Common early signs
- A missed period (the most common first sign)
- Tender, swollen or tingling breasts
- Feeling unusually tired
- Nausea or “morning sickness” (can happen any time of day)
- Needing to pee more often
- Going off certain foods or smells; a metallic taste
- Mild cramping or light spotting (implantation)
When do symptoms start?
Some people notice changes around 1–2 weeks after conception, but many have no symptoms until after a missed period. Early signs overlap with normal pre-period symptoms, so they aren’t proof on their own.
When to take a test
Most home pregnancy tests are reliable from the first day of a missed period. Testing too early can give a false negative — if it’s negative but your period doesn’t arrive, test again in a few days.
What next?
If your test is positive, contact your GP or midwife to start antenatal care. You can estimate your due date from the first day of your last period, and start thinking about healthy-pregnancy basics.