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If you’re pregnant and don’t feel any difference, it’s understandable to feel thrown off or worried.
Although many women experience symptoms such as nausea or fatigue, having unexplained symptoms is often a normal change in early pregnancy – and is usually not a sign that anything is wrong.
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Essentials
- Although rare, it is possible to get pregnant – or even your entire pregnancy – without experiencing symptoms such as nausea or fatigue.
- Only half of women have symptoms after five weeks of pregnancy – but almost 90% have symptoms by week eight.
- The absence of symptoms does not mean that you will miscarry or that your baby is unhealthy. But if you have symptoms and they stop suddenly, call your doctor right away.
Can I be pregnant and have no symptoms?
It is not uncommon to be pregnant and have no symptoms of pregnancy, but it is possible. There is no guarantee of what you will experience during pregnancy, or whether you will have the same symptoms from one pregnancy to the next.
Some women experience morning and night sickness, for example, some have morning sickness and some are just plain anxious. Some women get tired from going and some don’t until later in their pregnancy, if at all.
Maybe your symptoms are so subtle that you don’t even notice them. Unknown pregnancy – when you do not realize that you are waiting until the end of the pregnancy – is rare: About 1 in 475 women do not know that they are pregnant until about twenty weeks, and 1 in 2,500 do not know that they are waiting until they give birth.
“My first pregnancy was unplanned and I had no periods, so I didn’t know I was pregnant until the second trimester!” says BabyCenter Community mom RachelU1234. “There are no symptoms, and I had a very healthy daughter. So I wouldn’t worry too much, as long as everything looks good on the ultrasound.”
If you have taken a pregnancy test, chances are very good that you are pregnant, even if you have no symptoms. And when you have the first ultrasound – and your baby’s heartbeat is detected – it is undeniable.
Want to track your journey step by step? Download the free BabyCenter app to get expert advice, enter daily updates in your pregnancy sign tracker, and get daily tips that match your exact week.
What if I am 5 weeks pregnant and symptoms come and go?
After five weeks, only half of women have symptoms of pregnancy. It is not unusual during this time to have no symptoms of pregnancy or symptoms that come and go. In fact, even women with severe symptoms have longer periods when they feel better, due to hormonal fluctuations.
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The most common symptoms in the 5th week of pregnancy are:
If you don’t feel this, don’t worry – in just one week, you can join the 70% of women who have pregnancy symptoms by six weeks pregnant.
What if I am 8 weeks pregnant with no symptoms?
Most pregnant women – 90% of them, in fact – have symptoms of pregnancy by 8 weeks.
By this time, you will probably feel tired, and you may experience morning sickness, swollen breasts, and frequent urination.
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Some common symptoms at 8 weeks of pregnancy are:
Not having any pregnancy symptoms at 8 weeks is normal, but not common. “With all three of my previous pregnancies, I have never had morning sickness or any other symptoms besides fatigue,” says community member Monicaxaei. “This is my fourth pregnancy and the only symptoms I’ve had so far have been tender breasts and nausea. I’m now 16 weeks pregnant and symptom free.”
Do some women have no symptoms of pregnancy?
Yes, it is possible to carry your entire pregnancy without having the usual symptoms. You will hear your baby’s heartbeat, and you will feel your baby move. But you may be lucky enough to avoid many unpleasant symptoms throughout pregnancy.
We don’t know why some women have no symptoms, or some symptoms and not others. But it doesn’t mean anything about your baby’s health.
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It can be difficult to believe that you are pregnant if you don’t have any symptoms, however, and some women may be suffering from depression. Women in the BabyCenter community shared their experiences:
- “I’m six and a half weeks along. I don’t get sick or get morning sickness. I don’t have cravings, diarrhea, or fatigue. I’m really worried about the lack of symptoms.”
- “Even though I’m only 5 weeks today, I don’t feel pregnant and I’m waiting for the ultrasound. I know the lack of symptoms doesn’t mean anything, but I like the feeling of being pregnant to start sinking.”
- “It’s worrying not to have any symptoms. This is rare for the lucky few. I think we should enjoy it.”
Does not having symptoms mean I will miscarry?
Not having pregnancy symptoms does not mean you will have a miscarriage. For some women, it’s normal. But talk to your health care provider if you have symptoms and they go away suddenly, or if you have symptoms such as bleeding or spotting or abdominal pain. These may be signs of a problem.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Although it is unusual, it is possible to get pregnant with little or no symptoms. But most pregnant women – 90%, in fact – have symptoms of pregnancy by 8 weeks.
No, the lack of pregnancy symptoms should not be a cause for concern. Although some women experience pregnancy symptoms even before their period, others may not experience pregnancy symptoms (such as nausea, urination, and breast tenderness) until later. Talk to your doctor or midwife if you are worried, if you have symptoms that suddenly go away, or if you have symptoms such as bleeding or abdominal pain.
Yes, pregnancy symptoms can come and go and vary greatly during pregnancy. Although it does not mean that there is a problem, a sudden loss of pregnancy symptoms or a decrease in the movement of the baby requires a call to the doctor or midwife.