If there were 8 wonders of the world, your body would rank first. Why? Because it is pretty amazing. It doesn’t keep secrets from you; it conveys to you everything that’s happening inside, especially when something significant is about to change. 

Imagine this: you wake up feeling a bit odd, maybe a little queasy, with a missed period, or you notice your clothes feel tighter around your belly. And you might brush these changes off, thinking it’s just indigestion or bloating, but what if it’s actually your body’s way of whispering, “Hey, lady, something amazing is happening!”

When you’re pregnant, your body keeps sending you signals (scientifically, you can call them signs and symptoms), telling you a new life is on its way. These early pregnancy symptoms don’t always feel like joy at first because they can feel confusing or uncomfortable. But Cryoviva Singapore says, “Think of these signs of pregnancy before a missed period as the first chapter of an incredible story.“

These early pregnancy symptoms change week by week, and you can feel them differently from other women. So let’s dive into the magical signs of early pregnancy, one week at a time.

Also Read: Pregnancy, Maternity & Baby Care Tips

Early Pregnancy Symptoms: Week 4

It may seem like nothing is happening; however, your embryo is about the size of a poppy seed (about 2 mm long) and is the start of amazing things that you will experience in the coming weeks.

The early pregnancy symptoms at week 4 may include:

• A missed period
• Bloating
• Darkened skin on your face or brown patches (also referred as the mask of pregnancy)
• Cramping
• Increase frequency of pee
• A milky white pregnancy discharge
• New food likes and dislikes
• Nausea (also known as morning sickness)
• Sore breasts
• Metallic taste in your mouth
• Constant tiredness

Also Read: What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag: Beyond the Essentials

Early Pregnancy Symptoms: Week 5

Many women realize that they’re pregnant around week 5 of pregnancy. Now your baby’s nervous system is developing. The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and tiny heart are taking shape. The baby’s heart is beating for the first time around now. 

Your baby, or embryo, is about the size of a sesame seed (around 2 mm long ). If you want to know the best time to take a pregnancy test, then now is a good time.

Early pregnancy symptoms at week 5 may include:

• Light bleeding (sign of implantation bleeding); it happens as the embryo attaches to the lining of your womb
• Thicker and shinier hair
• Mask of pregnancy
• Cramping
• Milky white pregnancy
• Increase frequency of pee
• Stronger sense of smell
• Morning sickness
• Sore breasts
• Metallic taste

Early Pregnancy Symptoms: Week 6

Your baby, or embryo, is about the size and shape of a pea (around 6 mm long). The embryo is protected with a thin layer of transparent skin. The baby’s arms, legs, ears, liver, brain, and musculoskeletal system are growing faster.

Pregnancy symptoms at week 6 may include:

• Morning sickness
• Tiredness
• Headaches
• Light spotting
• Cramping
• Mood swings
• Sore breasts
• Metallic taste

Pregnancy Symptoms: Week 7

Your womb is now about the size of a lemon, and your baby is the size of a grape and developing very quickly. However, if it’s your first pregnancy, you may not look like a pregnant woman until around week 12.

Pregnancy symptoms at week 7 may include:

• You may feel thirstier (as extra blood is needed to feed your womb with all the oxygen and nutrients required for your baby)
• Feeling sick
• Mood swings
• New food and drink likes and dislikes
• Heightened sense of smell
• Mask of pregnancy
• Metallic taste
• Sore breasts

Pregnancy Symptoms: Week 8

Your baby is now around the size of a raspberry (16 mm long). By next week, they will be double the size. Your embryo becomes a “fetus,” which means offspring. Additionally, the placenta is getting prepared to ensure proper nutrients and oxygen for your baby and take away the waste.

Pregnancy symptoms at week 8 could include:

• Feeling tired and sick
• Feeling bloated
• Slightly swollen breasts
• Peeing more
• Metallic taste in your mouth
• Sore breasts
• Morning sickness
• Light spotting
• Mood swings
• Milky white pregnancy discharge

Pregnancy Symptoms: Week 9

Your baby is now about the size of a strawberry (around 22 mm long from head to bottom). All the important internal organs, such as the heart, brain, lungs, kidneys, and gut, are maturing. Additionally, bones are beginning to form.

