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Early signs of pregnancy

5-minute read

What are some of the early signs of pregnancy?

Most women will have some symptoms of early pregnancy within a few weeks of becoming pregnant.

The most common symptom of early pregnancy is a missed period. This may be less obvious to women with irregular cycles or who are using a type of contraception that affect their periods. These women may not notice a missed period. It’s also common to notice physical changes such as:

Some women will experience many of these changes, while others won’t feel very different to usual. If you are having severe symptoms, ask your doctor about things you can do to help you feel better.

The hormonal changes in early pregnancy can also cause changes to your mood. You may feel more emotional and cry more easily. These feelings are very common in early pregnancy, but if they become severe and start to affect your daily life, it’s a good idea to discuss them with your doctor or pregnancy care provider.

What should I do if I think I'm pregnant?

If you think you may be pregnant, you can check using a home pregnancy test. Home pregnancy tests are easy to use and you can get them at most supermarkets and pharmacies.

If your home pregnancy test is positive, you should see your doctor to confirm your pregnancy with a blood test, and get information and advice about what comes next.

If your home pregnancy test is negative, but you still think you may be pregnant, you can see your doctor for a blood test to check whether you are pregnant.

To find a GP clinic near you that is open now, use the Service Finder tool.

While you are waiting to confirm whether you are pregnant, it’s a good idea to behave as you would if you were pregnant. This means you should avoid alcohol and cigarette smoke, and ensure you eat a healthy diet, including a folic acid supplement.

Early signs of pregnancy

Learn more about the most common signs of early pregnancy.

How do I work out my due date?

Most babies are born about 38 weeks after conception. Since many women ovulate (release an egg that may then be fertilised) and conceive about 2 weeks after their last period, this is often about 40 weeks since the beginning of their last period. That’s why people often talk about pregnancy lasting for 40 weeks.

Women with a regular 28-day cycle can calculate an estimated due date for their baby by counting 40 weeks from the first day of their last period. This may not be so simple or accurate in other situations, such as if you have long or irregular cycles, don’t remember when you had your last period, or if you became pregnant while taking contraception that affected your cycle.

Use the due date calculator to calculate your estimated due date.

If you’re not sure when you conceived, your doctor or midwife may refer you for a dating scan that uses ultrasound to estimate your due date based on your baby’s size.

What should I do if I didn't plan to fall pregnant?

Unplanned pregnancies happen to people of all ages and backgrounds.

If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, you may choose to:

Pregnancy is an emotional time, especially if your pregnancy was unplanned. It can be helpful to discuss your options with someone you trust, such as your partner, a family member or close friend. Your doctor or local family planning clinic can also give you information and advice.

You don’t need to decide what to do right away, but it’s still a good idea to see your doctor as soon as possible. If you choose to terminate the pregnancy, it’s best to have the procedure done as soon as possible. If you decide to continue the pregnancy, your doctor can give you information and advice to maximise your health and wellbeing, as well as your baby’s.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: November 2021


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Call us and speak to a Maternal Child Health Nurse for personal advice and guidance.

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