Why am I still not experiencing any of the "normal" pregnancy symptoms?

A person can actually not experience any of the symptoms others talk about. When pregnant with my second child, nothing was different. I found out randomly and was by then 2 months pregnant. And I’ve been pregnant before so you’d think my body would do something similar. It didn’t. Enjoy your symptom-less pregnancy for now, it might not last.

Be grateful that there are no symptoms this early (and it is early!), there will be plenty later on that make you nuts. Just stay current with your pre-natal checks and do all the sensible stuff, eat right, lots of rest etc. There are a ton of good books out there that can give you info. Try not to stress over this, you’ll only wear yourself out. This is a great time for you, try to enjoy it!

First, remind yourself over and over that there is no such thing as “normal.” Each pregnancy is unique and the effects of the pregnancy hormones vary. You could even have another baby someday and that pregnancy would feel much different!

I also had varying levels of cramping, especially with my second. It can be caused by everything from dehydration to the hormones in semen. Feeling like you are about to get your period is one of the first signs of pregnancy, oddly enough. You could also be constipated. Unless the cramping is severe and coupled with bleeding, I wouldn’t worry. But even some bleeding is “normal.”

If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor. Not everyone experiences morning sickness lucky bitches. Be careful what you wish for. :) Just hearing a medical professional reassure you might do wonders for your stress level.

Seriously, try to relax and forget everything you’ve heard about how you are supposed to feel. I had varying amounts of what I’d call “all fucking day” sickness with each of my pregnancies. A lot the first time around, and not much the second and third time. I never had breast soreness. I had awful heartburn the first time, but none the other times. My feet and ankles swelled the first time, but not the others.

Take this symptom-free time as a gift and enjoy it!

You need a blood test. Cramping can be a bad sign. Any chance the crampy is actually digestive symptoms? Have you been constipated?

Although it is not unusual this early to not feel pregnant.

@JLeslie The doctor told me cramping was normal in early pregnancy. It’s not severe. And there’s no bleeding. But do you know something different than what I was told?

If I hadn’t been surgically inseminated, and therefore knew exactly when I got pregnant, I wouldn’t have known for a couple of months. I was a bit constipated, but never got sick lucky lucky me! had no sore nipples, just ate a lot of Chinese food. I, too, worried about the lack of symptoms but I was healthy and strong, and so was Katawagrey when she appeared.

I’m pretty sure cramping can mean lots of things but am leaning towards thinking that uterine cramping without any blood (unless it’s that little bit of blood when the clump of cells gets comfy and stable in the uterine lining) is pretty normal because your uterus is beginning the preparations for expansion.

My only symptoms early on were simply feeling like I was getting ready to have my period (cramping, aching,) but never did. The other stuff starts coming on as the baby gets bigger and starts taking more from you.

@ItalianPrincess1217 Cramping can be normal. Here’s the thing. If you are going to miscarry, God forbid, the doctor probably cannot do anything at this point. If you get a blood test, and another test in a couple of days he can see if your pregnancy hormone is doubling correctly, and feel reassured. If it doesn’t double, you will know you are going to miscarry. But, knowing won’t really change anything.

@JLeslie With miscarriages, isn’t there always bleeding involved?

@ItalianPrincess1217 Yes, you would start bleeding if you are miscarrying.

Does anyone know, judging by when my tests came back positive, how far along I would be? If up until the 29th of December they were all still negative and on January 1st all the tests from there on out were positive. Where would that put me?

@ItalianPrincess1217 Hard to be completely sure. The test shows positive when your HCG is around 20, so maybe you were 12 days pregnant on Jan 1? Probably could be anywhere from 10 to 20 days on Jan 1.

Unless the Dec 29 test was a false negative. False positives almost never happen, but false negative can happen if the chemicals in the strip are messed, expired, your pee is too diluted, etc.

@JLeslie The test on the 29th was done by a hospital. They were making sure I wasn’t pregnant in case they had to do x-rays (which thank god they didn’t end up doing). Not sure if a test at a hospital would be any more accurate than a home test…

Ah, @ItalianPrincess1217 I’d just guess you’re about three weeks. But that is totally a guess. We’d have to go back to the date of your last period….

With my son, the first symptom I had (aside from missed periods) was feeling him move around in my belly. No morning sickness, nausea, tender boobs, anything. At the end of my pregnancy, I developed some wicked heartburn, but other than that, it was a very uneventful pregnancy up until I was induced for pre-eclampsia (which came on suddenly at 36 weeks).

With this pregnancy, I started having pregnancy symptoms at 3.5 week, so not only is pregnancy different for each person, it can be different each time as well for the same person. Enjoy feeling good while you can.

As for how far you are along, with a positive on the 1st, I’d guess close to 6 weeks right now. I say that because typically when you get a positive you are 4 weeks along (2 weeks from your period to ovulation and then about 2 more weeks for fertilization and implantation). Since that was 2 weeks ago, add that to the 4 above, and I’d guess about 6. Do you know when your last period was or have an idea of when you may have ovulated? If you don’t know, they should be able to do a dating ultrasound to figure out how far along you are.

@ducthess_III No, last period will not be accurate if she is irregular. You ovulate before your period not after your period.

My first symptom was always breast tenderness. At first it was only when I woke up, and the feeling would fade as the day wore on. But, I never have tenderness, not even premenstrual, so it was pretty obvious.

@ItalianPrincess1217 Well, the hospital test, if a urine test, is not likely to be expired, and I assume you had not just drank a bunch of water.

