How To Tell Your Preschooler Youre Pregnant
Each age group comes with its own challenges, but preschoolers can be particularly tricky. Theyre used to having you all to themselves, theyre more aware than toddlers, theyre not as in control of their emotions as older kids, and theyre trying figure out the world around themand that now includes your pregnancy.
If you think your preschooler asks you a lot of questions now, just wait. Huebner says to expect things on this order: How do babies grow? How do they come out? How did the baby get there to begin with? Whose room will the baby use? Will the baby touch my toys? Will it be a boy or a girl?
Be honest and age-appropriate, and dont go overboard with details. And even though it may occasionally feel like an interrogation, remember that its a conversationand a great way to teach your child that they can come to you with any question, big or small. Books about a babys development, as well as about being a big brother or sister, are also helpful.
When Is The Right Time To Announce Your Pregnancy
I think the right time to announce your pregnancy is as soon as you want to. Some people want others to know early on and have support through everything no matter what happens. There is no right answer, it’s a personal decision and whatever you choose, is the right time.
We asked mothers when the right time to announce a pregnancy was. The responses were:
- 6% Less than 8 weeks pregnant.
- 9% 8-12 weeks pregnant.
- 0% 28 weeks pregnant or more.
A few points to consider:
Honestly, I think there is no right or wrong time, just what feels right for each person. We chose to announce once we had our initial scans done and had seen our doctor.
I would rather not tell anyone. If something goes wrong it was far easier to deal with it on my own rather than having to worry about everyone elses emotions. Just my personal opinion though, other people like having the support of everyone knowing.
Really the right time is when youre ready, but for me once I got the all clear at 12 weeks I wanted to scream it from the rooftops! I just somehow held out until 20 weeks for the gender reveal.
I wish I had announced my second pregnancy right when I found out, then I wouldve been able to have everyone share in my grief over my miscarriage too. Instead of just trying to smile and shrug when asked, are you going to have another? or why didnt you try to have them closer in age?
Conception Symptoms: Can You Tell You Got Pregnant Right Away
Have you and your partner been trying for a baby, or are you thinking of trying to conceive? This exciting time will be spent in anticipation, and you will of course, want to know what are the very earliest pregnancy signs? Might it be possible to tell if you got pregnant right away, soon after conception? Let’s take a look at what happens in your body immediately after you conceive.
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When To Announce Your Pregnancy To Everyone
Its a widely discussed topic that generally holds very little judgement from others due to the fact its a deeply personal choice. The most common time pregnancies are announced is once the mother reaches 12 weeks. This is because mothers are in what is considered the safe zone from a medical standpoint.
I don’t think there is a universal right time for people to announce their pregnancy, as each person is so different and has different circumstances and experiences. I think that you should tell whoever you want to celebrate and share the joy with, but also have the support too in case you need it. Some people are more private while others are open to sharing more, and both are totally okay. I think we need to take the shame out of miscarriage and part of that is having the conversation that it happened.
We asked the Cadenshae community when they announced their pregnancy to everyone, this is what we found out:
- 0% 4 weeks pregnant or less.
- 0% 4-5 weeks pregnant.
- 1% Email.
A few points to consider:
“Do whatever you want, whenever! Its your joy and story! Be mindful if you have friends that are struggling with pregnancy, maybe tell them separately.
If youre not ready to tell people, dont feel pressured to.
It’s completely up to what feels right for you.”
Blood Test From The Doctor
For the most accurate way to know if youre pregnant, head to your doctor’s office to get a blood test. Blood tests are more sensitive than urine tests, since less hCG needs to be present to get a positive result.
Most women don’t undergo a blood test if their at-home test was positive, but Dr. Perez explains that it can help evaluate for a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy . Therefore she recommends scheduling an appointment once you get a positive pregnancy test.
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What Are The Earliest Signs Of Being Pregnant With Twins
Is there such a thing as being twice as pregnant? As you begin to experience pregnancy symptoms, you may wonder whether having stronger symptoms means something are there signs youre having twins? Is it normal to be this exhausted and this nauseous, or could it mean something more?
While the only definitive way to know whether youre pregnant with twins is an ultrasound, some symptoms may suggest that a little something extra is happening on the inside.
Whats Next If The Results Are Positive
Your next steps depend on two things: whether youre pregnant and whether or not you planned to get pregnant.
If your test results are positive and youve been planning to have a baby, take another test to make sure youre pregnant. Then, see your doctor before you reach the 8-week mark. You can ask them about prenatal care options or specialists who can help guide you through your pregnancy. Ask your doctor about any changes you need to make to your lifestyle, medications, or diet to keep yourself and your baby healthy for the next nine months.
