How Can You Find Out You Re Pregnant

How Is A Glucose Tolerance Test Performed

You may be asked to only drink water on the day the glucose tolerance test is given. Although the specific details of each procedure may vary, a typical glucose tolerance test includes the following steps:

• An initial fasting sample of blood will be drawn from your vein.

• You will be given a special glucose solution to drink.

• Blood will be drawn at various times over the course of several hours to measure the glucose levels in your body.

Effect On Pregnancy Outcomes

People with COVID-19 during pregnancy are more likely to experience complications that can affect their pregnancy and developing baby compared to people without COVID-19 during pregnancy. For example, COVID-19 during pregnancy increases the risk of delivering a preterm or stillborn infant. People with COVID-19 during pregnancy may also be more likely to have other pregnancy complications.

See the latest data on birth and infant outcomes among pregnant women with COVID-19.

Tests To Better Understand Your Fertility

The TTC journey looks different for everyone, and theres no single test that will fit everyones needs. Talk to your doctor about what tests are right for you and your partner, including:

• Pap smear: Your doctor may perform a pap smear and pelvic exam to identify any structural problems, as well as test for abnormal cells.
• Antral follicle count: This test isdone via transvaginal ultrasound, sometimes between cycle day 2 and 5. It can help evaluate ovarian reserve, diagnose PCOS, and identify any potential problems regarding ovarian health.
• Ovulation test: Identify whether or not youre ovulating by detecting a hormone known as luteinizing hormone . These tests are affordable and can be done at home!
• Hormone tests: A blood test is usually required to measure hormone levels. Your doctor may look for progesterone, LH, estrogen, and more.
• Sonohysterogram: A sonohysterogram allows your doctor to examine the uterine lining, to ensure everything is normal.
• Sperm analysis: If youre curious about sperm health, an at-home sperm analysis kit is a great clinical grade option.
• Hysterosalpingogram: This tests allows your doctor to determine if your fallopian tubes are open to allow for conception

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Your Feelings And Emotions During Pregnancy

During pregnancy you will probably feel many ups and downs. You may experience some or all of these emotions :

• surprise if your pregnancy is unexpected. You may then feel joy or fear or both
• happiness, particularly if you have been trying to have baby and you feel well
• anger, which can result from your bodys hormonal changes, from a sense of being vulnerable, or from pregnancy symptoms that are uncomfortable or painful
• fear for the babys health, if you have concerns about your baby having an illness or disability. If you are worried about a particular risk, talk to your midwife or doctor
• fear of birth, which is a recognised psychological disorder. Counselling and talking with your midwife or doctor can help you overcome this fear
• love for your baby, your partner and your family
• sadness or disappointment if you have illness or complications during your pregnancy, or you cant have the birth plan that you would prefer
• general sadness about the world, whereby you find it hard to watch the news or hear sad stories about children or families
• grief, if you suffer a miscarriage, a loss at a later stage of pregnancy, or a stillbirth
• prolonged sadness from perinatal depression. In this case, you will need the help of health specialists.

Compare Blood Pregnancy Test Results

A blood pregnancy test can confirm your pregnancy in your provider’s office. If your doctor ordered a qualitative pregnancy test, as opposed to a quantitative pregnancy test, your blood test may come out negative while your at-home test can be positive.

A qualitative pregnancy test only gives a positive or negative result and often requires a higher level of pregnancy hormone than many at-home early pregnancy tests. Quantitative pregnancy tests can sometimes detect pregnancy hormone before an at-home test can.

Most fertility doctors will order a quantitative pregnancy test, which gives a measure of how much hCG is circulating. This is usually followed by another test a few days later to see how quickly the hCG levels are increasing .

It is also possible, if your blood test came back with a very early positive, that you can get a negative test at home a few days later because of an early miscarriage. In this case, your period will probably start soon. In either case, consult your doctor about why the results may be different.

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Make A Healthy Pregnancy Plan

There are some things you can do during your pregnancy to help make sure that you and your baby stay happy and healthy. There are also some things to avoid. Making a healthy pregnancy plan will include things like:

• Get your vitamins: You dont need pregnancy multivitamins, but vitamin D and folic acid supplements are essential in pregnancy. Some people may need a higher dose of folic acid .
• Watch out for certain foods: Its important to try to eat well during pregnancy, including foods from a variety of food groups. But there are also some foods you should avoid because they can put your baby at risk.
• Keep moving: Exercise in pregnancy is great for you and your baby but it doesnt mean you have to join the gym. A daily walk or a swim can be a great way to stay active in pregnancy.
• Stop drinking alcohol: Drinking alcohol can harm your babys development. There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink, so the best thing to do is avoid alcohol completely during your pregnancy.
• Stop smoking: Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for yourself and for your babys health. There is lots of support available to help you quit smoking.
• Know what medicines are safe: Talk to a health professional before taking any drugs or medicines. Find out which medicines to avoid.

