Can you get morning sickness before missed period

Is it possible to have pregnancy symptoms before missing a period?

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What early pregnancy symptoms might I experience before a missed period?
Classic signs and symptoms of pregnancy
Other signs and symptoms of pregnancy
Are you really pregnant?
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What are the earliest signs of pregnancy before a missed period?
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Missing a period is usually the biggest clue we look for to confirm a pregnancy but if you have an irregular cycle it is not always so straightforward. Sometimes you are just impatient to know but you don’t want to take a test yet in case it’s too early.

What early pregnancy symptoms might I experience before a missed period?

Although not every mum-to-be will find them a factor, these symptoms (some of which can also be associated with being pre-menstral) could also indicate an early pregnancy before a missed period:

1. Sore boobs: Your breasts may feel different from the offset. Some women find their nipples are more sensitive or their breasts ache a little, or seem fuller than normal. For others this feeling doesn’t occur until later in pregnancy. Some women find an increase in superficial veins over the breasts or tiny nodules appearing in the areola, around the nipple.

2. The need to pee: The frequent need to go to the loo is due to pressure from the enlarging uterus on the bladder and some women experience this from very early on in their pregnancy. It usually wears off during the second trimester only to return again with a vengeance towards the final weeks when it can feel like baby is using your bladder as a football.

3. Feeling tired: Weariness is a common early symptom. Some women feel totally drained almost immediately. This usually eases after 12 weeks - often referred to as the ‘blooming’ phase.

4. Sickness: Nausea and vomiting tend to be dominant in the first trimester and sometimes, due to hormonal changes you can be thrown right into the deep end with a feeling of sickness even before a missed period.

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5. Change in tastes: Soon after finding out they're pregnant, some women immediately go off something - eg. tea, coffee, alcohol - before they even know they’re pregnant. Even certain smells can prompt a feeling of a metallic taste in the mouth. This could be a sign that our body is simply telling us we do not need it! On the other side of the coin, some mums-to-be get very early cravings which is another indicator of pregnancy.

6. Vaginal discharge: An increase in white or clear discharge is common in early pregnancy. If it becomes coloured or smelly, tell your GP.

7. Headaches: Along with feeling tired, headaches can seem like there are there from the offset but they usually ease off as your pregnancy progresses.

8. Constipation: Another lovely side-effect that many women notice early on. To prevent this make sure you drink lots of water.

Do you know the early symptoms of pregnancy? From nausea to fatigue, know what to expect.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Could you be pregnant? The proof is in the pregnancy test. But even before you miss a period, you might suspect — or hope — that you're pregnant. Know the first signs and symptoms of pregnancy and why they occur.

Classic signs and symptoms of pregnancy

The most common early signs and symptoms of pregnancy might include:

Missed period. If you're in your childbearing years and a week or more has passed without the start of an expected menstrual cycle, you might be pregnant. However, this symptom can be misleading if you have an irregular menstrual cycle.
Tender, swollen breasts. Early in pregnancy hormonal changes might make your breasts sensitive and sore. The discomfort will likely decrease after a few weeks as your body adjusts to hormonal changes.
Nausea with or without vomiting. Morning sickness, which can occur at any time of the day or night, often begins one to two months after you become pregnant. However, some women feel nausea earlier and some never experience it. While the cause of nausea during pregnancy isn't clear, pregnancy hormones likely play a role.
Increased urination. You might find yourself urinating more often than usual. The amount of blood in your body increases during pregnancy, causing your kidneys to process extra fluid that ends up in your bladder.
Fatigue. Fatigue also ranks high among early symptoms of pregnancy. No one knows for certain what causes sleepiness during the first trimester of pregnancy. However, a rapid rise in the levels of the hormone progesterone during early pregnancy might contribute to fatigue.

Other signs and symptoms of pregnancy

Other less obvious signs and symptoms of pregnancy that you might experience during the first trimester include:

Moodiness. The flood of hormones in your body in early pregnancy can make you unusually emotional and weepy. Mood swings also are common.
Bloating. Hormonal changes during early pregnancy can cause you to feel bloated, similar to how you might feel at the start of a menstrual period.
Light spotting. Light spotting might be one of the first signs of pregnancy. Known as implantation bleeding, it happens when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus — about 10 to 14 days after conception. Implantation bleeding occurs around the time you would expect to have a menstrual period. However, not all women have it.
Cramping. Some women experience mild uterine cramping early in pregnancy.
Constipation. Hormonal changes cause your digestive system to slow down, which can lead to constipation.
Food aversions. When you're pregnant, you might become more sensitive to certain odors and your sense of taste might change. Like most other symptoms of pregnancy, these food preferences can be chalked up to hormonal changes.
Nasal congestion. Increasing hormone levels and blood production can cause the mucous membranes in your nose to swell, dry out and bleed easily. This might cause you to have a stuffy or runny nose.

Are you really pregnant?

Many of these signs and symptoms aren't unique to pregnancy. Some can indicate that you're getting sick or that your period is about to start. Likewise, you can be pregnant without experiencing many of these symptoms.

Still, if you miss a period and notice some of the above signs or symptoms, take a home pregnancy test or see your health care provider. If your home pregnancy test is positive, make an appointment with your health care provider. The sooner your pregnancy is confirmed, the sooner you can begin prenatal care.

If you're planning to conceive or just learned you're pregnant, start taking a daily prenatal vitamin. Prenatal vitamins typically contain important vitamins and minerals, such as folic acid and iron, to support your baby's growth and development.

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Dec. 03, 2021

Bastian LA, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of early pregnancy. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 13, 2021.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Committee on Obstetric Practice. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 189: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2018;131:e15.
Norwitz ER, et al. Overview of the etiology and evaluation of vaginal bleeding in pregnancy. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 13, 2021.
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