I was interviewing a friend about her pregnancies. She made a statement that took me back a bit. My longtime friend of 30 years who was the oldest sibling had the responsibility of taking care of her brothers and sister. She had no fear about taking care of a baby because she already had the experience of taking care of twins. The words that came out of her mouth widen my eyes followed by the natural response of “What did you say”?
My friend was sitting at the table when she felt a prick in her lower region near the hairline. She told her husband sitting there with her when she looked at him and said, “I am pregnant!”.
I have heard many stories very similar to my friend. Women have claimed that they knew right away when they conceived. My friend said that she felt the same symptom with two of her children but not with the third. He was a surprise.
As I pondered on her comment, my mind flooded with articles that I have read in the past. Women who are pregnant and they do not even know for months. This launched me into research about this phenomenon. Here is what I found; some women are really in tune with their body. We react to symptoms every day of our lives as the body signals us about changes. Even Doctors will ask you, “So, what is going on?’ When we over work ourselves, the body feels tired and sore. Our body speaks to us every day if we are listening. The body can speak softly, or it will shout to us in order to convey what is happening inside of us.
I came across more than one article on this topic. Professorshouse.com, explained my friend’s experience with two of her children as a “pinching sensation”. This first symptom of conception, if not missed, can take up to 4 or 5 days for the sperm swim toward an egg in order to fertilize an egg. When this match is made, the newly bonded couple will need to travel to their new home called the uterus. Once they reach the Uterus, the PH balance of your uterus lining has to be just right for the survival of the newly paired entity. If the body decides to produce the needed HCG hormone in order to take care of this couple, the sperm and egg partnership will “firmly implant” themselves into the uterine wall. At that moment, conception that women may feel has occurred. Now, the fertilized egg and the woman becomes one by a pinch.
There are other symptoms of conception that you may feel:
- A strong pinching sensation in the lower abdomen
- A feeling of fullness or hardness in the lower abdomen upon conception due to hormone changes. It may feel like a bladder infection so this symptom could be missed.
- Tiredness shortly after conception. The hormone changes use up a lot of energy from your body to keep and to grow that implanted egg and sperm.
- Hunger changes can happen the same day of conception. Energy needs fuel and sometimes that fuel will come from weird cravings of food combinations. Remember, your body is telling you what you need if you are listening.
- Increase discharge and pelvic pain that feels like cramps. Your body talks to you every month prior to conception when you menstruate. This is no different. Just like your monthly menstruation, the body activity is moving around and preparing for the discharge. Conception is no different. You’re lining and pelvic changes are due to the hormones produced preparing for the growth of your baby.
- Breast and cervical changes will be affected by the hormone changes too. Breast will become tender; the nipples will darken. Your doctor can see your cervix turn bluish during pregnancy.
When researching this topic of conception sensations, I found articles that do not support the concept of knowing the moment you conceived. Even my friend that I interviewed said, the last child was a surprise. Whether or not your experience during this magical time coincides with the knowledge of conception or not, you can journal all of your experiences to share with your children later in life. Your doctor appointments can confirm your perceptions of your body. Do not be disheartened or afraid to share your thoughts and feelings, whether it is in a journal or with your doctor. This is your magical time.
