What does your stomach feel like 3 weeks pregnant

It's possible to get the feeling that you’re pregnant soon after you’ve conceived. You may "just know" that's something's different, but you could also have very early physical symptoms.

Changes to your breasts may be the first thing you notice. By about three weeks, the blood flow to your breasts has started to increase, causing:

  • a prickling, tingling sensation in your nipples
  • soreness and discomfort, making your usual bra uncomfortable
  • slightly darker nipples
  • veins to be more noticeable on your breasts

You may develop cravings for some foods, and go right off the taste of things you used to enjoy.

Going off coffee, tea, alcohol, and smoking is common. This can work to your advantage as you should not be smoking or drinking alcohol during your pregnancy. Fatty foods may be a no-no too. You may also feel more like filling up on less healthy carbs, such as white bread and biscuits.

You may get a metallic taste in your mouth and be extra sensitive to the smells of food or cooking.

Morning sickness usually starts at about six weeks, but it can start as early as four weeks, or around the time that your period would be due. A few women experience nausea even earlier than this. It's called morning sickness, but it can affect you at any time of the day.

Pregnancy hormones may have started to make you feel tired and moody. You may feel exhausted, and struggle to stay awake during the day, as your body cranks up to support your baby. Headaches are another early pregnancy symptom.

Bear in mind that at three weeks, you won’t yet know if you’re pregnant, as you probably only conceived a week or so ago. Some pregnancy symptoms, such as tender breasts and moodiness, are similar to what you'd feel just before your period.

If you think you might be pregnant, but your next period is still a week or so away, you may wonder when you can take a pregnancy test.

The more sensitive home pregnancy tests can detect low levels of pregnancy hormones as early as four days before your period is due, or seven days after you’ve conceived. If you take a test too early, it may show up as negative, when you're really pregnant.

The most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period. Home pregnancy tests should give you an accurate result if you test no earlier than the time when your period would be due. So try to wait, as hard as it may be!

If you think you could be pregnant, you might also like:

  • Discover the early signs of pregnancy to look out for
  • Take our Am I pregnant? Quiz
  • Learn what a faint line on a pregnancy test really means
  • Watch our video to find out what supplements you need in early pregnancy

Jenny Leach is an editor and writer specialising in evidence-based health content.

Your weeks of pregnancy are dated from the first day of your last period.

This means that in the first 2 weeks or so, you are not actually pregnant – your body is preparing for ovulation (releasing an egg from one of your ovaries) as usual.

Your "getting pregnant" timeline is:

  • day 1: the first day of your period
  • day 14 (or slightly before or after, depending how long your menstrual cycle is): you ovulate
  • within 24 hours of ovulation, the egg is fertilised by sperm if you have had sex in the last few days without using contraception
  • about 5 to 6 days after ovulation, the fertilised egg burrows into the lining of the womb – this is called implantation
  • you're now pregnant

Find out more about trying to get pregnant.

You at 1 to 3 weeks

The first thing most women notice is that their period does not arrive.

Find out about the signs and symptoms of pregnancy

The most reliable way of finding out if you're pregnant is to take a pregnancy test.

Once you think you could be pregnant, it's important to get in touch with a midwife or doctor to start your pregnancy (antenatal) care.

You can do this by contacting:

  • your GP surgery – if you're not registered with a GP, you can find a GP
  • your local hospital's maternity unit – find maternity services

Things to think about

In the early days and weeks of pregnancy, you may not know if you're pregnant.

But you can do the following things:

  • take a folic acid supplement of 400 micrograms a day while you're trying to get pregnant and until the 12th week of pregnancy
  • take a vitamin D supplement of 10 micrograms a day
  • avoid some foods to protect against infections
  • stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your baby's health

You can get supplements from pharmacies and supermarkets, or your GP may be able to prescribe them for you.

If you want to get your vitamin D or folic acid from a multivitamin tablet, make sure the tablet does not contain vitamin A (or retinol).

You can get vitamin supplements containing folic acid and vitamin D free of charge if you're under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding and qualify for the Healthy Start scheme.

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Go to you and your baby at 4 weeks pregnant.

Page last reviewed: 12 October 2021
Next review due: 12 October 2024

How does your body feel at 3 weeks pregnant?

Most women don't feel anything until they've missed a period, but you may notice bloating, cramping, or spotting this week. Your breasts may also be more tender than usual and you may have a heightened sense of smell, one of the earliest pregnancy symptoms.

Can I tell if I'm pregnant at 3 weeks?

Bear in mind that at three weeks, you won't yet know if you're pregnant, as you probably only conceived a week or so ago. Some pregnancy symptoms, such as tender breasts and moodiness, are similar to what you'd feel just before your period.

What does your tummy feel like in early pregnancy?

Early pregnancy (first trimester) abdominal symptoms include nausea/morning sickness, cramping, constipation, heartburn, bloating, and gas. Pregnancy begins when a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus, and pregnancy symptoms may begin in some people as early as a week after implantation.

Does your stomach hurt 3 weeks into pregnancy?

But stomach pains or cramps are common in pregnancy and usually nothing to worry about. Mild stomach pain in early pregnancy (during the first 12 weeks) is usually caused by your womb expanding, the ligaments stretching as your bump grows, hormones constipation or trapped wind.