Let us help you! We can give you a personalised plan with everything you need to know for your pregnancy. Try our Healthy Pregnancy tool.

Some Tips On Pregnancy Testing At Home

Because early pregnancy symptoms can be confused with other illnesses or conditions, I would always recommend buying yourself a test. These are very accurate from the point that your period is due, and will take the guesswork out of knowing if you are pregnant or not.

For those who have missed a period and got a negative pregnancy test result, follow the link to learn about the most common reasons behind this.

If you keep getting negative results but are experiencing pregnancy symptoms, listen to your body and make a doctor’s appointment!

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Get Answers About Your Pregnancy

• Sign up for our free pregnancy newsletter. When you sign up, you’ll get a weekly email about your pregnancy letting you know exactly what’s going on inside you. It’s always a thrill to see what your baby looks like and find out how much he or she has grown. It’s amazing how fast your little blueberry grows to the size of a lemon!
• Get your free pregnancy app. Want a daily dose of great pregnancy information that you can access on the go? Check out BabyCenter’s My Pregnancy & Baby Today app. It doesn’t cost a thing.
• Join your Birth Club. Plenty of other parents-to-be are due in the same month as you and going through the same things at the same time. Find a bunch of them in your online Birth Club, where you can get advice and support on all kinds of pregnancy topics.
• Pick up a pregnancy book or two. Nothing quite beats the feeling of curling up with a book and a highlighter. Here are a few titles to get you started: What to Expect When You’re Expecting , Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy , and Your Pregnancy Week by Week .

Where to go next

• Learn what activities you should avoid during pregnancy

March of Dimes. 2014. Choosing a prenatal care provider.

Mayo Clinic. 2016. Prenatal vitamins: Why they matter, how to choose.

First Trimester Prenatal Screening Tests

First trimester screening is a combination of fetal ultrasound and maternal blood testing. This screening process can help determine the risk of the fetus having certain birth defects. Screening tests may be used alone or with other tests.

First trimester screening includes:

• Ultrasound for fetal nuchal translucency. Nuchal translucency screening uses an ultrasound to examine the area at the back of the fetal neck for increased fluid or thickening.

• Ultrasound for fetal nasal bone determination. The nasal bone may not be visualized in some babies with certain chromosome abnormalities, such as Down syndrome. This screen is performed using an ultrasound between 11 and 13 weeks gestation.

• Maternal serum tests. These blood tests measure two substances found in the blood of all pregnant women:

• Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A. A protein produced by the placenta in early pregnancy. Abnormal levels are associated with an increased risk of chromosomal abnormality.

• Human chorionic gonadotropin. A hormone produced by the placenta in early pregnancy. Abnormal levels are associated with an increased risk of chromosomal abnormality.

When used together as first trimester screening tests, nuchal translucency screening and maternal blood tests have a greater ability to determine if the fetus might have a birth defect, such as Down syndrome and trisomy 18.

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How To Find Out If You Are Pregnant In 12 Steps

For most women, missing a period is the most accurate sign of pregnancy, while others look for signs of pregnancy before a positive pregnancy test. Here are 12 things to consider when trying to conceive :

1. Calculate your period due date: The date your period is due is very important to find out if you are pregnant. Home pregnancy tests will not work unless you have missed your period. The due date of your period can be calculated by adding 28 days to the first day of your last period. If you have missed your period, it is best to wait a short amount of time before testing just to ensure the most accurate result.

Discuss Medications With Your Doctor

Let your pregnancy care professional know about any medications or supplements youre taking. Not all of them are safe to take during pregnancy because they can pass through the placenta.

However, you should never discontinue a medication before talking with your doctor either. Many medications, like antidepressants, can cause severe side effects if you stop them cold turkey.

A healthcare professional can help you make a plan for safely tapering any medications that arent recommended during pregnancy.

Some pain medications, such as ibuprofen are not safe to take during pregnancy. Your provider can also tell you which OTC medications you can take.

For example, if you have a headache or run a fever while youre pregnant, you can take acetaminophen . If you have allergies, you can take certain OTC medications, according to ACOG.

Your best bet, though, is asking your doctor what they recommend for your specific situation, so you can make sure its safe for both you and baby.

