Signs of Implantation – When Some Say Pregnancy Begins
Written by Jill // August 11, 2011 // Pregnancy // 16 Comments
Some scientists say that implantation is when and where pregnancy begins. What is implantation and are there any common signs of implantation? Implantation occurs when the egg that has been fertilized by the sperm attaches to the inner wall of the uterus about 7-9 days after conception. Having traveled down the fallopian tube and divided several times, the fertilized zygote has reached its final destination in the warm and nourishing uterine lining. Now it can receive the oxygen and nutrients from mom to begin to grow and develop into the beautiful baby it will become. Implantation must occur for pregnancy to continue.
If the zygote does not implant into the uterine wall, it will pass during your next period and pregnancy will not occur. Signs of implantation are rare. In fact, only a very small percentage of women experience any symptoms of implantation.
The most common—but still rare—sign of implantation is spotting a week before you expect your period to occur. Essentially, a very small amount of blood will appear in your panties or perhaps a bit of pink or brown discharge. Some women also experience some unusual cramping during implantation and even a change in their normal body temperature.
Every woman’s cycle is different but here is how your cycle approximately goes. It begins on the first day of your period. Approximately 2 weeks after your period begins, you ovulate (an egg is released from your ovary into your fallopian tube) and this is the time you are most likely to get pregnant. Then if conception occurs (a sperm cell has fused with your egg) implantation will occur about a week after ovulation, and a week before you would expect your next period. So if spotting occurs a week before you expect your period, and you had sex about a week prior to the spotting, then it is likely that implantation has occurred and you are pregnant. Congratulations!
But don’t send out those baby announcements just yet! Spotting before your period does not guarantee that you are pregnant as spotting can be a normal part of the menstrual cycle. According to the Mayo Clinic, other symptoms of pregnancy include tender, swollen breasts, fatigue, nausea sometimes with vomiting, food aversions or cravings, headaches, constipation, mood swings and fainting or dizziness. Of course all of these are occasional symptoms of being a woman so it’s always best to check with a doctor if you think you might be pregnant or experience unusual symptoms.
You could be pregnant and experience no spotting or other symptoms of implantation whatsoever. Spotting at implantation does not always occur or can be so minimal that it is not noticeable so don’t worry if you don’t experience any signs of implantation a week after ovulating. Essentially, implantation spotting is a normal but infrequent symptom of pregnancy. Therefore the best way to determine if you are pregnant is to see a doctor. If your periods are irregular, if you find more than just a bit of blood between periods, if you have unusually large amounts of pain or if spotting occurs and then your period follows days after, it would be good to see a doctor to make sure everything is OK with your menstrual cycle and fertility. It is always good to see a doctor to confirm pregnancy before you start decorating the nursery!
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For further reading, see our Spotting Before Your Period, Implantation Pain and Early Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms articles.
Our factual sources for this article include the following. You may visit them for further information.
Child Development (Canadian Edition) by Laura Berk
-Danica Longair
Jill Amery is a mom of 2 monkeys/stormtroopers and Editor and Publisher at UrbanMommies Media. Though she's based in Canada, her palette is mostly French and her fashion sense is decidedly Italian. When taking a break from her busy travel schedule, she can be found hosting complicated dinner parties or surfing ebay for obscure vintage gowns.
16 Comments on "Signs of Implantation – When Some Say Pregnancy Begins"
Hi i was trying and i skipped my period and took a 3 pregnancy test and all came back positive is there a chance they might be wrong
and iv been getting lil pains off n on
Can The Bleeding Be A Lil Heavy ? Or Last For 3 Days The Stop ?
I haven’t had a period since Feb 29th and now for the last week i’m lightly spotting and today it’s a little darker, i went to the doctor and took a home pregnancy test bother were negative. What do you think i should do next?
Im experiencing cramps and pains in my breats since ovulation,what could be the cause of all pains im experiencing?
hi my name is courtney im 17 i was spotting two days ago my period is not due until the 26th i had brownish pink in my underwear to my brest hurt i been feeling sick and hungry tired my breast been so sore am i pregnant
for the last 3 months i have had an irregular what i think is a period. its only been spotting a day or two or i have no period at all, but my boobs just started hurting extremely bad the last week an i seem to be gaining weight an eating all the time. is there a possibility im pregnant? or should i go to a genecologist about it?
Hi my name is portia I have been having on and off spotting for the past 2 weeks now.I took a home preg test but it was negative. I spotted again 3days ago n my period started today.I also experience cramping on both sides of my pelvic bones…what does this mean?!
Ok so I started my period 8-27-12 and today is 9-10-12. I spotted a little tonight and it was brown looking…..could I be expecting or just have something else going on? Someone PLEASE tell me if I am jumping the gun. Thanks
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Keep at it !
Cheers,
On the 16 sept I have my periods normal,but on the 1st October it came back and lasted for 2 days and half,on my due date nothing came only crampingsa,I m feeling hungry,dry mouth and throat,whote discharge with no smell,sore breast pls help am I going to get my periods thiS month
ok well my period lasts 7 day and i had some light bleeding that was so light i could wear a panty liner or one pad all day and it not even fill up and it was just be a little blood or a few spots that was light red ,pink and brown and it lasted 5 days so i’m wondering if i could be pregnant
last month i had spotting the whole week before my period, then it stopped for about 3 days then i got the shortest period ever. also just this week as of sat i started with the light pink brown spotting and i should be getting my period next week. i just started feeling nauseous lately within the past two weeks and ive been extremely tired even though im getting sleep. my areolas seem darker then usually but not sensitive. ive been overly emotional lately and some foods have been making me sick plus i have bad gas all the time anymore. whats going on? should i go get checked to see if im pregnant?
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