Pregnancy Symptoms or PMS?
Posted by Countdown to Pregnancy | Filed under Symptoms, TTC Tools & Resources
Trying to decipher what are pregnancy symptoms and what are PMS symptoms is a predicament for any woman who is trying to conceive. This question can fluster and befuddle even the most levelheaded woman during the seemingly endless two week wait. The problem is that nearly every early pregnancy symptom is also a PMS symptom. The best thing to do is to get organized and take control. So how do you do this?
The key to this whole dilemma is tracking. Once you know what is normal for you each month you will be able to easily see when something is different. It is when you get to know yourself and your body that you can start to feel empowered. And this is just what you need to keep you from getting unhinged during your luteal phase!
The keys to figuring it all out:
- Find changes in your symptoms
- Find changes in number and frequency of your symptoms
Changes in Your Symptoms
Every month you need to pay attention to your body and keep track of every symptom that occurs. Track each symptom for each day past ovulation. Do this from ovulation day until your period arrives. The idea is to become familiar with what are normal PMS symptoms for you – (since every woman’s signs will be different). This way when you are actively trying to conceive you will be able to easily spot any unusual symptoms that may indicate a forthcoming positive pregnancy test!
Even if you are not actively trying to conceive it is a good idea to track what symptoms you have now so you have a good baseline to compare against when you do start trying.
PMS symptoms that are normal for you many indicate pregnancy in someone else. Again, the key is to find changes in symptoms.
Changes in the Number and Frequency of Your Symptoms
If you are in fact pregnant, you may notice an increase in the types of symptoms you experience or how long normal symptoms last. Many women find they experience a larger array of symptoms as well as having them occur more frequently (i.e.: more days than usual).
Let’s look at some data.
Based on all the data amalgamated from www.countdowntopregnancy.com (which includes well over a quarter of a million symptoms recorded) it shows that during a non-pregnant cycle on average women will experience 41 symptoms (these can be considered normal PMS symptoms). But during the cycles of women who were indeed pregnant the average is much higher at 66 symptoms. So not only are you looking for changes in what symptoms occur but also the number of symptoms and their frequency.
Don’t forget that sometimes things can swing the other way completely. The lack of a particular symptom can be a good sign, but so can a lack of symptoms all together. Sometimes when we are looking too hard for something we fail notice the “lack” of symptoms.
Case Study
Here is an excerpt from one woman’s tracking records. It illustrates how valuable it is to have multiple cycles tracked for comparison.
8 Days Past Ovulation
| Symptom | Not Pregnant #1 | Not Pregnant #2 | Pregnant! |
| Nausea | - | - | x |
| Bloating | x | - | x |
| Dry Mouth/Increased Thirst | - | - | x |
| Tender Breasts | x | x | - |
| Fatigue | x | x | x |
Notice how on this day past ovulation she experienced nausea and dry mouth during her pregnant cycle, but not in the others. Also notice that during her pregnant cycle she did not experience tender breasts which occurred during both of her non-pregnant cycles.
10 Days Past Ovulation
| Symptom | Not Pregnant #1 | Not Pregnant #2 | Pregnant! |
| Nausea | - | - | x |
| Bloating | - | - | x |
| Dry Mouth/Increased Thirst | - | - | x |
| Tender Breasts | x | x | - |
| Fatigue | - | - | x |
| Vivid Dreams | - | - | x |
Here we notice a few new symptoms, including vivid dreams, during her pregnant cycle. Her fatigue continues, when during her non-pregnant cycles this symptom would have disappeared by 10 days past ovulation.
Start Tracking
It’s quick and easy to do – a few minutes a day and you’ll start to understand your body’s signals and patterns.
Create a free symptom tracking account at Countdown to Pregnancy and start tracking your signs and symptoms. Remember, it’s never too early to speculate.
Countdown to Pregnancy is a popular and growing site for women trying to conceive. The site offers a huge collection of early pregnancy signs and symptoms with engaging charts and statistics based on data submitted by real women through the VEP Symptom Tracker. This free unique online tool enables women to monitor, record, compare and share their very early symptoms each day from conception to testing.
