Implantation Symptoms in Pregnancy
What is Implantation?
Implantation is when a fertilized egg sticks to the wall of the womb. This step is crucial because it ensures that the developing baby (embryo) receives food and grows throughout pregnancy. The egg is fertilized by the sperm in the fallopian tube (tube connecting the ovaries and the uterus). It then travels to the womb (uterus) for implantation, and that’s when you see symptoms of successful conception.
When Does Implantation Happen?
The time of implantation is usually between 6 and 12 days after ovulation (when an egg is released). Or you can say, it most often occurs around 6 days after the egg is fertilized. If you have a typical 28-day cycle, then fertilization is likely around day 15. So, implantation then happens between days 20 and 24. However, the exact timing can be different for everyone. It depends on when ovulation and fertilization actually occur.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Implantation
Although not every pregnant woman will experience signs of implantation, here are some signs to watch for:
- Bleeding
Sometimes, when a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the womb, it can cause a little bit of bleeding or spotting. However, not everyone gets this. It can happen about a week before your period is due. This light bleeding is usually much lighter than a normal period. It might be pink or brown, not bright red. It may last for a few hours or up to a few days. Plus, you probably won’t need more than a panty liner.
- Cramps
You might feel some mild cramping when the fertilized egg implants into the wall of your womb (uterine wall). These cramps usually aren’t as strong or as long-lasting as period cramps. This can happen because of hormone changes and what’s going on in your womb at that time.
- Changes in Vaginal Discharge
After the implantation occurs, some women see their vaginal discharge change. It might not be as clear and stretchy as it was when they were ovulating. Instead, it could get thicker, cloudy, and look white or yellowish. However, just observing your discharge isn’t the best way to know for sure if you’re pregnant. This is because hormones, stress, and other things can also change it.
- Breast Tenderness
Your breasts might feel sore, swollen, or more sensitive than usual. What happens is that your body starts making more hormones. These pregnancy hormones are mainly progesterone, estrogen, and hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin). Because of this, you might feel breast tenderness, but this is stronger than what you felt before your period.
- Mood Swings
The changing levels of estrogen and progesterone in your body after implantation can cause mood swings. You might suddenly feel more emotional or easily annoyed, even if you don’t know why.
- Nausea
Some women experience nausea, which is often called “morning sickness.” This happens soon after the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine. It might get stronger a few weeks later. This queasy feeling occurs due to slowed digestion caused by high levels of progesterone in the body. Also, because women might become more sensitive to smells as hCG levels increase. All this combined makes you feel nauseous.
- Fatigue
Feeling tired for no clear reason is a common symptom of implantation. Your body starts working harder to help the tiny embryo grow. This extra work can make you feel more worn out than normal.
- Headaches
Next in the list of signs of fertilization are headaches. This is also a result of raised progesterone levels during early pregnancy. So, it can be considered as one of the signs of successful implantation.
- Implantation Dip
If you track your basal body temperature (BBT), a one-day dip might happen around implantation. BBT is your temperature when you’re fully rested. Normally, it stays high after ovulation if you are pregnant. A dip then rise in BBT could mean that implantation is done. However, it is not one of the defining successful implantation symptoms.
What Happens During Implantation in IVF?
Implantation in IVF is very important because it’s the last step for a pregnancy to happen. Since doctors know exactly when they put the embryo in, it’s easier to guess when implantation might happen. This helps doctors and patients watch for early signs. However, the signs of implantation after IVF are usually the same as if you got pregnant naturally. Whether you notice symptoms or not, a pregnancy test and a doctor will give you an accurate answer.
What are the Next Steps?
After you feel a few implantation signs, it’s a good idea to wait a few days. Then, take a home pregnancy test to get a more accurate result. Whether you felt a lot of signs, just a few, or none at all, seeing a doctor is the right next step. They can confirm if you’re pregnant and tell you what to do for early pregnancy care.
Final Thoughts
Signs of implantation can be very different for everyone. Some women will feel changes, some might not notice anything at all. It’s helpful to trust your body, be patient as you wait, and talk to a doctor when you need advice. This can help you through this exciting time, even if it feels a little uncertain.
FAQs
Not having symptoms doesn't directly mean you’re not pregnant. Many women have few signs. Or perhaps the signs they have are mild. The most reliable way is a test. Following up with your doctor will give you confirmation.
Common signs are light spotting, mild cramps, discharge changes, tender breasts, tiredness, mood swings, and nausea. However, symptoms can vary from person to person, and some may feel nothing at all.
There are four steps when the fertilized egg implants:
- Apposition: The fertilized egg has now become a multicellular structure, called blastocyst. This structure gently touches the uterus lining.
- Adhesion: In this stage, attachment of the blastocyst (the ball of cells) takes place. That means it sticks more strongly to the wall.
- Invasion: It starts to go into the lining. It is also called Penetration.
- Embedding: It becomes completely surrounded by the uterus to help the pregnancy grow. Then, the inner cell mass starts to develop into an embryo (early-stage baby).
Implantation can feel like mild cramping, similar to light period cramps.
Implantation typically takes about 1 to 3 days to complete after the fertilized egg reaches the uterus. It occurs about 6 days after fertilization.
Most pregnancy tests can show a positive result about 7 to 10 days after implantation. This is done once the pregnancy hormone (hCG) builds up enough in your body.