How Do You Tell If Your Pregnant

Cervix Dilation And The Stages Of Labor

Of all the stages of labor, Stage 1 is usually the longest and its all about the cervix. Due to contractions, the cervix opens until it reaches 10 centimeters.

Early labor begins with irregular contractions as the cervix starts to change. The length of this stage of labor varies.

Your expectations might play a significant role here, especially if this is your first time having a baby and youve passed your due date.

During this phase, the cervix goes from closed to 4 cm dilation.

Active labor has an increasing regularity to it. As labor progresses, women feel the contractions closer together, stronger, and longer-lasting.

In active labor, the cervix will dilate from 4 cm to 10 cm. 10 centimeters means theres no cervix left.

Then Stage 2 begins and the baby is ready to descend through the birth canal.

Stage 3 finishes with the delivery of the placenta.

Recommended Reading: Can You Get Lasik While Pregnant

Blood And Test Tubes: The Pee

This all changed in the 1960s when scientists began to develop pregnancy tests that didnt require the use of live animals and could therefore be done in doctors offices. At first, these tests had similar sensitivity for hCG, but by the early 1970s, Drs. Vaitukaitis, Braunstein, and Ross had developed a test that could detect pregnancy just 2-3 weeks after conceptionon the first day of a missed period. These new tests used antibodies.

Antibodies are molecules that recognize and stick to other molecules. In their usual job, theyre sticking to the molecules of bacteria or viruses to alert the immune system to these invaders. In pregnancy tests, however, scientists engineered antibodies that recognized and stuck to hCG. Armed with these hCG antibodies, the urine of pregnant women, and, strangely enough, sheeps blood, we had a new pregnancytest.

To perform the test, scientists attached hCG to the outside of the sheeps blood cells, decorating the blood cells with hCG. They then mixed these blood cells with the other test components: hCG antibodies and urine.

Based on the way that antibodies stick to hCG and to each other, the hCG-decorated blood cells would clump if they were mixed with the urine of a woman who was not pregnant. On the other hand, if the blood cells and hCG antibody were mixed with the urine of a woman who was pregnant, the blood cells would not clump. So by looking at the clumpiness of the blood cells, doctors could tell if a woman was pregnant .

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.

Don’t Miss: Vagisil And Pregnancy

What Are The Signs Of Pregnancy

The signs of pregnancy vary from woman to woman. Usually the most obvious sign is the absence of menstruation . However, some women continue to have bleeding even while pregnant. The following are the most common first signs of pregnancy. However, each woman may experience the signs of pregnancy differently. These may include:

• Extreme tiredness

• Nausea or vomiting

• Frequent urination

• Certain food cravings or aversions

• Bloating of the belly

• Darkening of the skin around the nipples .

These early signs may not positively indicate pregnancy, but may actually signal another process happening within the body. A pregnancy test can provide more accurate results.

Contact Your Obgyn As Soon As You Think You Are Pregnant

Call your OBGYN clinic as soon as you find out youre pregnant. When you call in, your provider will review your medical history to determine the timing of your first prenatal visit. If you are a woman with no medical problems and under the age of 35, your first prenatal appointment will likely be 3-4 weeks after your missed period.

Some women should be seen sooner than others. For instance, if a woman has a history of ectopic pregnancy , she should be seen within a couple of days. Certain other medical conditions warrant an immediate visit with the provider.

Note: Ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized egg grows outside of the uterus, such as in the fallopian tube. The earliest symptom of ectopic pregnancy is typically light vaginal bleeding soon after a positive pregnancy test. If this happens, call your OBGYN to schedule an ultrasound right away. The ultrasound will identify if the fertilized egg is growing in the uterus or if it has attached somewhere else.

An ectopic pregnancy cannot be moved to the uterus and requires treatment such as medication or surgery. If the ectopic pregnancy continues growing to 5 or 5.5 weeks after conception, it could cause more serious complications, such as a ruptured fallopian tube, which can result in life-threatening internal bleeding. Symptoms of a ruptured fallopian tube include sudden and severe pain, abnormal bleeding, lightheadedness, and shoulder pain.

