others may have nausea persistent throughout the pregnancy (hyperemesis gravidarum). Certain smells may bring on nausea or even vomiting.

Sometimes aversion to some foods and feeling nausea for that particular food or its smell.

Increased urination: Starting about the 6th to 8th week, some women will have more frequent urination due to hormonal changes, frequent urination could with be burning (Micturition).

Sometimes hormone levels can also cause constipation.

Back pain: low back pain can actually begin in the early stages of pregnancy.

Mood changes: Mood swings are common during the first trimester (Rapid changes in hormone levels). They may also be related to stress or other factors.

Shortness of breath: In later stages increased oxygen demand (to support a growing fetus) may leave feeling short of breath.

Many of the early symptoms of pregnancy can persist during the second and third trimesters, for example:

• Mood changes
• Headaches
• Increased urination
• Backache
• Food cravings
• Fatigue

Certain symptoms, like tender breasts and nausea, often improve as pregnancy advances.

Additional symptoms of later pregnancy are related to the size of the growing uterus and weight gain in the second trimester until giving birth.

Possible symptoms:

1. Weight gain: Most women gain a total of about 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. Weight gain is due to the growing fetus, placenta, breast enlargement, and increased blood and fluid volume.
2. Breast changes: The breasts expand throughout pregnancy; late in pregnancy, there may be an expression of colostrum (a yellowish fluid that is produced immediately after delivery – its normal) from the nipples.
3. Heartburn: Pressure from the growing uterus may push the stomach upward in addition to hormonal changes can cause relaxation of one of the sphincters controlling the reflux of acid from the stomach.
4. Swollen feet and ankles: Pressure from uterus may slow down the blood flow of veins in the legs, leading to fluid buildup even sometimes the formation of varicose veins or small spider veins, hemorrhoids.
5. Leakage of urine: Pressure from the uterus on the bladder leads to frequent urination, Sometimes, women notice leakage of urine with laughing, sneezing, or coughing.
6. Shortness of breath: The uterus enlarges and pushes the diaphragm further up toward the chest, possibly causing to become out of breath easier.
7. Braxton-Hicks’s contractions: In the weeks before delivery, many women experience uterine contractions. Unlike true labor contractions, Braxton-Hicks’s contractions are weak and do not occur at regular intervals. Labor contractions increase in frequency and intensity.