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Choose A Healthcare Professional

If you have a doctor or midwife in mind already, give them a call as soon as possible. Theyll most likely want to schedule a visit, do some blood work, prescribe prenatal vitamins, and make sure you have everything you need.

If you dont have a preferred healthcare professional, look into getting one ASAP. Ask friends or family for recommendations, or look for a healthcare office near you.

Organizations such as Planned Parenthood also offer affordable access to healthcare, including prenatal care if youre not sure where to start. Check with your local Planned Parenthood health center to see what services they offer, as not all centers offer prenatal care.

Just make sure you pick a doctor or midwife that you feel comfortable with and that you trust. Not only could this person deliver your baby, but youll also be seeing them a lot over the next 9 or so months. Most offices operate as a group, so its also a good idea to get to know as many health professionals there as you can.

During your pregnancy, you should generally expect to see your OB or midwife:

• once per month until week 28
• twice per month from weeks 28 to 36
• weekly from week 36 to birth

If you have a high-risk pregnancy or any complications, you might need additional appointments.

I Have To Go To The Toilet More Often Is That A Sign

Oh yes, dashing to the loo more than often can be early sign that youre pregnant. During pregnancy your body increases the amount of blood it pumps around the body. That means the kidneys process more fluid than usual which leads to more fluid in your bladder . For more information on early pregnancy signs and symptoms.

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Be Aware Of Pregnancy Symptoms And How To Manage Them

Pregnancy can be tough. Tiredness, sore breasts and morning sickness are all common in the first few weeks of pregnancy. But there are things you can do to manage these symptoms.

There are some symptoms that could be a sign of something more serious. Its a good idea to familiarise yourself with these using our symptom checker so you know when to ask to help.

NHS. Ultrasound scans.

NHS. Your first midwife appointment.

NHS. Foods to avoid in pregnancy.

NICE . Antenatal care: NICE clinical guideline 62. National Institute for health and care excellence www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg62/resources/guidance-antenatal-care-pdf NICE Smoking: stopping in pregnancy and after childbirth. Public health guideline . National Institute for health and care excellence

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  4 weeks pregnant – what’s happening

  Congratulations on your exciting news! Tommys Midwives are here to guide you through every stage of your pregnancy and help you get to know your growing baby.
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  5 weeks pregnant – what’s happening

  Your babys tiny face is starting to form – the beginnings of a miniscule nose and eyes are already taking shape.

Contact Your Local Midwife Or Gp

You may be able to self-refer to your local maternity unit directly for your antenatal care. Visit your local hospitals website to find out more.

Speak to your GP if you cant self-refer or if you think your pregnancy may be high-risk. For example, if you have a long-term condition, such as diabetes, or you are over 40 years old. They will tell the midwifery team you are pregnant.

It is very important to tell your GP, midwife or specialist about any medication you take. They can make sure youre on the safest medication for you and baby. Do not stop taking any medication without talking to your GP or specialist first.

You will be given a date for your first appointment with a midwife, which is called the booking appointment. This should happen before you are 10 weeks pregnant.

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Symptoms Of A Late Period And Pregnancy

The symptoms of a late period will be obvious to many women who menstruate regularly. If you were expecting your period, and it doesnt begin, youll know its late. Not all periods arrive like clockwork, and its very normal for periods to occur on a slightly different schedule. Pregnancy isnt the only thing that can cause a late or skipped period. But if youre wondering whether your missing period might mean youre pregnant, you can look for other early symptoms of pregnancy. During the first 8 weeks of pregnancy, many women experience:

1. Fatigue

During the first trimester , your body produces large amounts of a hormone called progesterone. This can make you feel sleepy. Even during the first week after conception, you may feel more tired than usual.

2. Spotting

Implantation bleeding is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. It is very light bleeding, often called spotting, that happens as a result of the fertilized egg implanting to the uterine wall. Implantation is usually 6 to 12 days after conception, or the moment the egg is fertilized by a sperm.

Some women also have mild abdominal cramps during implantation. Other women dont notice any symptoms with implantation.

3. Breast Changes

You may see changes in your breasts as early as 1 to 2 weeks after conception. Your breasts may be swollen and tender to the touch. You may have soreness or a feeling of fullness in your breasts.

4. Headaches

5. Missed Period

6. Nausea

When Should You Take A Pregnancy Test

Its usually recommended that you take a pregnancy test after youve missed your period. This is because pregnancy tests measure the level of human chorionic gonadotrophin in your body, which is a hormone that starts to build up when you conceive. It can take around three to four weeks from the first day of your last period for there to be enough hCG in your body to show up on a test.

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