Don’t Miss: Vagisil Cream While Pregnant

How Can You Tell If You’re Pregnant

Answering the burning question of whether you are pregnant or not can be easy or difficult depending on how far along you are and how well you know your own body.

Many women can tell if they are pregnant within two or three weeks of conceiving, and some women know a lot sooner, even within a few days. It really depends on your ability to pick up on the changes occurring within your body and how sensitive you are to them.

Of course, you’ll definitely be able to find out for sure once you have missed your first period by doing a pregnancy test . Don’t be tempted to take a pregnancy test too early, though. Doing so can increase your chances of getting an inaccurate result or maybe a faint pregnancy test line.

What Happens Right After Conception

Imagine this scenario. You’ve been using ovulation tests faithfully for a couple of months, and after your test came back positive this cycle, you do your part. Did it work? You’re constantly on the look-out for symptoms of conception. The day after your ovulation, you notice a light spotting, a change in your cervical mucus, or you are exceptionally tired. Then, you get Googling: can it really be that you are already having an implantation bleeding ?

What does your cervical mucus look like after you conceived? Do pregnancy symptoms start right after an egg was fertilized? Trying to conceive is exciting business! Paying close attention to what is going on with your body is really the only thing you can do to help you guess if you are pregnant this time. The thing is, an implantation bleeding cannot show up until seven to 10 days after your ovulation because your fertilized egg doesn’t implant before that time.

Read Also: Kinesio Tape For Pregnancy Round Ligament Pain

Early Pregnancy Symptoms Vs Pms: Whats The Difference

Most early pregnancy symptoms before your period are strikingly similar to the side effects of PMS. However, youll only notice changes in your areolas if youre pregnant. A consistently elevated BBT and creamy vaginal discharge post-ovulation are also both relatively reliable signs of conception, but theyre certainly not foolproof.

Otherwise, the only way to know if other early pregnancy symptoms are due to a baby or PMS is to hold out until you can take a pregnancy test.

Could I Have The Symptoms Of Early Pregnancy And Not Be Pregnant

Many of the symptoms of early pregnancy overlap with other medical conditions, as well as your typical menstrual cycle. Premenstrual symptoms can be very similar to pregnancy symptoms. This can make it difficult to tell the difference. You can also miss a period without being pregnant. This can happen when you exercise in extreme amounts, lose or gain a lot of weight, or even are stressed. Breastfeeding can also cause your period to stop for a while.

The best way to know youre pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. If you have missed a period and think theres a chance you could be pregnant, consider taking a test.

Don’t Miss: Can You Use Vagisil During Pregnancy

Light Spotting And Cramping

Light spotting, also known as implantation bleeding, can occur when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining. This can happen about 10 to 14 days after conception, around the same time that you are supposed to have your period. Light spotting may also be accompanied by cramping, which can feel similar to menstrual cramps.

Clinical Diagnosis Of Pregnancy In Cats

If your queen has had regular veterinary care and the previous signs of pregnancy are evident, it may not be necessary to get an official diagnosis from a veterinarian. However, it’s a good idea for your vet to examine your cat and make sure she is in good condition.

• Palpation of the Cat’s Abdomen: Your veterinarian may be able to feel your pregnant cat’s fetuses by palpating and gently pressing on her abdomen. This typically happens around the 17th to 25th day of pregnancy.
• Ultrasound of Your Cat’s Abdomen: An ultrasound may detect fetuses as early as the second week of pregnancy, and heartbeats may be detected sometime after the third week.
• Radiographs : Your vet can take a radiograph of your cat’s abdomen when she is further along in her pregnancy to determine the number of kittens she is carrying. This is a minor amount of radiation that will not be harmful to the kittens or the mother. Kitten spines and skulls begin to be visible on x-rays after about 42 days into the pregnancy.

If your resident or rescued cat is indeed confirmed pregnant, some serious decision-making time is at hand. If you decide to spay her and prevent the pregnancy from coming to term, it should be done as early as possible. If not, be prepared to help care for the kittens and find them all good homes.

Don’t Miss: Lasik Eye Surgery While Pregnant

What’s The Soonest You Can Find Out If You’re Pregnant

The only way to know for sure that you’re pregnant is through a positive pregnancy test. The earliest home pregnancy test is accurate up to six days before the day of your missed period for 76% of women who take the test .1

So, the soonest you might be able to find out for sure that you’re pregnant is by testing with a First Response home pregnancy test no earlier than six days before the day of your missed period.

