She noticed that she hadn't had a period in a while, and she was having a lot of stomache bloating and distention. It finally occured to her that maybe she was pregnant. We were both amazed when I told her that she was carrying a baby that seemed at least six months, it seemed. This woman clearly, did not have any early signs of pregnancy . But, it's amusing because it's unusual.

Whether it is a woman's first or third pregnancy; there may be similarities but no two are going to be totally alike. The early signs of pregnancy vary greatly, and may start even two weeks after conception. If a woman usually has regular monthly cycles, then has a missed period, a high probability exists that she is pregnant. This is one of the early signs of pregnancy, that gets women going for pregnancy testing.

An over-the-counter pregnancy test can now be purchased to confirm or deny the early signs of pregnancy. Depending on what type of pregnancy test is used, length of time after conception to when it is detectable can vary form test to test. Blood testing is the most reliable and can detect pregnancy hormones in as little as 48 hours after conception but more costly.

Since urine testing is so inexpensive, this is the most common pregnancy test used, but cannot detect pregnancy until at least 2-4 weeks after conception, or 1-2 weeks after a missed period.
If you are going to do a blood test oit's called Beta-HCG. It's always a good idea to ask for a value number, not just if it's positive or negative. The number of the Beta-HCG is important, because later it can be used to check to see if the pregnancy is developing normally. It's pretty simple. If the Beta-HCG is rising, things are usually fine. If the Beta-HCG drops, they are not.

Among the other classic early signs of pregnancy are nausea upon arising in the morning (morning sickness), breast tenderness, and fatigue. Many women never experience morning sickness and some have it throughout their entire pregnancy. Two other early signs of pregnancy are frequent urination and increased vaginal secretions. As the uterus changes and grows pressure is placed on the bladder which is why pregnancy women never veer too far away from a restroom! The increased vaginal secretions are a sign of hormone production and formation of the mucous plug that will protect the developing fetus from bacteria and other harmful substances.

In some women, the early signs of pregnancy can be missed. If monthly cycles are irregular or absent, it may be very difficult for such a women to know she is pregnant. Certain types of birth control, such as the Pill or Depo-Provera injections may cause periods to be very light or absent. Being aware of the early signs of pregnancy gives a woman more control over the pregnancy, whether it is planned or not. There is a lot of information available on conception and the early signs of pregnancy from health care providers, women’s clinics, public health departments, and especially online women.

Whether you have early signs of pregnancy or not, if you suspect you are pregnant, it's a good idea to find out for sure, so you can start with good prenatal care, and avoid anything dangerous.