Many women experience bleeding and/or cramping when they are in the early stages of pregnancy. The amount of blood produced is usually less than what the woman experiences during her regular menstruation. Instead, it is usually just small spots that are produced by the egg attaching to the uterus. The blood is often a lighter color than during normal menstruation. Cramping often occurs with this bleeding. At this stage in the pregnancy, the cramps are usually not as intense as those experienced during menstruation, but they can still be quite painful.

Another early sign of pregnancy is tender, swollen breasts. This is the first sign that many women experience, sometimes even before spotting or cramping. It commonly occurs within a couple weeks of conception. The tenderness and swelling is caused by changes in the body's hormone levels. As the body prepares itself for motherhood, many women notice that their breasts swell and become more sensitive.

Many women experience lethargy and fatigue when they first become pregnant. They might notice that they lack the energy that they normally have. Sometimes it might be incredibly difficult for them to complete the work that they normally finish without any problems. This fatigue and lethargy is caused by the body preparing itself for making the baby. Progesterone levels and blood production increase, while blood sugar and blood pressure decrease. The combination of these biological factors can cause a woman to feel very tired, even when she gets plenty of rests and eats right.

Nausea might be the most well known sign of pregnancy, with the telltale sign of morning sickness. Nausea can actually occur within the first couple weeks of fertilization, and it is not always accompanied by vomiting. Some experts believe that the nausea is caused by an increase in estrogen production and a heightened sense of smell. Higher levels of estrogen can cause the stomach to empty faster, which leaves many women feeling sick. The heightened sense of smell can cause women to be extremely sensitive to unpleasant odors, which can also produce waves of nausea.

The changes in hormone levels during early pregnancy often cause mood swings. Some women are not as emotionally affected by the hormone changes as others, but it is common for women to become very emotional throughout their pregnancies. Some women find these mood swings difficult to accept. They might become weepy at inappropriate times. Others, however, adjust to the changing hormone levels more easily. For these women, mood swings often begin to disappear as they become accustomed to the way that the hormones make them feel.

There are many symptoms that might make a woman first suspect that she is pregnant. If you feel that you might be experiencing these early signs of pregnancy, then you might need some extra help. Your first reaction may to be to see your doctor and that's fine as long as you're well aware of your condition, so that you can get the most out of your doctor's visit. I've spent a lot of time evaluating free resources too, but it's hard to find anything that has all the information you'll need in one spot. My favorite resource is The Pregnancy Secrets. You will learn a great deal of information so you're well prepared to visit your doctor. The book contains tons of information, but here are a few things you will learn: 1) The early stages of pregnancy, 2) Common problems during early pregnancy and what to do about them, 3) Diet, weight gain and exercise, 4) Discover the signs of ovulation, and the most fertile time in your cycle, 5) The truth about the common prenatal tests, 6) The surprising truth about spotting and cramping, 7) What happens during your first doctor visit? These are only a few things you need to know about your early signs of pregnancy. Although the book does cost a little bit of money, it's well worth it. And you can't put a price tag on your peace of mind about your pregnancy.