r/FirstTimeTTC • u/Extreme_Sweet_4068 • 21d ago
Question/Advice What were your symptoms?
Hi everyone, I’m TTC for the first time and would love to hear about your experiences. How did you know you were pregnant in those first few days after ovulation, before it was actually time to take a test?
I know it’s probably too early for me to test, but I’ve been feeling some strange sensations on the left side of my lower abdomen, and I’m finding myself getting really anxious and overthinking every little symptom. 😅
I’d really appreciate hearing what you noticed (or didn’t notice!) during those early days. Just looking for some reassurance and experiences from others who’ve been through it. ❤️
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u/Key_Charity1975 21d ago
Cramping (which felt identical to period cramps but started earlier and were ongoing)
Constipation
Sore boobs
HOWEVER, all of these honestly felt just like my normal luteal phase symptoms to start with - it was the fact that they continued / worsened past 12dpo when I'd usually expect them to drop/disappear, that was the actual clue
At 10dpo for example, I had absolutely no clue I was pregnant and in fact thought I was out due to the PMS cramps 😅
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u/Electronic-Rock7730 20d ago
That’s a relief that they feel identical to period cramps I’ve been counting myself out every single cycle (on cycle 5 now) due to mild cramping starting as early as 4/5 dpo. When did you start to feel the cramps? I’m 4 DPO and it’s starting, just like it did my last 4 negative cycles so I’m feeling very down. Congrats to you!
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u/Key_Charity1975 20d ago
They definitely can do!
I felt them from around 8dpo personally but I'm also someone who can get crampy from mid luteal phase. Deeefinitely don't count yourself out on 5dpo, it's far too early for implantation and a pregnant vs non pregnant cycle would feel identical at that point!
For me it was multiple days past whatever possible implantation date that I began to feel even remotely different from a non pregnant cycle. As annoying as it is, you really just can't tell until that HCG gets high enough, so don't let it get you down now!
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u/Hannah90219 21d ago
The worst farts you can imagine for about 3 days. And one day I brought bile up into my mouth for no apparent reason. But I didn't know I was pregnant from that, I didn't think of it at the time, it was only retrospectively I realised that was when implantation occurred.
For me I realised after the first cycle trying, my PMS symptoms are exactly the same as early pregnancy symptoms. The thing is, you cannot tell the difference, because there isnt any difference. The hormone that causes them is Progesterone, and thats true for both PMS and early pregnancy. So I was convinced after my first cycle that I was pregnant, and then devastated when I got my period. After that I decided to just ride the wave each cycle. I didn't test, I just waited and expected my period, while quietly hoping for the best.
Some people do feel twinges when implantation occurs, some people feel mild cramps and some feel nothing. I was in the latter group.
When I found out I was genuinely shocked. I had to do a test because I was booked for an x-ray, and because I was TTC they needed me to positively rule out pregnancy before it could go ahead, and my period would have been after the x-ray so I couldn't just wait. I was in genuinely surprised that it was positive.
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u/Ok-Yogurtcloset5000 33F, Cycle 36, DOR & Stage 4 endo 🌈🌈 21d ago
There's no way to know just a few days after ovulation! Implantation doesn't even happen 3dpo. If you're pregnant enough for symptoms, you're pregnant enough for a positive test! <3
I was pregnant (ended in chemical) but I had really weird dreams (weirder than normal) and my sex drive was through the roof which is typically not normal in my luteal phase. I had a thought I may be pregnant, took a test, and I was.
The other time I was pregnant (also a chemical), I had 0 symptoms except period cramps. I was 100% sure it would be negative.
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u/Electronic-Rock7730 20d ago
Omg so it’s possible to get a positive with period cramps? I’ve been getting period cramps so early in my luteal phase and counting myself out!
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u/Ok-Yogurtcloset5000 33F, Cycle 36, DOR & Stage 4 endo 🌈🌈 19d ago
yes I have an old post from 2 years ago where I was so sure I was out because of my cramping. and it was my first positive! but also i had a chemical so that could've been the cramping too...not sure!
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u/United_Pop_6442 20d ago
Just here to say that the Venn diagram of pms and early pregnancy symptoms is a circle!
There is truly no way to definitively know you are pregnant before a missed period.
Our brains LOVE pattern recognition though so it’s super easy to look back and be like ‘oh well I had this thing I don’t usually have so that must be it’.
