Congrats! You're pregnant. And probably wondering when you'll feel pregnant. There is an average window of time during which you might begin to experience nausea, cravings, or a plethora of other pregnancy side effects. Here, experts and moms weigh in on the timing of your first symptoms of pregnancy.
Usually by Week 8
"Most women will feel pregnancy symptoms by about the eighth week, but in some women, they can appear as early as five to six weeks. The most common symptoms are nausea, breast swelling or tenderness, and fatigue." — Juliet Mushi, MD, FACOG, maternal fetal medicine specialist at Westchester Medical Center, the flagship of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, Valhalla, New York
Within the First Trimester
"You will feel some symptoms — nausea, vomiting, headaches, tiredness, aversion to certain smells and foods, etc. — within the first trimester. Usually these are mild and will decrease or abate by the time you enter the second trimester." — Iffath Hoskins, MD, OB/GYN, clinical associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
Little Things May Go Unnoticed
"In my experience, it really depends. If you have morning sickness, it will probably start within the first couple weeks. Some people don't start to feel pregnant until several weeks in, but little things happen right away. Shortness of breath, tiredness, having to pee more often — I've found those tend to happen very early on, but it's hard to recognize those as pregnancy symptoms right off the bat."
Everyone's Different
"Everyone is different with symptoms. Some feel them instantly or you can be like me and wonder if I’m actually pregnant, because I had no symptoms! I didn't feel anything significant for three or four months, outside of my growing belly."
You May Feel Symptoms Right Away
"It depends on the person. It seemed like I was sick from the moment the egg implanted. If you're worried because you're not feeling symptoms, check in with your doctor. It's possible you're just one of those insanely lucky people who will have a smooth-sailing, symptom-free pregnancy."
Queasiness May Take Some Time to Appear
"For me, it wasn't like in the movies where you suddenly start to feel nauseous and then it dawns on you that you might be pregnant. Though I'm sure that happens to some people … Instead, I found out I was pregnant probably around week five and didn't start to feel anything till somewhere between week six and eight. With my son, the tell-tale sign was that I didn't want to eat anything. For my daughter, it was the more traditional queasy feeling. For both, I lived on carbs those first couple months. No complaints here!"
*Disclaimer: The advice on CafeMom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