Pregnancy symptoms at week 9 could include:

• Emotional rollercoaster (due to increased hormone, estrogen and progesterone)
• Bigger breasts 
• Temptation to reach for the biscuits or other food items
• Feeling unwell
• Metallic taste in your mouth
• Sore breasts
• Extreme tiredness
• Feeling sick
• Mood swings
• Light spotting 
• Cramps

Pregnancy Symptoms: Week 10

You are nearly at the end of your 1st trimester. Your baby is about the size of a small apricot (around 30 mm long from head to bottom). Your baby may be making jerky movements, and their movement can be visible on a scan.

Pregnancy symptoms at week 10 could include:

• Feeling bloated
• Burping or passing wind (as hormones are relaxing the muscles in your womb)
• Heartburn (muscles in your digestive tract becomes loose)
• Extreme tiredness
• Nausea
• Mood swings
• Greasier, spotty skin
• Thicker and shinier hair

Pregnancy Symptoms: Week 11

Your baby is now about the size of a fig (around 41 mm long from head to bottom). The fingers and toes are separating out, and your baby may be kicking around inside your womb, but you cannot feel it right now.

Pregnancy symptoms at week 11 could include:

• You may bulge out a bit
• Feel hot, sweaty and dizzy (as the fetus is now pumping around up to 50% more blood than normal)
• Aches and pains around your bump
• Nausea
• Mood swings
• Sore breasts
• Indigestion and heartburn
• Metallic taste in your mouth
• Greasier, spotty skin
• Thicker and shinier hair

Pregnancy Symptoms: Week 12

Your baby is about the size of a plum (around 5.4 cm long from head to bottom). The major internal organs and muscles have developed, and the heartbeat can be audible on an ultrasound scan.

Pregnancy symptoms at week 12 could include:

• Put on weight between 10kg and 12.5 kg
• Stomach ache
• Nausea
• Mood swings
• Greasier, spotty skin
• Thicker and shinier hair
• Metallic taste in your mouth
• Sore breasts
• Indigestion and heartburn

When to See a Doctor During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can come with many changes, and navigating them without professional help can be tough. That’s why it’s crucial to know when to call for urgent medical help. Contact your doctor right away if you have:

• severe pain
• heavy bleeding
• severe headaches
• spotting
• swelling
• reduced baby movement
• fluid leakage
• high fever
• persistent vomiting
• breathing problems, or signs of infection 

Do not ignore these symptoms, as they could signal serious pregnancy complications like preeclampsia, miscarriage, infection, or premature labor. But prompt care protects both the mother’s and the baby’s health. Pregnancy is the start of a beautiful journey—and it’s also the perfect time to plan for your baby’s future health. With Cryoviva Singapore’s trusted stem cell banking services, you can preserve your newborn’s precious stem cells for potential life-saving treatments tomorrow. Book your appointment today and give your little one the gift of protection for a lifetime.

 Book an Appointment with Cryoviva Singapore

FAQs

Q.1 What are the signs of pregnancy before a missed period?

You could experience breast tenderness, fatigue, light spotting, frequent peeing, or feeling unusually nauseous even before missing your period.

Q.2 Why do early pregnancy symptoms happen?

These early pregnancy symptoms occur because your body’s hormones quickly shift to support the fertilized egg’s growth and prepare your body for pregnancy.

Q3. What are the amazing facts about Singaporean traditions regarding pregnancy? 

Singaporean pregnancy traditions can include preparing special offerings to ancestors and deities and observing “man yue” (full month) celebrations to bless the mother and baby with good luck and health.

Q4. What is the best time to take a pregnancy test?

The best time to take a pregnancy test is in the morning after you’ve missed your period and week 5, because this is when your pregnancy hormone (hCG) is at its peak and results are most accurate.

Q5. Where is the baby located at 4 weeks?

At 4 weeks pregnant, the baby is the size of a poppy seed (about 2 mm long) and like a tiny cluster of cells firmly attached to the lining of the womb, where it will keep growing.