Women who have been trying very hard to get pregnant are very keen to know if they have conceived. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing that you are pregnant the day after you engage in sexual intercourse.
Most pregnancy tests are sensitive enough to detect a pregnancy 10-12 days after conception has occurred though this too is rare. As a woman approaches her next period there are some subtle signs and symptoms that she needs to look out for in order to confirm a pregnancy.
Signs and Symptoms of Conception
Fatigue
One of the most palpable signs of conception is unusual fatigue, exhaustion and tiredness. This begins almost as soon as the next period is about to begin or the woman has just missed her period.
Lethargy in day-to-day activities becomes more apparent as the fertilized embryo attaches itself to the womb. You might find yourself feeling very sleepy and weak.
Implantation bleeding
It is not uncommon for women to experience some amount of implantation bleeding during conception. This occurs around the 10th day after ovulation when the fertilized ovum begins to burrow itself into the lining of the womb. Most women mistakenly think this to be an early period. Mild cramping may also be experienced along with the bleeding.
Nausea
3-4 weeks after conception, you will possibly begin to feel the first signs of nausea. Nausea is experienced by almost 70% of pregnant women. It may or may not be accompanied by vomiting. Nausea and morning sickness are not purely restricted to the mornings but may occur at almost any time during the day.
Breast Tenderness
Like fatigue, this is one of the first signs of a pregnancy. Breast tenderness begins to show itself almost a week before you next period date. This can be a very confusing sign as women who are experiencing pre menstrual syndrome also experience it.
In conception however, the breasts feel particularly sore, tender, and full so this can serve as a subtle indicator of possible conception. Of course, you will need to wait until your missed period to confirm the same through a pregnancy test.
Missed period
An obvious sign of a pregnancy is a missed period or a delayed menstrual cycle. You can be sure you are pregnant especially if you have been trying hard for a baby. Wait for 2-3 days after your missed period and get conception confirmed by a doctor or with the help of a pregnancy test.
Headaches
The volume of blood tends to increase manifold especially in the first few weeks of conception. The increased blood flow to the brain can lead to pounding headaches.
Frequent headaches may be an impossible sign to miss. The headaches also occur due to the increase in the amount of pregnancy hormones in the body.
Food Cravings
Unusual hunger and cravings for salty and sweet food is commonly seen in a number of pregnant women. These cravings are not restricted to just one type of food but can occur across a wide range of different food groups. An increase in appetite may also be present.
Frequency in Urination
Your urinary output will definitely begin to increase soon after conception. This will make you visit the bathroom more often. This symptom aggravates in the latter half of the pregnancy as the growing baby begins to put pressure on the bladder.
Mood Swings and Irritability
Mood swings and irritability are also very common during the first few weeks of conception. They occur because there are massive fluctuations in the levels of pregnancy hormones. The ovaries produce excessive estrogen and this can make you feel excessively moody and snappy. Mood swings can occur at different stages of the pregnancy and vary with their severity. One way of lessening them is to stay happy and stay around positive people.
Dizziness
An early conception sign is fainting and dizziness. The same has been depicted in movies with a lot of melodrama but this is one of the first signs of a pregnancy.
This happens because the blood vessels dilate and the blood pressure drops, making you feel lightheaded and dizzy. Low blood sugar levels may also bring on these fainting episodes.
Feeling Pregnant
Some women are instinctive and have an uncanny knack of knowing that they are pregnant. They are highly aware and attuned to the changes occurring in their body and can predict exactly when conception occurs.
Constipation
Once you are into your first and second month of pregnancy, you may begin to feel very constipated. Difficulties in passing stools are very common and not at all unusual.
This can be easily tackled by taking adequate roughage and fibre in the diet and making sure that you drink enough water to flush out harmful toxins from the body.
Increase in Basal Body Temperature
The body temperature increases by one or two degrees after conception. Some women experience this rise in the temperature in the form of very hot flashes. Women may experience an intense sensation of extreme warmth accompanied by sweating.
Changes in the libido
This symptom might fluctuate towards either extremes with women feeling highly sexed or experiencing a total dip in their sexual libido. For a vast majority, sexual intercourse becomes a chore as they may be constantly battling with the other symptoms of pregnancy and conception. Breast swelling and mood swings may compound these changes.
Water Retention
Mild swelling in the legs along with marginal weight gain may also be felt by some women who have just conceived. The above symptoms are good indicators of conception and can help you in making an accurate diagnosis of your pregnancy. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, make sure you see a doctor and get yourself tested for the same.
