Pregnancy FAQs

When Do Pregnancy Symptoms Start?

Most people notice early signs about 1–2 weeks after conception, but the exact timing can vary from person to person.

After a fertilized egg sticks to the uterus (called implantation, usually 6–12 days after conception), the body makes a hormone named hCG. As hCG levels rise, you might feel things like tiredness, sore breasts, mild cramping, or queasiness.

These early changes often show up around when your next period would be due (about two weeks after conception), though some may feel them a bit sooner or later.

Is Constipation A Sign Of Pregnancy?

Constipation can occur in early pregnancy due to hormonal changes slowing digestion, but it’s not a definitive sign.

After the embryo embeds in the uterus (about 6–12 days after conception), rising progesterone relaxes muscles—including those in the gut. This makes food move more slowly and lets more water leave the stool, so it can become hard and difficult to pass.

While many pregnant people notice constipation early on, it also happens for lots of other reasons, so it isn’t a reliable pregnancy indicator.

When Do Pregnancy Cravings Start?

Food cravings often begin around weeks 10–14 of pregnancy, but this timing can vary widely.

As pregnancy hormones rise, they affect your hunger signals and your sense of taste and smell. This shift usually happens when your body makes more estrogen and progesterone, often around the end of the first trimester (about 10–14 weeks). Some people notice cravings a bit earlier or later, since everyone’s body responds differently.

When Do You Start Showing Pregnancy?

Most people start to show around 12–16 weeks of pregnancy, though it varies by body shape and pregnancy history.

After about 12 weeks, your uterus (womb) grows enough to push your stomach forward and make a bump. How soon this happens depends on your body shape, muscle strength, and whether you’ve been pregnant before. People with strong stomach muscles or extra belly fat might show later, while those on a second (or later) pregnancy often show a bit earlier.

When Does Nausea Start in Pregnancy?

Nausea usually starts around 4–6 weeks into pregnancy, but timing can vary from person to person.

After the embryo attaches (about 6–12 days after fertilization), your body ramps up pregnancy hormones like hCG and progesterone. These hormones can irritate your stomach and slow digestion, which may make you feel queasy. Most people notice this “morning sickness” beginning around 4–6 weeks after their last period, with symptoms often peaking around week 9. Some may feel it a bit earlier or later, since everyone’s hormone levels and sensitivity differ.

How Soon Can You Take a Pregnancy Test?

You can test with most home kits on the day your period is due; some sensitive tests work up to 6 days before that.

Pregnancy tests look for a hormone called hCG, which your body makes after the fertilized egg sticks to the uterus (usually 6–12 days after the egg and sperm meet). As hCG builds up, it shows up in your urine at levels most tests catch by the day your period is due—about two weeks after the egg and sperm meet. Some tests can pick up lower hCG levels up to 6 days before your missed period.

How Accurate Are Pregnancy Tests?

Most home pregnancy tests are over 99% accurate when used on or after the day your period is due.

Pregnancy tests work by spotting hCG, a hormone your body makes after an embryo attaches to the uterus (usually 6–12 days after fertilization). Lab tests and quality over-the-counter kits claim over 99% accuracy on the day your period is expected. However, testing too early can give false negatives because hCG levels might still be too low to detect.

False positives are rare but can happen with certain medications or medical conditions that raise hCG. Timing and following the instructions closely matter most for a reliable result.

Can Twins Cause a False Negative Pregnancy Test?

No. Twins raise hCG levels, making a positive result more likely, not causing a false negative.

When you’re pregnant with twins, your body makes extra hCG—a hormone home tests look for in urine. Twins usually boost hCG well above the level needed for a positive result. False negatives happen if hCG is too low (for example, testing too early or with very diluted urine). Since twins increase hCG, they don’t lead to false negatives but often give a clearer positive result.

Do Pregnancy Tests Expire?

Pregnancy tests have expiration dates. Using an expired test can lead to inaccurate results.

Pregnancy tests use special chemicals (antibodies) that bind to hCG in your urine to show a line or symbol. Over time, those chemicals can break down or lose strength, so an expired test might not pick up hCG even if you’re pregnant—or less commonly, it could show a faint line by mistake.

You’ll find the expiration date printed on the test’s box or foil wrapper; after that date, the test’s accuracy isn’t guaranteed.

Can a Pregnancy Test Be Wrong?

Yes. Home pregnancy tests can sometimes be wrong—false negatives if hCG is low, or rare false positives from certain medications or conditions.

Pregnancy tests work by detecting hCG, a hormone your body makes after an embryo attaches to the uterus (around 6–12 days after fertilization). If you test too early or your urine is very diluted, hCG levels may be too low to show up, causing a false negative. False positives are uncommon but can happen if you’re taking hCG-containing medications (like some fertility drugs) or have certain medical conditions that raise hCG.

How Many Weeks is a Pregnancy?

Full-term pregnancy is about 40 weeks from the first day of your last period (about 38 weeks from conception).

Because it’s hard to know exactly when you became pregnant, doctors start counting from the first day of your last menstrual period. That makes a full pregnancy about 40 weeks long. Conception usually happens around week 2, so it’s about 38 weeks from the moment sperm meets egg. Pregnancy is split into three parts: weeks 1–13 (first trimester), weeks 14–27 (second), and weeks 28–40 (third).

When Does Ectopic Pregnancy Pain Start?

Ectopic pregnancy pain usually starts around 6–8 weeks of gestation, but it can vary depending on where the embryo implants.

When a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus—most often in a fallopian tube—that tube can’t stretch well as the embryo grows. As the embryo gets bigger (around 6–8 weeks from your last period), you may feel a sharp or dull ache on one side of your lower belly. Because everyone’s body and implantation spot differ, some people notice pain a bit earlier or later, often along with light spotting.

How Long Does Spotting Last in Early Pregnancy?

Spotting in early pregnancy usually lasts 1–3 days, but can range from a few hours to up to a week.

Spotting often happens around the time the embryo embeds itself in the womb lining, about 6–12 days after fertilization. This light bleeding comes from small blood vessels in the uterus and usually shows up as pink or brown discharge. For most people, it lasts about one to three days, but some may see a little spotting for just a few hours or up to a week. Because it’s light and brief, it’s different from a normal period flow.

What Does the First Trimester Feel Like?

Fatigue, nausea, breast tenderness, and mood changes are common in the first trimester, though experiences vary.

During the first trimester (weeks 1–13), rising pregnancy hormones can make you feel very tired and queasy. You may notice your breasts swell and feel sore, need to pee more often, or feel bloated.

Mood swings—feeling happy one moment and upset the next—are normal, too. All these changes happen because your body is working hard to grow and nourish the embryo. Everyone’s symptoms are a bit different, so you might have some symptoms more strongly and others hardly at all.