@ItalianPrincess1217 – I have a good friend who had two symptom free pregnancies. She had two healthy, wonderful daughters. EVERYONE’S pregnancy is different. Stay in touch with your doctor if the cramping gets worse. And best wishes to you!

@JLeslie I know about the female cycle! If she goes back to her last period and then goes forward roughly two weeks after that, to when she would be ovulating next (roughly,) then you will have a rough idea of how far along she is. A doctor is going to base their estimation of due date on the regular 28 day cycle too.
@ItalianPrincess1217 Are you OK, btw? Was this a surprise?

@Dutchess_III It was a surprise, but a happy one :) As far as tracking when my last period even was…it’s almost impossible. I was on the pill since I was a teenager. I got off about 4 months ago and haven’t had a period ever since.

You do not need bleeding to miscarry. It’s called a “missed miscarriage”

Not everyone has a list of symptoms, you might have to count yourself lucky if you are feeling great.
I’d get the blood work done though. Doctors don’t usually have you come in until 8–10 weeks for the first appointment though.

Everything @JLeslie said was correct, actually. Every pregnancy is different. If you are pregnant, and you feel normal, rejoice.

When you are in early pregnancy, you can often experience cramps when you would have gotten your period, and it’s often just the egg settling into the womb. I wouldn’t worry at this point, just enjoy the fact that you are going to have a baby. It might be a couple of weeks to a month that you won’t have any other symptoms. And then maybe you won’t have any or maybe you will have a few, or maybe you will have a lot. Wait and see. Enjoy this time of your life!

Each of my three pregnancies was very different. There may be a whole range of symptoms you COULD experience, but there isn’t a list of symptoms you MUST experience. Just enjoy the time. If you aren’t feeling morning sickness and all those not so pleasant things, enjoy! Use the time to get used to the idea that you are sharing your body with another little person. Perhaps get a really good book on pregnancy that tells you what is happening at each stage if you just want to get that real sense of being pregnant and what is going on in your body. You will get symptoms. That is guaranteed.

Congratulations!

Liz

@Dutchess_III Maybe you had missed that @ItalianPrincess1217 said her periods have been screwed up. I was not trying to be condescending. Many people do not know that the 14 day count has to do with before a period (although there can be hormonal problems that can affect this). Shorter cycles, like 26 days, means likely ovulation is on day 12. Try to get pregnant day 14, usually too late.

As I said, I am experiencing a few symptoms that are very likely due to the pregnancy. My mood swings are pretty awful, my nipples are very sensitive and sore, I’m cramping off and on but they’re mild. I haven’t needed any Tylenol for them. I’m also noticing I have to pee a lot more often now. I never used to wake up in the middle of the night to pee, but now I often do. I suppose the thing I was most worried about what the lack of morning sickness. I had read somewhere that healthy pregnancies are usually accompanied by vomiting. It shows that your hormones are doubling at the proper rate which causes the morning/all day sickness. I’m sure I’m reading too far into this. I’m sure a lot of people went through their pregnancy without being sick. I have thrown up only twice a couple weeks ago and felt pretty good ever since. But I have never had a sensitive stomach. I rarely throw up and things don’t tend to make my stomach turn very easily.

Don’t worry about the lack of morning sickness, be grateful. The only problem with not throwing up and feeling crappy all the time is that you’re a little more likely to gain more weight. (The exact words of my OB when I expressed the same concern.) Like has been said before, just keep up with your pre-natal care, and be sensible. Ask your OB’s nurses for some recommendations on books about pregnancy (the nurses are usually more helpful about that stuff) and enjoy this time. You’ll be fabulous!

@JilltheTooth Gaining weight is something I need to do anyway. I’m only around 100 lbs currently.

@ItalianPrincess1217 I’ve heard some of the stuff about lots of morning sickness meaning a healthier pregnancy, but I’ve known women with the opposite experience. They were really sick with morning sickness and ended up miscarrying, so I really don’t think it’s acurate to say morning sickness means you are going to have a healthier pregnancy. I’ve had nausea with this one, but no vomiting, and my little one is growing and moving around very well.

It’s easy to find things to worry about on the internet in regards to pregnancy. There are so many sites with information and a lot of it will contradict each other. Talking to your doctor is best since they can look at your overall health.

Morning sickness, or lack there of, means nothing. My mom never had a day of morning sickness with me, and had it for 4 months with my sister. I vaguely remember about half of pregnancies are accompanied by morning sickness, but that might be incorrect.

@JLeslie Actually, I did miss where she posted that her periods were screwed up…so you’re right. It would be hard to accurately predict how far along she is now. But generally, when women have more erratic periods they can be anywhere from 25 days to 31 days, even in the same women. So generally, if they can, I assume a Dr. bases his or her predictions on a 28 day cycle, give or take a few days. (Correct me if I’m wrong @Rarebear….)

Well…now I’m excited!!! Congrats @ItalianPrincess1217!

@Dutchess_III Some people miss three months in a row, and then get a period. I would have thought @ItalianPrincess1217 would have said her periods vary between 25 and 31 days, if that were the case, but not necessarily. I guess some people might just say they’re periods are inconsistent and be vague even when they are consistently between 25 and 31. It seems to me if it was only a variation of a few days, she would have figured out for herself more or less how pregnant she is, and not asked the question based on negative and positive pregnancy tests a couple of days apart.

@ItalianPrincess1217 Dating a pregnancy by last menstrual period isn’t as accurate as an ultrasound. That’s the best way to figure out how far along you are.