Heightened Sense of Smell or Just My Imagination?

Ooooh YES! First thing I noticed was that I had one sip of a beer, and it tasted funny. I did the home pregnancy test a short time thereafter. Then I was very sensitive to smell--especially men's cologne. At work I would sit as far away from the smelly guys as possible. Blech.

As my pregnancy progressed, my legs got very hot. To this day (my daughter is two), I still sleep with a fan flowing on my legs.

Have fun with this! It's amazing as you begin to notice all the body changes. Congrats!

About me: Single mom of brilliant, gorgeous 2-year old girl.

Congrats!!
We only tried once and it was done! My husband was shocked!! I could smell the plastic on the frozen vegitables. I couldn't open the freezer without gaging. At work, someone brought in maple muffine and I told this guy that if he didn't take it away, I would throw up on him. I had to leave the house when my husband was cooking because I could smell everything and it made me sick.
Good luck!!

Sounds to me like you may be pregnant. =) I was like that too. I also had little, tiny, weird pain "twitches" in my lower abdomen on one side or the other. That was a sign....This was when I was about 1 week prego. Good luck =)

Before I knew that I was pregnant I had a very strong sense of smell. I am a chef and remember my customers saying my food was a little bland at the time. My response was, "for some reason everything smells and tastse overpowering to me so I am seasoning accordingly".
About a week later I had a positive pregnancy test. I also developed what my husband calls bionic hearing during my pregnancy. I could hear peoples conversations in restaurants from 20 feet away.

Good luck!

haha...i remember feeling (IMMEDIATELY) like i had superpowers!! i would walk to work and i could literally smell flowers across the street and in the back of someone's yard! i'm sure loads of people drove by wondering why i was giggling...but to me it represented a fun little secret i was carrying around! have fun!!! :)

Congrats if you are preggo!

ahhhh, the smell thing...beware of the grocery store! I can remember with both of my children I knew I was really pregnant when I would walk in the market and smell the fish, cheese, dog food & strawberries....EVERYTHING- all at the same time! the dry heaves quickly followed :) Best of luck to you on your life altering journey-whether you're preggo yet or not...prepare yourself for the best years of your life! God Bless!

I only had a heightened sense of smell with my 4th. child, I have 3 girls and my 4th. was a boy! About a week and a half before finding out I was pregnant with him, I sat in the movies with my husband, we had just gone out to dinner and I asked him how many drinks he had, he only had one Rum and Coke at The Cheesecake Factory and it was in a small tumbler, well, the smell of Rum was so strong, I had to make him move over one seat!! I felt so bad, but it was making me sick. That same night, I had to move to the couch because I could not stop smelling it in bed!! From there on out, smells really bothered me until about the 8th. month.

Good luck and enjoy the journey...It is the best time ever. You will be assisting God in a miracle, what could be better??

W. :)

Hmmmm... I never noticed at what point I got that increased sensitivity to smell in both my pregnancies.
But, yes, that is one of the hallmark symptoms.

You won't know until you take your pregnancy test. Or, unless you start displaying other prego symptoms.

Be sure to start taking pre-natal vitamins, folic acid etc. even pre-pregnancy. That is what my OB/GYN had me do. Of course go according to your doctor, but that was the routine course of action that my Doc does. For me, my Doc does prescription pre-natal vitamins... not generic. Also taking Omega-3 supplements are also very good...it helps in the brain development etc. during gestation and embryonic growth.

Good luck to you.... and all the best! Take care and see how it goes...
~Susan

All I can say is, UH OH!

That was my first clue with both of my pregnancies. I noticed a very heightened sense of smell very shortly after conception and about a week before I took any of my pregnancy tests, which I always took a few days short of a missed period. Two healthy babies later, I wish you the best of luck!

Congrats if you are! My husband and I found out we were pregnant really early after we had tried only once (poor guy-he was hoping to keep trying :-)). I suspected about a week after because my breasts were tender. I took an over-the-counter test five days before I was due to start my period and though the pink line was faint, it was definitely there. Three days later, it was even darker. Point is, you don't have to wait all the way until you're due to check. The bummer about knowing so early is that the doctors don't want to see you until you're a bit further along and the wait can be brutal (not to mention the next nine months)! Best of luck!