If your test results are positive but you didnt plan to get pregnant, ask your doctor about available options, including:
- carrying the pregnancy to term for adoption
- what to do if you want to continue your pregnancy
You can also receive help from a clinic or health center that specializes in reproductive health and child care, like Planned Parenthood.
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Early Signs Of Pregnancy Before A Missed Period
Although every woman is different, these early symptoms can first appear before you even miss your period.
Raised basal body temperature
If you’ve been using a special basal body thermometer to track your first morning temperature, you might notice that it rises around 1 degree when you conceive and stays elevated throughout your pregnancy.
Though not a foolproof early pregnancy symptom , it could give you advance notice of the big news.
Smell sensitivity
A heightened sense of smell is an early pregnancy symptom that makes previously mild odors strong and unappealing. Since it’s one of the first symptoms of pregnancy many women report, babies might be in the air if your sniffer’s suddenly more sensitive and easily offended.
Breast changes
Tender, swollen breasts and darkening, bumpy areolas are among the breast changes you might experience early in pregnancy. The hormones estrogen and progesterone deserve most of the credit for this early pregnancy symptom. The breast tenderness is pain with a gain, though, since it’s part of your body’s preparation for the milk-making to come.
Your areolas may get darker and increase in diameter. You’ll also likely start to notice tiny bumps growing in size and number on your areolas. These bumps, called Montgomery’s tubercles, were always there, but now they’re gearing up to produce more oils that lubricate your nipples once baby starts nursing.
Fatigue
Implantation bleeding
Changes in cervical mucus
Frequent urination
Mood swings
Why You Feel Pregnant
It can be fairly common to experience some physical symptoms as you enter into what many people call the two-week wait, the period of time between when you ovulate and when you expect your period. These symptoms can include:
- Breast soreness
- Mood swings
- Nausea and/or changes in appetite
While all of the symptoms could be pregnancy symptoms, they are more likely explained by either fluctuation in your hormones due to your menstrual cycle, or by other events in your life. These events can include illness, stress, or even something as simple as not enough sleep or too much exercise.
Some women will experience premenstrual syndrome symptoms as pregnancy symptoms, where other women do not typically have these symptoms every cycle.
When you experience a symptom that is not common to your cycle, it may be easily confused with a potential pregnancy.
To help relieve focusing on these symptoms, you can take positive steps for your physical and emotional health. Eating nutritious foods, not smoking, and limiting or avoiding alcohol will promote your health and wellness whether or not it turns out you are pregnant.
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I Think I Might Be Pregnant
Nothing is more likely to make you feel like you’re in limbo than suspecting that you’re pregnant but not knowing for sure. Sure, it can cause you undue stress, worry, and anxiety, but it can also make you feel hopeful and excited.
Early warning signs and symptoms can give you a “heads up” that you may be pregnant. Just keep in mind that they are not to be taken as sure signs of pregnancy, but rather indicators instead. You’ll want to take a pregnancy test to know for sure.
Not all women experience pregnancy the same, nor do they experience the same early pregnancy symptoms. While many do experience early pregnancy symptoms, they may be different for you than they are for your colleague or best friend.
What’s more, if you’ve been pregnant before, the early symptoms you experience this time around may not be the same as your last pregnancy. Keep in mind, that many of these symptoms mimic menstruation symptoms before you get your period and after so you might be pregnant and not even realize it.
Below are some of the common early pregnancy signs and symptoms. However, it’s important to know that these symptoms could be due to other things going on with your body other than pregnancy. Therefore, you’re not necessarily pregnant if you notice any of the symptoms below. Again, as it bears repeating, the only way to know for sure if you’re pregnant is to take a pregnancy test.
How Soon Can You Take A Pregnancy Test
You should wait to take a pregnancy test until the week after your missed period for the most accurate result.
If you dont want to wait until youve missed your period, you should wait at least one to two weeks after you had sex. If you are pregnant, your body needs time to develop detectable levels of HCG. This typically takes seven to 12 days after successful implantation of an egg.
You may receive an inaccurate result if the test is taken too early in your cycle.
Here are some signs that you should take a pregnancy test.
One of the first and most reliable signs of pregnancy is a missed period.
If you dont track your cycle closely, it might be hard to determine whether or not youre late. Many women have a 28-day menstrual cycle. Consider taking a test if its been more than a month since your last period.
Keep in mind that your period can sometimes be delayed or skipped due to stress, diet, exercise, or certain medical conditions.