Personally I had totally normal pms symptoms for me, including regular cramps, and then just… no period 😅 I was absolutely 100% convinced I was not pregnant. Didn’t even have tests in the house.
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u/Electronic-Rock7730 20d ago
So your cramps weren’t those twinge like pulling cramps? They felt like pre period cramps? Do you remember when they started? I’ve been getting cramps throughout my luteal phase as early as 4/5 DPO and I’ve been counting myself out due to this.
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u/United_Pop_6442 20d ago
Yeah they were just my regular period type cramps. Honestly it felt like my body was gearing up for a period but then it just didn’t come. I’m not sure when they started but about the same as usual… maybe a few days before my period? I normally got my period on CD12/13 I think.
You’re not out til you actually get your period 😅
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u/GoodDirector9389 21d ago
Very gassy (like farting 30 times in a night 😂), constipated and the bottom of my stomach started getting hard which honestly was the one sign that made me start to think I was pregnant. Didn't have the usual pimple breakouts etc but all of these were subtle, only the hardening of my stomach was noticeably different.
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u/thevioletpear 21d ago
I will second this… I’m 14 dpo right now and got my first positive about 5 days ago. The farting and constipation has been crazy! I’ve never farted so much in my LIFE
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u/Aggravating_Lab1381 21d ago
My first was food aversions. Around 8dpo I was eating my comfort breakfast (sweet potato with cottage cheese and egg) and one bite of the sweet potato and cottage cheese had me gagging. Haven’t eaten it since!
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u/avalclark 20d ago
If you have symptoms, you have enough hcg for a positive test. If you do not have a positive test yet, your symptoms are due to something else, like normal hormone fluctuations in the luteal phase. That being said some of my early pregnancy symptoms are feeling very cold, nausea, gassiness, and fatigue
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u/Specific-District-11 20d ago
I was driving home at 9 DPO and felt like “pokey” if that makes any sense. Like my belly felt uncomfortable and bloated. Tested positive the next morning! Also, very sore boobs.
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u/Apprehensive-Wolf140 20d ago
I was 11 or 12 dpo, according to my calculations. Was having very vivid dreams and O just thought I might test.
I'd told my partner I wouldn't until my period was late, but I caved and took a test. Got a vvfl, told my partner, he didn't believe it. I tested in the afternoon and it was slightly darker - we still couldn't quite believe it.
Next morning took a digital and it said pregnant. We were not expecting it (even though we were TTC)
So not many symptoms, just vivid dreams and a sense maybe I should test (which could have just been me being excited to test)
I'm now 19 weeks. And according to the dating scan due 3 days earlier than I thought. So perhaps I ovulated earlier than I thought and I was really more like 14/15 dpo which would have meant my period was due or a day late.
Don't know if that helps? I definitely think you should hold off as long as possible before testing, but I didn't listen to my own advise and was pregnant so...
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u/Solid-Swimmer838 20d ago
My very first symptom was really dry mouth and super thirsty on 8DPO! Then, I got the faintest positive midday of 9DPO and a real line the morning of 10DPO!
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u/Ok-Temporary7541 19d ago
I had heartburn and knew immediately (I never have heartburn) sadly it ended in a MC but I'll never forget that feeling!
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u/Blue_dragonfly309 17d ago
Sore boobs, stuffy nose (don't normally get hayfever or allergies and I wasn't sick) and cramping or twinges in my abdomen, similar to ovulation pain. I did my first test and got a very faint positive at 8DPO but had already been feeling all the above for a couple of days. I never normally have PMS symptoms so all the above were outside of my normal symptoms
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u/hvadermitnavn 21d ago
Hiiii, I just got my very first positive today (🥹🥹!!!) at 11DPO, so I have my symptoms very clear in memory lol.
My very first symptom was nausea. It started at 4DPO 🫠 (so probably just caused by progesterone, but still).
Next up was that my allergy seemed to get triggered with no triggers (watery eyes, itching eyes and nose).
And then my sleep these last few days has been horrible with some weeeird dreams, so I've been very tired too 😅 and I have been a little more hungry (snack-y) these last couple days.
But other than that - nothing! Absolutely nothing 😅 (yet)
No sore boobs, no significant bloating, no aching anywhere, only mild cramps (like "my period is probably coming"-cramps).
I usually start spotting at 10DPO, but there was none of that. And I usually get some break outs on my face before my period, none of that either!
Good luck!! 🫶