It may quite difficult to tell if you are pregnant during your first week of pregnancy. In fact, you probably will not have very many pregnancy symptoms, that is, if you have any. Symptoms usually do not show up until the 4th to 6th of pregnancy, but that is not to say that they cannot arise sooner. In order to detect the early signs of pregnancy, you must understand the reproductive process. It typically takes 40 weeks to have a baby. A baby can be delivered at 36 -40 weeks and still be considered full-term, but a baby that arrives early than 35 weeks, is considered a preemie (Mayo Clinic, 2013).
According to the Mayo Clinic (2013), the first day of your menstrual period is the first day that your body prepares to carry a baby, should a sperm fertilize your egg. In simpler terms, the first day of your period is technically considered the first week of your pregnancy, if you are indeed pregnant. If not, then the first day of your period, is still the first day of your monthly menstrual cycle. Since most women conceive during ovulation (the 2nd week of your monthly menstrual cycle), you are two weeks pregnant at the time of conception. If you curious as to whether or not you are one week pregnant, you have come to the right place. This article can help you determine if you are indeed one week pregnant.
The following questions can help you determine if you are one week pregnant:
- Are you more tired than usual?
Have you noticed that you have less energy than you normally have? In addition, have you noticed that you get sleepy and/or drowsy more often than before? Think about your energy levels the last couple of days, are you often tired even with a good night’s sleep? Do you get tired and sleepy during the day? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you may be one week pregnant. One of the most common early pregnancy signs is fatigue.
- Are you spotting?
Are you experiencing spotting and/or light bleeding? Is the discharge pink, tan or light brown? If you are experiencing spotting and/or light bleeding, then you may be one week pregnant. Another common early pregnancy sign is implantation bleeding, spotting and/or light bleeding that occurs when the fertilized embryo implants in your uterus.
Implantation bleeding is not considered “menstrual bleeding,” rather this type of bleeding is often lighter in consistency and color then your normal menstrual bleeding. Furthermore, implantation bleeding is usually shorter (a couple of days) than a normal menstrual period.
- Do you have a headache?
Have you been getting more headaches the last couple of days? Do the headaches seem more intense than before? If you answered “yes” to the following questions, then you may be one week pregnant. It is common for women to experience more intense headaches and migraines during the early stages of pregnancy. The rapidly increasing pregnancy hormones (pregnancy hormones double or triple every 24-48 hours) appear to be the culprit in this case.
- Can you smell something a mile away?
Are you more sensitive to smells? Do certain smells, that did not bother you in the past, suddenly make you sick to your stomach or give a pounding headache? If so, then there is a good chance you may be one week pregnant. An early pregnancy sign is a sudden sensitivity to scents, smells, perfumes, odors, etc. You may also notice that the thought of your favorite foods nauseate you and/or that you crave foods that you used to hate.
References:
Mayo Clinic. Symptoms of pregnancy: What happens right away.
Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/symptoms-of-pregnancy/PR00102