Have you ever woken up one morning and just felt different? Not sick, not tired, just different. For many women, early pregnancy doesn’t always announce itself with the dramatic morning sickness we see in movies. Sometimes, it sneaks in quietly, one strange symptom at a time, until you finally sit down and ask yourself, “Could I be pregnant?”
Here are the early signs of pregnancy women should never ignore, told in a warm, relatable way, because pregnancy is already confusing enough.
1. Missed Period
You know that feeling when your period delays and your mind goes from zero to “calculator mode” real quick? A missed period is often the first sign, especially if you’re regular. It means that your normal menstrual cycle didn’t happen when it should have happened. The egg that should’ve been released and become your period has likely been fertilized, especially if you have had unprotected sex in the past month or so.
But even if your cycle likes to behave like Nairobi traffic, unpredictable and irregular, take note of any unusual delay. If you’ve missed your period and you suppose that you could be pregnant, it’s best to take a pregnancy test as soon as possible. The process is fast and easy and you can do it on your own with a home pregnancy test kit readily available at your local pharmacy.
If the results are positive, you’re likely to be at pregnancy week 4 already because doctors count how far along you are from your last menstrual period.
2. Fatigue
Then there’s that tiredness that often comes in the early mornings, which leaves you feeling like you’ve climbed Ngong Hills in your sleep. Fatigue in early pregnancy is real, and it hits different. You’ll be sitting at work, staring at your screen, wondering why typing one email feels like manual labour.
Most women feel very exhausted especially after conception or during implantation which is normal since your body is facing hormonal changes. Another reason for the fatigue in early pregnancy is that your body is actively building the placenta that will house your baby for the next 8 months or so.
3. Tender or Swollen Breasts
Another sneaky sign is tender or swollen breasts. Many mums describe it as “ile uchungu ya bra”, that sudden discomfort when your bra straps start feeling like they’re plotting against you.
However, this is very normal, harmless and no cause for alarm. It’s caused by the increased blood flow to your chest for breast growth as well as your milk ducts and glands stretching as they prepare to feed your baby. If the discomfort is too much, wearing a soft bra or placing an ice pack around the painful areas can make you feel better.
4. Food Cravings and Aversions
Food suddenly becomes confusing too. One minute you’re craving chapati and beans, the next minute the smell of someone else’s food in the matatu has you planning a whole protest. Whether you’re suddenly loving foods you previously hated or gagging at scents you normally ignore, it might be your body trying to communicate.
These cravings and aversions are often different for every woman so there’s no need to worry about yours. Again, the surge in estrogen and progesterone hormones are to blame for the cravings as well the heightened sense of sell and taste that often occur during pregnancy.
5. Mood Swings
Some women experience mood swings that could win an Oscar. One minute you’re emotional like you just finished watching a Nigerian romantic movie, the next minute you’re laughing uncontrollably. The lows are usually really down and the highs often feel like you’re a different person, which leaves you quite frustrated.
Again, the surge in pregnancy hormones are to blame. According to a study, progesterone and estrogen, regardless of your stage in pregnancy, impacts brain chemical composition which causes these mood swings. Sometimes these moods can be extremely low and turn to depression and anxiety. If you’re feeling very low without any changes in your mood, talk about it with your doctor. Ensure you get enough sleep and take on gentle exercises during pregnancy because movement can lift up your spirits. Eat more nutritious foods, avoid caffeine, and lean on your support village when it’s too much.
When you join Malaica Maternity Hospital, our virtual psychologist is always available for you with confidential, personalized sessions tailored to your unique circumstances and challenges.
Related: Taking Care of Your Mental Well Being During Pregnancy
6. Nausea or Morning Sickness (With or Without Vomiting)
Morning sickness is not always in the morning. It’s whenever it wants, and sometimes it isn’t even vomiting, but just that weird, unsettling feeling in your stomach like you’re carsick even when you’re sitting still.
Nausea is usually common in the first trimester although not all women experience it. Count yourself lucky if you don’t! Again, the culprit here are the surging pregnancy hormones, including human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), estrogen, and the placenta hormones as well the heightened sense of smell for certain foods.
Try morning sickness hacks such as snacking before you rise from bed, eating cold over hot foods, and eating small but regular food portions. However, if the vomiting is persistent and you can barely keep anything down seek medical attention as soon as possible because it can cause dehydration and in extreme cases, Hyperemesis Gravidarum.
7. Frequent Urination
Have your trips to the bathroom increased? Frequent trips to the bathroom are common in the early stages of pregnancy because as your uterus grows, it puts pressure on the bladder hence increasing urination.
You’ll visit the toilet more times than Safaricom sends promotional SMSs. If you’re suddenly waking up at night to pee, or you can’t finish one episode of your show without pausing for a bathroom break, your body might be hinting at something.
8. Light Spotting and Cramping
Some women notice light spotting or cramps early on, easily mistaken for an approaching period. But if it looks, feels, or behaves differently from your usual cycle, don’t brush it off.
The spotting is implantation bleeding and happens as the sperm bores into an ovary for fertilization areound pregnancy week 3. However, if the cramping is painful or you’re experiencing heavy bleeding, seek medical attention.
Get Early Pregnancy Care at Malaica Maternity Hospital
The truth is, pregnancy signs aren’t the same for everyone. Some women feel everything at once, some feel nothing for weeks, and some feel things that don’t even make sense. If you notice a combination of these signs, the best thing is to take a pregnancy test and follow up with a healthcare professional. The earlier you know, the better you can take care of yourself and the little life possibly growing inside you.
At Malaica Maternity Hospital, our pregnancy care goes beyond the routine clinical assessments to give you the peace of mind you need and deserve during this period. Our online support group with other pregnant women provides you community and reassurance that what you’re experiencing is normal, while our 24/7 nurse midwife hotline ensures you can always reach a professional when you need urgent care.
Visit us at 240 General Mathenge Gardens, Westlands or reach out at +254 746 610643 to learn more about our care and how we can empower your pregnancy journey from now till postpartum. You can also fill out our online booking form and we’ll call you back.