Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

6 early pregnancy symptoms no one tells you about

Leslie Anderson
By

Morning sickness, missing your period, weepiness. You might be most familiar with these early pregnancy symptoms as classic signs that you’re expecting. But what about the symptoms that no one has ever told you about? You might be amazed at how many physical changes occur within the earliest days of pregnancy that often go undetected. Some of these changes might even mimic the first few days of your menstrual cycle, which can throw anyone off. Other symptoms are not always associated with pregnancy, but they tell you that you’re expecting. Therefore, we’ve done our homework to bring you the six signs of early pregnancy that you don’t often hear about.

Young woman sitting on bed with hands on lower stomach

How early in pregnancy does discharge start?

Within the first week of pregnancy, you might notice some discharge. However, some women never experience this early symptom, while others might notice it immediately. It usually starts within the first seven days after conception even before you’ve noticed a missed period. Since the disruption of the menstrual cycle is usually the prime symptom that clues you in, this symptom might also help you to estimate a due date; whereas the first day of the skipped period is usually the marker from which obstetricians start counting.

Recommended Videos

What does very early pregnancy discharge look like?

For some women, this early pregnancy discharge is a spot of blood. For others, the discharge is light pink or even dark brown. Furthermore, the duration of this occurrence varies. In some cases, it happens for just a few hours, and in others, it can last for days.

Another confusing aspect about this early pregnancy discharge is that it’s sometimes accompanied by sharp or mild cramping which makes it almost resemble a light period. So, if you’re not aware of this, you might not think any alteration has occurred with your monthly cycle. However, what you’ve just experienced is the implantation of the embryo to the uterine wall.

Young woman sitting on a couch covering her mouth

Other early pregnancy symptoms to watch for

Along with early pregnancy discharge and cramping, you can watch out for the following tell-tale signs. Because some symptoms closely resemble other conditions, you will still need to wait until after the first day of missing your period to take a home test or contact your doctor with questions.

Gas or bloating

One symptom that some women might not discuss in public is the increase in flatulence. Okay, most people, in general, would not bring this up in everyday conversation. However, if you’re feeling bloated or “gassy” more often, then you might be pregnant. This flatulence is caused by the increase in estrogen and progesterone which brings on abdominal swelling for some women.

Metallic taste in your mouth

While this symptom is associated with many other conditions, an odd metallic taste has been known to occur in some women during early pregnancy. You can blame the estrogen surge for this symptom, and the best way to offset it is to eat or drink something that’s sour or rinse your mouth with a mixture of salt or baking soda and water. The good news is that this symptom dissipates during the second trimester.

Breast changes

You may have also heard of breast swelling as being a sign of pregnancy. However, some women have reported a darkening in the areola or blue veins that are clearly visible just under the skin. Others have noted a “tingling” in the breasts in early pregnancy. Although milk production won’t start until after the baby is born, your hormones are working overtime to prepare your body, which explains this change.

Having to go more often

If you’re having to urinate more often than usual on top of having “odd” discharge and cramping that can be easily mistaken for a period, you might think this occurrence is a symptom of a UTI. On the other hand, frequent urination is a sign of early pregnancy that occurs because the kidneys are working more efficiently than usual due to increased blood production and circulation.

Constipation

While you’re having to urinate more often, at the same time, you may experience constipation. It’s easy to brush off this symptom as a signal to start incorporating more fiber into your diet or drinking more water — two habits that coincidentally would make pregnancy go more smoothly. However, what’s really happening in your digestive system is a noticeable slow-down because of hormone changes.

Overall, the fast increase in hormone levels brought on by fertilization and then, implantation bring about huge changes in the body, though they may seem quite subtle at first. Regardless of the timing on the calendar, you might discuss these symptoms with your doctor as previously mentioned. Who knows? Perhaps, you can expect some exciting news.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Leslie Anderson
Leslie Anderson
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Leslie Anderson is a freelance writer/writing coach from Roswell, N.M. She enjoys gardening, cooking, and helping students…
What is the most common birthday month? The holidays play a key factor
The most common birthday dates (and the most common month) have one thing in common...
Getting ready for an outside birthday party

Have you noticed there's a specific month when everyone in your child's class has a birthday? Notice months that no one seems to have a birthday at all? There's a reason for that, and it has to do with the timing of the holidays. The most common birthday month that will keep you baking treats for your children's friends and have you constantly running from birthday party to birthday party is at the start of the school year for a reason.
Every child seems to be born in this month
No secret to September
Yes, September has the most common birthday dates. Why? Well, do the math backward, and where does that land you? During the holidays! And what do we do during the holidays?

Between the parties, gatherings, the holiday spirit -- and perhaps the holiday drinks -- we are in better moods, which leads to more adults enjoying each other's company. Plus, it's cold outside and we stay indoors longer. Track those nine months, and September is where the babies land.
The most common birthdays in order

Read more
A new study says pregnant women should do this before bed
Pregnancy tip: Dim lights before bed to help reduce risk of gestational diabetes
Pregnant woman sleeping on her side

Most pregnant women take their health very seriously. They work hard to make sure they're eating well and staying active to help grow the healthiest human possible and avoid any issues that could impact their pregnancy. One of those issues is gestational diabetes. The CDC reports that anywhere between 2% and 10% of those tested will develop gestational diabetes during their pregnancy.

While eating a balanced diet is a big factor and a common pregnancy tip in preventing gestational diabetes, a new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Maternal Fetal Medicine suggests that prolonged light exposure at night can also increase a pregnant person's chance of developing this potentially harmful condition.
Turn off the lights earlier
The study showed that of the 741 women involved in the study, those who developed gestational diabetes had a greater exposure to light in the 3 hours before bed than those who didn't. "Our study suggests that light exposure before bedtime may be an under-recognized yet easily modifiable risk factor of gestational diabetes," Dr. Minjee Kim, lead author of the study out of Northwestern University, said in a statement.

Read more
Is the tooth fairy real? What to tell your kids about the tooth-stealing ninja when they ask
You can decide whether to tell the truth or stretch the magic
A parent having a talk with their child.

As kids get older and start to question if Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are real, parents have some explaining to do. If your child has asked if the Tooth Fairy is real, we have the backstory to give them. Whether you want to keep the fairy tale alive or give them the hard truth, we have your options covered.

If parents want to tell the truth
If your parenting style is to straight up tell the truth when a child asks you about something in the make-believe world, then drop this knowledge on your kiddo.
Short historical background
Around the 10th to possibly 12th century, the Norse people recorded the "tand-fe" tradition of adults paying children for their first lost tooth. For them, baby teeth held special powers that would protect them, especially if they wore a necklace of baby teeth on the battlefield.
When the Tooth Fairy was invented
The more traditional form of the Tooth Fairy we know today comes from a French fairy tale involving mice, called La Bonne Petite Souris (The Little Mouse). The story takes place in the 1800s and involves a mouse taking a child's tooth in exchange for a coin.
The first time the Tooth Fairy was mentioned in the U.S.
Here in the U.S., parents should thank Lillian Brown for being able to use the Tooth Fairy to get their kids to brush their teeth. Brown's article, published in the Chicago Tribune in 1908, first introduced the idea of a fairy that would gift your child 5 cents for each pulled baby tooth.

Read more