First Trimester Symptoms: 14 Pregnancy Signs Of The 1st Trimester

October 11, 2024

Read All About First Trimester Pregnancy Signs

If you think you might be pregnant – or already know you are! – you might be looking for first trimester pregnancy signs.

These are the symptoms of pregnancy in the 1st trimester, which starts on the first day of your last period and lasts until the end of week 12.

When we were trying for a baby, I spent lots of time reading up about first trimester pregnancy symptoms, so I could both guess if I was pregnant, and, when I knew was, work out what was to come.

After two babies later, here are my first trimester symptoms and what you might expect from the first third of being pregnant.

This is not intended or should be taken as medical advice, it is very much a personal account of my pregnancy symptoms. If you have any medical questions or concerns, please speak to a midwife or a doctor

What Is The First Trimester?

Firstly, what is the first trimester? Pregnancy lasts for about 40 weeks – on average – and is divided into three trimesters, which each last for about three months. The first trimester is calculated as weeks 1–12.

Pregnancy is actually calculated from the first day of your last period and not the date of conception, which occurs around two weeks later. You don’t generally find out you are pregnant until two weeks after that. So technically you are likely to be around 4+ weeks pregnant when you find out you are.

In terms of how soon you can you get 1st trimester symptoms, it depends – some symptoms are subtle and appear straight away.

Lots of pregnancy symptoms, like morning sickness, don’t kick in until around week 6 of pregnancy, which is a couple of weeks after your period is due.

Also symptoms are very personal, and you may get some, or all – read my post on pregnancy symptoms I didn’t have.

My First Trimester Pregnancy Symptoms

1st trimester symptoms of pregnancy

Here were my first trimester symptoms of pregnancy. Warning, some of these are fairly TMI.

Read more about my first pregnancy and second pregnancy here.

If you’re concerned about anything, speak to your doctor.

14 First Trimester Pregnancy Signs

1. 1st Trimester Increased Cervical Mucus

An early 1st trimester pregnancy symptoms is changes to you discharge, or changes in your cervical mucus. If, like me, you had fertility problems then you may have tracked the consistency of your cervical mucus in your quest to get pregnant.

If conception hasn’t occurred, cervical mucus usually dries after ovulation and before your period is due. If you are pregnant then cervical mucus will increase if you’re pregnant, in the days after conception occurs.

2. Implantation Bleeding In Early Pregnancy

Is bleeding in early pregnancy a first trimester symptom? It can be – it was for me, but if you are bleeding please speak to a doctor. I had first trimester implantation bleeding, this is a very light bleed at the point of the foetus implanting in your womb.

Not everyone experiences this, but I did both times. I had very light spotting at around 9-10 days PO (post ovulation).

3. Sore Boobs In The First Trimester Of Pregnancy

Sore boobs are a common first trimester sign of pregnancy, and one of the earliest. My boobs felt very sore and much bigger than usual. They felt like period boobs, but more painful.

first trimester symptoms before missed period

4. Raised Body Temperature:

If you are not pregnant your body temperature will dip before your period, then rise again on the day it starts. If you are pregnant then it will stay high with no dip.

I feel noticeably hotter during my first trimester.

5. 1st Trimester Pregnancy Insomnia And Disturbed Sleep

I had insomnia during my first trimester with both pregnancies. I had trouble going to sleep and staying asleep. I would wake up at around 4am and be unable to go back to sleep.

6. Vivid Dreams In Early Pregnancy:

I had really strong and vivid dreams through both pregnancies and were and early first trimester sign.

Pregnancy dreams are insane! They are so tangible, and you wake up feeling exhausted and like they were actually real.

7. Dizziness In The First Trimester

One of my first signs of pregnancy was feeling dizzy. I felt very faint, dizzy and light headed, especially when walking or exercising.

8. Pregnancy Nausea, Sickness And Food Aversions

Although full-on morning sickness doesn’t develop for a while till around week 6. I thought something was up in very early pregnancy when I felt very nauseous and sick.

And early pregnancy sign for me was feeling like I had mild hangover, without the drinking.

I also have food aversions, where I went off food I previously loved (avocados and tomatoes made me heave!).

9. Dehydration

Again, another very early pregnancy symptom for me was being really thirsty all the time.

10. Heightened Emotions

If you’re crying at something that’s not emotional, feeling really angry and upset, this could be an early 1st trimester symptom. It was for me!

11. Sensitive Sense Of Smell

pregnancy signs week 1

One of my first trimester symptoms was a heightened sense of smell. I knew my husband was eating crisps despite me being in a completely different room. Public transport and most of London smelled awful.

If you’re in London, here’s how to get a baby on board badge.

12. Going Off Alcohol

I definitely didn’t want wine – what was that all about?

Going off alcohol was one of my first trimester signs of pregnancy.

13. Going Off Coffee And Tea

Although I normally drink a lot of tea, I didn’t want to drink it at all during the first trimester. It tasted weird and the very idea of it made me feel weird.

14. Feeling Odd:

I knew something was going on. It turns out that yes, this was a pregnancy symptom in the first trimester.

Once You’ve Read My Post On First Trimester Symptoms, Read these:

Here’s how to keep your early pregnancy a secret and you can also follow me on Pinterest

Read ovulation signs, and pregnancy symptoms week 1.

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