Early pregnancy
What symptoms are normal in early pregnancy?
Tiredness, nausea, tender breasts, needing to pass urine often and food changes are all normal early on.
Early pregnancy hormones cause a lot of changes at once. Most women notice tiredness, nausea, sore breasts, going to the toilet more often, mild headaches, changes in taste and smell, and some light spotting around the time a period would have been due.
Symptoms differ from woman to woman and from pregnancy to pregnancy. Having few symptoms does not mean something is wrong.
What you can do
- Eat small meals often and keep fluids up
- Rest when you can — tiredness peaks in the first months
- Start antenatal care as soon as you know you are pregnant
When to seek care
- Vomiting so much you cannot keep fluids down
- Heavy bleeding or severe pain
- Burning when passing urine with fever
If you cannot keep fluids down, or you have heavy bleeding or severe pain, be seen the same day.
This information is general health education and does not replace advice from your nurse, midwife or doctor. In an emergency go to your nearest facility.