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When you’re trying to conceive, two weeks can feel like an eternity. On average, that’s how long you have wait after ovulation, before you can possibly get a positive result on a home pregnancy test. For some, it may take even longer!
Luckily, I didn’t have to wait too long. A few early symptoms started to show up for me within a week!
However, these weren’t the typical pregnancy symptoms that I’d always heard about.
I wasn’t nauseous, nor did I have particularly tender or swollen breasts. In fact, had I not started browsing through some pregnancy message boards online, to get an idea of some common early pregnancy symptoms, I probably would have had no idea I was already starting to feel pregnant.
Hopefully sharing my experience will help others identify some early signs, too!
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Here’s what my symptoms looked like:
(DPO= days post ovulation)
1-2 DPO: Soon after ovulation, I remember feeling a bit of mild cramping, similar to PMS. This occurred much earlier in my cycle than I’m used to, which made me take notice.
5-6 DPO: I woke up with a painfully stiff neck! I didn’t think much of it, at first, but a few other women mentioned this as an early sign of pregnancy, so I started to think… maybe. I also thought I felt a mild aching sensation around my pelvis, but I thought it might just be wishful thinking.
8 DPO: I woke up with a strong acidic feeling in my throat, and nothing I ate or drank helped me get rid of it. I also felt the need to clear my throat for most of the day, and I felt very tired. Since I’ve never had acid reflux in my life, I was almost positive this was a sign that I was pregnant.
9 DPO: I became so convinced that I was pregnant, I decided to take a home pregnancy test early. And I saw a faint blue line! I’ve heard that even the faintest line means you’re definitely pregnant, but it was hard to believe it’s true. Still in shock, I decided to wait a little longer to tell Austin– until I get a solid blue line to show him.
10 DPO: I started to feel mild cold-like symptoms, including a stuffy nose and an itchy cough, which continued for most of the following week.
12 DPO: I take another pregnancy test (still 2 days earlier than I probably should have) and I get a solid blue line–> I’m definitely pregnant!
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As you can see, almost none of the “typical” pregnancy signs showed up for me until nearly two weeks after getting the positive pregnancy test. Luckily, knowing some of the more unusual signs helped me identify my situation quickly!
Of course, then the waiting really begins… when you become impatient to see or hear the heartbeat!
Seriously had to same exact symptoms as you! I’m 9dpo, nervous about testing but wish me luck😌
Thanks so much for your post, it’s very insightful, especially for someone like me who is new to this.
I’ve been having lower back aches past ovulation, and today 3 DPO, the back ache has become more severe and going into my pelvis too I think. Today, I had a lot of facial redness and very dry lips. I wonder if they can all be pregnancy symptoms but i suppose I can only wait and see, but again it was very nice to come across your website, and know that it may be a possibility!
Wishing you all the best from Hong Kong.
I am 9DPO and have had mild cramping off off on since the day I ovulated, tender boobs and fatigue, other symptoms off and on too. AF is due on Wednesday.
Has anyone had almost a full or somewhat heavy feeling low in their pelvis? Ive felt it a couple times the last couple days.
What day did you experience implantation bleeding
It doesn’t happen to every one ok
This almost felt like someone wrote my story! 2-3 DPO I was cramping so much and specially on my lower right side of the abdomen, right now Its 5 DPO and I’m feeling so nauseous! Maybe I should wait few more says before I take a pregnancy test! Fingers crossed 🤞
This is really amazing!
Thank you for sharing!
4dpo I woke up with a stiff neck I thought it was weird even though my breast feeling abit fuller could it be am pregnant my next period due Nov 14.ik it’s way to early but I did a first response test did morning but it was nagitive
Hi I am having the same symptoms like you did but how long did it take for your stiff neck to go
It’s kinda interesting that getting pregnant can cause so many symptoms you’d normally associate with an illness… I wonder why that is. And I wonder if it might only happen with the first pregnancy? Your body has never seen a new human growing inside of it before, so it provokes an immune response?
Fortunately for my wife, all she had with her pregnancy were the typical symptoms you mentioned. Hopefully those cold symptoms/etc didn’t last for long!
May I ask what you mean by 2 days too soon? Do you mean you tested 2 days before your missed period? I’ve been following this and reading this every few days to keep my conception thoughts positive! *fingers crossed*
Yes, I think you’re not “supposed” to test until 14 days after ovulation– around the time you’d normally get your period. If you don’t wait that long, you may not get a positive test, even if you are indeed pregnant.
omg….megan.. this is me…i am you… i have had the exact same symptoms on the exact same day… heart burn is a bitch.. and i hv never exp it in my live.. though i have dealt with acidity ..m 8dpo today.. m planning to test on 11 dpo… congratulations to you.. i hope to see a bfp..
I have had all these symptoms so far also i am only 5 dpo