I had an exagerated sense of smell the first trimester. It started getting bad when someone cooking or just any smell would get me sick. Soon after, it also affected my taste (saliva glands) and my doctor said it was (tylism - sorry if the spelling is off). It started around the 6th week and lasted to the beginning of the second trimester. The smell of my husband (just him) would get to me - anything really.
So I don't think you are just 'imagining' it because it happened to me twice with two pregnancies and it will eventually go away, just makes it very uncomfortable for just daily tasks. Keep a handkerchief in your purse or nearby if you happen to 'smell' an odor that will make you sick (mine was room deodorizers and certain cooking food).

My grandmother said that she never needed a pregnancy test because she could always tell she was pregnant because her sense of smell heightened immediately. The family story it the last time she got pregnant (which was unplanned) she opened the refrigerator door one morning then immediately slammed it shut, turned to my grandfather and said god damnit I'm pregnant - I can smell everything in the fridge. Trust your senses - you know. By the way she completely loved and welcomed her third child, my Aunt Dencey once she got over the initial displeasure at being pregnant.

Daniell,
Thats how I knew I was pregnant with my first daughter. Good luck I hope you are. You can get an over the counter test. They are usually pretty good.

oh yeah. that's definitely part of it. if you are pregnant, start carrying matches around with you for public bathrooms. pregnancy super power of smell ruined lavender and ginger for me forever.

You are pregnant - take an over the counter test ;0)
Congrats.

It sounds like most of the responding ladies had somewhat "bad" smell experiences with their pregnancies. My husband and I got pregnant the first time we tried after I got off the pill with my first son. We were on our honeymoon a 10-day cruise followed by 5 days at Disney World. On our third night at Disney, we were having dinner in a restaurant and a waiter walked by with a glass of red wine, and I could smell it from about 7 feet away! It smelled wonderful! I normally have an incredible sense of smell, but this was way above. Yes, "bad" smells will make you nauseous, but good smells are even better! So, my advice to you, is to find a smell that you like (during your pregnancy) and indulge in it. For me, it was Jasmine. There is this wonderful cream for your belly to prevent stretch marks, called Belly Balm from Mimi Maternity and it is Jasmine scented. Works great too! I came away with only minimal (3 at most) stretch marks.

Hope this helps! Congratulations on your pregnancy! Good luck!

I don't remember exactly when this started for me, but I know it was pretty early. My theory is that you can smell better to warn you of dangerous odors. If something smells bad to you, stay away! Can you get an over-the-counter test? They're extremely accurate and you won't have to wait so long.

My heightened sense of smell didn't start that early. Maybe 4-5 weeks after conception and it has lasted 26 weeks so far. Although I feel it has gotten a lot better in the last 2-3 weeks. So hang in there. If you can, carry a Lemon or an Orange with you, and when presented with unpleasant smells, just scratch the peal a little and enjoy the yummy citrusy smell. It helped me.

Oh, this is going to sound funny, but don't be surprised if you suddenly start to smell people too! (i.e. your husband). I couldn't stand being too close to my poor hubby. He smelled like food to me... and not in a good way! lol My sister said she was the same way too.

Anyway, I wish you all the best! -S. =)

That was a very strong symptom for me when I was pregnant. I smelled everything and early on too. My husband thought I was crazy while we were in our car with the windows up and I said that I could smell the cigarette the person in the car in front of us was smoking. If you're following your instincts, I would say you're right.

I was that way with both my PG's, almost from the second I was pregnant, same as you. Also got very warm, and didn't need sweaters or coats. Amazing what the hormones do. I couldn't tolerate so many smells my first trimester, and just the thought of chicken (which I normally love) made me gag!! Best wishes~

Well first of all I want to wish you BEST of luck! I hope your test brings you the best news!
As for my experience.. I am 21 weeks pregnant at the moment and my husband and I ttc for 8 months before our success story. I noticed my sense of smell was heightened more while ttc (probably because I wanted it so bad). But once I was pregnant my sense of smell wasn't all that heightened than before. Until I smelled something AWFUL..then get the heck out of my way. Strong stuff like vitamins and coffee were bad news.
I have heard though that some women don't even get the heightened sense of smell...it is just one of the symptoms that COULD be a good sign! I really hope it is for you! Best of luck!!