Also pay attention to your flow if you suspect pregnancy. Its common to experience light bleeding or spotting in the early weeks as the egg buries deeper into the uterine lining during implantation. Take note of any difference in the color, texture, or amount of blood.
Contact your doctor if you have bleeding and a positive pregnancy test.
Implantation can also produce a feeling similar to menstrual cramps. In early pregnancy, you may feel this discomfort and think your period is just around the corner, but then it never comes.
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Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy
These are some of the symptoms you might experience within your first six weeks after conception,2 and organised roughly by when you might expect to experience them.
There have been many other rarer and less common early symptoms reported as well so keep an eye out for any unusual or unexpected changes.
Another confusing factor when trying to determine if you are pregnant is that all of the symptoms of pregnancy can be symptoms of other conditions.
So detecting the very early signs of pregnancy without a test can be tricky, especially if it is your first pregnancy.
Once you are on to pregnancy two, three, or four, you will more than likely recognize the signs quite quickly. Testing, however, should always be your first course of action, and is especially helpful to confirm your symptoms.
There are several early signs that can tell you that you may be pregnant. The most obvious is missing your period or having light spotting instead of a proper period.
Pregnancy is the number one reason for missing your period.6After you’ve missed your period, you probably conceived between one and three weeks ago unless there is something else that could be interfering with your menstrual cycle.
It can be possible to have symptoms of pregnancy even before that first missed period. Personally, I knew I was pregnant within two weeks of conceiving on each of the three occasions I’ve been pregnant.
Whats Next If The Results Are Negative
If your test results are negative, but you want to have a baby, keep trying to get pregnant. Also make sure that you begin taking folic acid supplements, if you havent already. You wont always get pregnant from sexual intercourse depending on your menstrual cycle, so use an ovulation calculator or track your cycle on a calendar to decide when the best times are for you to get pregnant.
Learn more: Ovulation: When am I most fertile? »
If youve tried to become pregnant multiple times, consider getting a fertility test or asking your partner to get a fertility test. It can reveal whether either of you might have fertility issues that are affecting your ability to get pregnant. If youre infertile, consider other options for becoming pregnant, such as artificial insemination.
If your test results are negative and you didnt plan to get pregnant, take a second test to make sure the results are accurate. If you took the test because you were concerned that you might have gotten pregnant after unprotected sex, make sure to use any birth control necessary to prevent any future pregnancy scares.
If your results are negative but youre still experiencing pregnancy symptoms, such as a missed period, see your doctor to find out if another condition is causing your symptoms. Symptoms such as exhaustion, nausea, and vomiting are common to other conditions. Heavy exercise or excessive stress can cause missed periods as well.
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When Is It Safe To Let People Know Im Pregnant
Many women choose to delay announcing a pregnancy at least until the end of the first trimester . This is commonly attributed to the risk of miscarriage during this time, but the 12-week mark is not a hard and fast rule you need to follow.
If you have any medical reasons that could make you concerned about miscarriage such as a history of miscarriage, or if you are over 40 you may prefer to wait before telling anyone.
You Have Exaggerated Symptoms
The symptoms of pregnancy are wide-ranging: Morning sickness, food cravings, fatigue, frequent urination all are commonly experienced by pregnant women. It might not come as a surprise that the presence of two babies exacerbates these symptoms.
Some pregnant moms of multiples report intensified symptoms of nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness, food cravings, or the like. It’s more common in women who have experienced a previous pregnancy and thus have a basis for comparison.
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How Early Can You Tell If Youre Pregnant
Again, youll need to take a pregnancy test at the right time to confirm your hopes or suspicions. But when it comes to the first symptoms of pregnancy, everyone is different. Some people start to notice changes within a week after conception. Others might not notice anything until they miss their period.
When Should You Announce Your Pregnancy To Family
Everyone’s circumstances are different, but we found most parents-to-be told their family they were expecting when they were between four and eight weeks pregnant.
- 5% 4 weeks pregnant or less.
- 22% 4-5 weeks pregnant.
- 1% 18 weeks pregnant or more.
A couple of points to consider:
I actually think its a really personal thing and I support people who announce it earlier/later than my preference – which was the beginning of the second trimester. If you’re announcing it earlier, you need to be prepared for the fact you may miscarry, and you will then need to inform those people of that fact. If you leave it later and are visibly showing – even if its no one elses business – you need to be prepared that people may start noticing and have an opinion. For my second pregnancy, we told family and close friends immediately, but didnt tell work until early in the second trimester.
Telling close family and friends is important as youll need support if anything goes wrong – but personally I dont want the rest of the world knowing my personal business.
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