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Discovering that you're pregnant can be a thrilling and emotional experience. However, before you’ve even confirmed your pregnancy with a test, your body may start giving you subtle (or not-so-subtle) signs. Every woman’s experience is unique—some may notice multiple symptoms, while others have just a few. The key is to tune in to your body's changes and recognize the early signals. In this guide, we’ll explore the most common early pregnancy symptoms and help you understand what to expect during the first few weeks after conception. 1. Missed Period One of the most obvious early signs of pregnancy is a missed period. If your menstrual cycle is regular, missing a period is often the first indication that something is different. However, some women still experience light spotting or implantation bleeding, which can be mistaken for a period. If your period is late, taking a pregnancy test is the best indicator that you may be pregnant. 2. Morning Sickness Despite its name, morning sickness can strike at any time of the day. Nausea and vomiting typically begin around the 6th week of pregnancy and may last through the first trimester. While some women experience only mild nausea, others deal with more severe symptoms. Certain smells and foods may trigger queasiness, making daily activities more challenging. 3. Fatigue Feeling unusually tired? Fatigue is one of the most common early pregnancy symptoms. Rising progesterone levels, along with your body’s increased effort to support the pregnancy, can leave you feeling exhausted. If you find yourself needing extra naps or struggling to stay awake, this could be an early pregnancy indicator. 4. Tender and Swollen Breasts Changes in your breasts are often one of the first signs of pregnancy. You may notice your breasts feel tender, swollen, or heavier than usual. The areolas (the darker skin around the nipples) may also darken and enlarge due to hormonal changes as your body prepares for breastfeeding. 5. Frequent Urination Are you making more trips to the bathroom? Pregnancy increases blood flow and fluid production, which increases the workload of your kidneys. As your uterus expands, it puts added pressure on your bladder. This leads to frequent urination, even in the early stages of pregnancy. If you find yourself waking up at night to use the restroom more often, it could be a sign. 6. Mood Swings Hormonal fluctuations can cause significant emotional changes. Many women experience mood swings, ranging from irritability to unexpected tears or increased sensitivity. These emotional shifts can be triggered by hormonal surges, fatigue, or even the excitement and anxiety of early pregnancy. 7. Food Cravings or Aversions Sudden cravings for specific foods? A newfound aversion to your favorite dishes? These changes in appetite are common in early pregnancy. Hormonal fluctuations may lead you to crave unusual food combinations or develop strong dislikes for foods you once enjoyed. 8. Bloating and Constipation If you feel unusually bloated, hormones could be to blame. Increased progesterone slows down digestion, leading to bloating and constipation. 9. Headaches Hormonal shifts can sometimes trigger headaches or migraines during early pregnancy. These headaches may range from mild to severe and can be accompanied by dizziness or lightheadedness. Staying hydrated, getting enough rest, and managing stress can help reduce their intensity. 10. Light Spotting or Implantation Bleeding Some women experience light spotting when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining, known as implantation bleeding. This typically occurs 6-12 days after conception and may appear as pinkish or brownish discharge. It’s often lighter than a period and short-lived. 11. Changes in Cervical Mucus Noticing an increase in discharge? Early in pregnancy, cervical mucus production increases, often appearing clear, sticky, or creamy. This mucus may become thicker as the pregnancy progresses, helping to protect the uterus from infections. 12. Heightened Sense of Smell If certain scents suddenly seem overwhelmingly strong or trigger nausea, it may be an early pregnancy symptom. A heightened sense of smell is common in the first trimester and can contribute to morning sickness or food aversions. Final Thoughts Early pregnancy symptoms can vary from woman to woman, and some may experience few or no symptoms at all. Recognizing these early signs can help you better understand your body’s changes and prepare for the exciting journey ahead. If you’re experiencing multiple symptoms, it may be time to take the next step in confirming your pregnancy. Here at Open Arms Pregnancy Clinic, we offer free and confidential clinical pregnancy testing and limited OB ultrasounds. Schedule your free appointment today by calling or texting us at (818) 626 - 9400. Source: Symptoms of pregnancy: What happens first. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/symptoms-of-pregnancy/art-20043853

February 14, 2025 There are a couple of websites where you can order the abortion pill online. And while it seems simple enough to just fill out a form and chat with someone online, it’s important to first determine a few things. How far along are you in your pregnancy? Is there any possibility that you may have miscarried? After a miscarriage, the pregnancy hormone will continue to be present for days and can cause a pregnancy test to read as positive even though a pregnancy may have already ended on its own.1 In this instance, there would be no need for the abortion pill. Although it’s challenging to find the exact price of purchasing the abortion pill online, GoodRx lists $600 as the average cost.2 But before placing an order online, there is some important information to know. Knowing When You Got Pregnant Why does it matter how far along you are in your pregnancy (the gestational age)? According to the FDA, you are only eligible to take the abortion pill 70 days or less from the first day of your last menstrual period.3 Are you confident you know the date your pregnancy began? We find that many women that come to Open Arms Pregnancy Clinic do not have regular monthly cycles or they don’t remember when their last period was. We can conduct an ultrasound exam that will confirm if you have a viable pregnancy, along with precise dating. For your safety, here at Open Arms Pregnancy Clinic, we offer free pregnancy confirmation and options consultation. Knowing If You’ve Miscarried Believe it or not, the Mayo Clinic says that up to 20% of known pregnancies end in a natural miscarriage. Some estimate that the number could be even higher due to more women miscarrying before knowing they are pregnant.4 You could receive a positive result on an at-home pregnancy test days or even weeks after miscarrying because it takes your body a while to realize it’s no longer pregnant.1 How do you tell if you’ve already miscarried? Once again, ultrasound can answer this question. An ultrasound will confirm the number of days you’ve been pregnant and whether or not you may have miscarried. The ultrasound will also verify the location of the pregnancy. Although rare, some pregnancies form outside the uterus and are extremely dangerous. The abortion pill will not fix this type of pregnancy. Where to get a No-Cost Ultrasound At Open Arms Pregnancy Clinic, we do not provide the abortion pill but we do provide free clinical pregnancy testing and confirmation ultrasounds because we believe every woman should have access to the information they need to make a fully informed choice. Request An Appointment Text us at (818) 626 - 9400 or request an appointment online. We want you to be fully informed about your health and pregnancy before you decide to order the abortion pill. We can discuss your pregnancy concerns and questions at that time. All services are free and confidential. 1 Butts, S. F., Guo, W., Cary, M. S., Chung, K., Takacs, P., Sammel, M. D., & Barnhart, K. T. (2013). Predicting the decline in human chorionic gonadotropin in a resolving pregnancy of unknown location. Obstetrics and gynecology, 122(2 Pt 1), 337–343. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e31829c6ed6 2 Mph, C. G. (2024, August 27). How much does the abortion pill cost? GoodRx. https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/abortion/medication-abortion-pill-cost 3 Research, C. F. D. E. A. (2025, February 11). Questions and answers on Mifepristone for medical termination of pregnancy through ten weeks gestation. U.S. Food And Drug Administration.https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients- and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy- through-ten-weeks-gestation 4 Miscarriage - Symptoms and causes. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pregnancy-loss-miscarriage/symptoms- causes/syc-20354298