Hi D.,

Heightened sense of smell? Absolutely! Happened immediately after the conception of both of my children. You are lucky it's the tulips that are driving you crazy, with me, it was my husband who took on a not too pleasent powerful odor which was undetectable at any other time.

I can't remember how long it took for my heightened sense of smell lessen.

All the best,
C. L.

I think you are pregnant!
With my first about a week after we concieved ( and didn't know.. since we weren't trying)... my mother-in-law gave me some food... and i guess i made a weird face like it smelled bad... and she asked my husband if i was pregnant.. and his responses was 'are you crazy no way'.. but low and behold we got 2 pink lines 2 weeks later.. i think i may be pregnant now... exactly maybe a week along as well like you... but absolutely none of the same symptoms.. just very tired and headaches

it's different for everyone...for example I started my morning sickness a week before I could even find out. I think the whole heightened sense of smell started then too...Be glad it only the smell right now. Start taking your prenatals. Good Luck!

YES< YES< YES< YES!! I hated the smell of my frig!

D.,
I knew i was pregnant after of week of conception. It is something you just know, so no i don't think it is your imagination. Not sure how bad you want to be pregnant, for some it is a do or die thing for some others it is if it happens situation,as far as it being too soon to tell, i believe that you are probably right with your instincts.

Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your probably prego.... Most people that I know usually get pregnant right away when getting off the pill. Smell sensitivity is deffinetly a sign especially if you've never had it before. I still can't go to a certain resteraunt after being pregnant with my now 5 year old. Pregnancy test are really acurate now and you don't have to wait very long to take one. I would go ahead and get one...First Response and if it's negative you can wait your week and try again.
Best of luck!

Get a home pregnancy test, they are very accurate now- my sister-in-law knew right away. She took 3 tests-3 days in a row because she did not believe it could tell her the correct info so soon but it was correct. Good Luck!

All things are possible.
Good Luck!!
I hope you are pregnant already, it is Amazing!!

Hi D.!
Well i found out i was pregnant when i was almost 4 weeks along by a test at my docs office. So i started monitoring my symptoms pretty early. I noticed that my sense of smell started getting sensitive in bloches here and there in the beginning, it was NOT to the point where i couldnt handle it tho. I noticed it more during the ending of my second trimester through the end. I work in a mall and iHop is located in that mall and i could not stand to walk past it because of the smell. That is when i noticed that i started getting sensitive to smell.
I too cant wait to take a pregnancy test, we just started trying again and have not gotten my period yet. Lemme know what happens!!

Oh my gosh! I couldn't even walk by a pizza place or an Italian restaurant...the smell of tomato sauce made me so sick! Good luck!

Totally possible. A week after I conceived my daughter I made two French hens for my husband. The smell was gagging me... I couldn't eat them, and still can't stand the smell to this day... I found out I was pregnant a few days later....get a test from the drugstore!!

My sense of smell increased like crazy each and every time I was pregnant, it was one way I found out actually so if it is the same for you, Congrats

You probably are! I did get an increased sensitivity immediately. I remember going into the hardware store and smelling gasoline so badly that I was gagging and yet no one else smelled it!
Best of luck to you! It is an amazing journey- having a baby- like starting your life anew.
S.

My sense of smell was heightened with both my pregnancies, but mostly from things that bothered me, like a deli that I was used to going into, the smell bothered me so much when I was pregnant that I stopped going there. Are your breasts tender? I noticed that before I found out I was pregnant. Good luck - I hope you're pregnant!

My sense of smell was so sensitive that I could usually tell if my husband ate garlic at work the day before (he's a firefighter). I could smell the garlic coming out of his pores! I could smell other people's breath the minute they entered the room! And ... it lasted through my entire pregnancy with all 4 of my children!

Hopefully you are!
With all 5 of my kids I knew before I took a test. Everything was so strong. Coffee, asian food, dog food and most perfumes KILLED me. I had a sense of smell before, but I couldn't believe what I could smell. haha made for some very bafy moments throughout my pregnancies. Good Luck!