From tiredness to a feeling of discomfort in the breasts or even nausea, the symptoms during the first 7 days of pregnancy can vary depending on the woman, and it is even possible to feel none at all. That’s why, as well as telling you about everything you may notice or that may happen to your body in this article, we’ll also look at how you can tell if you’re pregnant and when to get tested.
Normally, when a gynaecologist follows how a pregnancy is progressing, it is measured from the day of the last menstrual period and an additional 40 weeks is added to it. However, at that point the woman is not actually pregnant. In this article, we are going to walk you through the symptoms that a woman can perceive in the first “real” week of pregnancy. That is, when there has already been a union of egg and sperm and this union of cells is already on its way to implanting in the wall of the uterus.
What happens in the first 7 days of pregnancy?
To explain what happens in the first 7 days of pregnancy, it is worth explaining the whole initial process. The cell resulting from the union of egg and sperm, called a zygote, takes approximately 6-7 days on its journey from the fallopian tube, where fertilisation normally takes place, to the time when it attaches to the lining of the wall of the uterus.
As it travels along this path, aided by the movements of the tube (which may feel like cramps), the zygote begins to transform and divide into lots of cells, so that when it reaches the uterus, it is called a blastocyst and has about 250 cells.
This pile of cells will, in turn, divide into two groups: an internal one, which will give rise to the embryo, and an external one, which will form the placenta. During this week, the embryo is tiny and virtually undetectable by ultrasound, as it measures less than a millimetre.
7 days pregnancy symptoms after intercourse
What can a woman notice while this is happening inside her? For starters, the body secretes hormones (including HCG, human chorionic gonadotropin hormone) so that the wall of the uterus – called the endometrium – does not reject the implantation of the future baby. It is this hormone that will show up positive in the pregnancy test, but it is still too early to detect it. In fact, the most obvious sign of pregnancy in the first month is a late period, well after the first 7 days of pregnancy. In fact, if you are 7 days late and have cramps, you should take a pregnancy test to confirm it. Until then, the most common symptoms are as follows.
Pinkish, thicker vaginal discharge
What we may notice is a small amount of implantation bleeding. The bleeding is not like that of a menstrual period, but rather a light bleeding. The vaginal discharge, due to this light bleeding, may appear as a pinkish discharge that is slightly thicker and more whitish than usual due to hormonal changes. If it smells bad, it is important to consult a specialist, because it may be a case of candidiasis (a yeast infection).
Stomach cramps or colic pain
It is also common for one of the symptoms to be cramping – colic pains – caused by the movement of the fallopian tubes, which may be coupled with other mild cramps in the abdomen, pelvis or lower back as the embryo attaches to the endometrium.
Bloated stomach
Stomach bloating can also be one of the initial symptoms of pregnancy and is caused by a slowing down of bowel transit time (during pregnancy our digestive system slows down and constipation can occur) as well as by the changes that are taking place in the uterus.
Headache and nausea
Many women complain of headaches, but migraines and tension headaches are also related to the hormonal changes associated with menstruation. Other common symptoms are nausea (whether or not combined with vomiting).
Increased frequency of urination
There may also be more frequent urination because the amount of blood in your body increases during pregnancy and your kidneys are forced to work harder, but it is usually too early to notice in these first seven days.
Nosebleeds
Although not as common, increased hormone levels and rising blood production can also cause the mucous membranes of the nose to bleed easily. If you also have allergic rhinitis, this is more likely to happen.
Tiredness
Tiredness is also common in the first months of pregnancy, believed to be due to the rapid increase in progesterone. Although it is one of the most frequent symptoms, it is one of the least visible, as in many cases it is part of everyday life and can therefore easily go unnoticed.
Tender and swollen breasts
Tender breasts and breast swelling is another common symptom, along with other symptoms such as mood swings or irritability, as well as changes in the consistency of vaginal discharge and smell and taste sensations.
As you can see, these symptoms are not very specific and may be due to other things apart from pregnancy. Many of them are similar, in fact, to those that any woman has during menstruation, so they can easily go unnoticed.
When should you take a pregnancy test?
As mentioned above, the pregnancy test measures the amount of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin hormone) in the urine. This hormone is only found there if the woman is pregnant and normally has detectable levels from the third week after implantation. Therefore, it is recommended to do it a week after you have missed your period, because before that it can lead to false negatives.
At one week pregnant, a woman usually doesn’t know that she is, but if you’re trying to get pregnant, it’s good to prepare your body to welcome your baby and to make the journey to motherhood as pleasant as possible. It is advisable to maintain a healthy weight, eat healthy food (start paying attention to protein-rich foods and eating fruit, vegetables and whole grains daily), cut out harmful habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol, reduce caffeine consumption to 1-2 cups a day at most and start taking a prenatal vitamin complex (since during pregnancy a higher intake of calcium and folic acid is necessary). And, above all, consult your doctor or specialist if you have any doubts or difficulties.
If you are seeking pregnancy and need help, you can benefit from more than 25 years of experience in assisted reproduction at the Eugin clinic. Make a no-obligation appointment with us.
