The First Trimester: Early Signs of Pregnancy
The absence of menstruation (missed period) is often the first clear sign that you may be pregnant.
Starting from this point, during the first trimester, your body begins to experience many changes due to hormonal shifts. These changes affect almost every system in your body and can cause a variety of symptoms, even in the earliest weeks of pregnancy. Common symptoms include:
- Feeling tired or sleepy
- Tender, swollen breasts
- Nausea, with or without vomiting (commonly known as morning sickness)
- Cravings for or aversions to certain foods
- Mood swings
- Constipation (slower bowel movements)
- Frequent urination
- Headaches
- Heartburn
- Weight gain or loss
As your body adapts, you may find it helpful to adjust your daily routine—for example, going to bed earlier or eating small, frequent meals.
For most women, these symptoms improve as the pregnancy progresses. However, some women may experience little or no discomfort in early pregnancy.