So if you’re expecting your period on a Saturday, you would be able to test the Monday before .

How To Deal With It:

Youll probably want to invest in some different kinds of bras, which could be larger, made out of cotton, and underwire-free. Wearing a bra to bed might help ease the pain as well. Though your larger twins might look enticing to your partner, make sure you let them know that they are welcome to look, but touching should be kept to a minimum.

If you’re pregnant, your body is working hard to make another human, so you’re feeling tired for many reasons!

Don’t Miss: Side Effects Of Donating Plasma While Pregnant

Check If Your Period Is Late

• Did your last period start more than four weeks ago?
• How far apart are your periods usually? .

Tip: Even if your cycle is inconsistent or longer than 32 days from one period to the next, if you are more than one week past your expected period, and you have been sexually active, there is a chance you could be pregnant.

How Do I Know If Im Pregnant

The only way to know for sure if youre pregnant is by taking a pregnancy test. You can go to your local Planned Parenthood, doctors office, or other community health center to get a pregnancy test, or you can buy a pregnancy test at your local drugstore. When looking for a place to get a pregnancy test, beware of Crisis Pregnancy Centers. These fake clinics seem like medical centers, and may even offer free pregnancy tests, but theyre run by people who want to scare or shame you out of things like birth control and abortion, and often give misleading or wrong information about your pregnancy options.

Pregnancy tests detect a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin in your urine . Your body only makes this hormone if youre pregnant. Pregnancy tests are super accurate when you use them correctly. The pregnancy tests you get at the drugstore work 99 out of 100 times when you use them after you miss your period. Some pregnancy test brands say they work days before you miss your period, but these tests are less accurate before your period is due. Store-bought pregnancy tests are just as accurate as a urine pregnancy test that youd get at a doctors office.

Also Check: Vagisil While Pregnant

Scan Signs That May Tell If Youre Having A Boy Or A Girl

Some gender prediction tests involve looking at images taken from your 12-week dating scan to work out whether your babys a boy or a girl . They include:

1. Nub theory

This one involves looking at your 12-week scan, and making a note of the rather intriguing angle of the dangle.

This is to do with how the genital tube is angled compared to your babys spine.

• More about nub theory and how it works

2. Skull theory

This one says theres a difference between how a boys skull and a girls skull looks in the womb.

If youve already got your scan picture you can use it try and work out what youre having.

• Use skull theory to work out your babys sex

3. Ramzi Theory / Ramzi Method

The Ramzi Theory claims 97% to 99% accuracy at being able to predict if youre having a boy or girl based on where your placenta is placed in your uterus as early as 6 weeks into pregnancy.

• Placenta on the left or the right? You might just be able to tell your babys sex already

4. Heartbeat

As well as seeing your baby at the 12-week scan, you should hear their heartbeat too and get an idea of how fast it is.

Some of the mums on our forum reckon the speed of your babys heartbeat whether slow or fast indicates a boy or girl.

• Were not sure how this one works but see what our mums are saying about it

5. Three lines on your 20-week scan

In the NHS, using the 3 lines or potty shot at the 20-week scan is the main way a health practitioner will look to see if youre having a boy or girl.

How Soon Can You Take A Pregnancy Test

Your provider could always run a blood test, which can typically detect pregnancy as early as one week after conception.

Of course, if you can be slightly more patient, home pregnancy tests can let you know pretty early, too.

Some of the more advanced early home pregnancy tests can be used as soon as five days before your missed period . If you can wait until the day of your missed period, the accuracy of these tests usually hits 99%. Hmm maybe that’s why theyput two tests in the box.

Also Check: Can You Donate Plasma When Pregnant

Tracking Fertility By Checking The Cervix

Cervical position checks are most beneficial for those trying to become pregnant. There are many ways you can track your fertility to time when you have sex and increase your chances of pregnancy.

As your body begins to prepare to house a baby, it changes and moves slightly to allow a pregnancy to happen. Your cervix will move upwards, opening slightly and softening as your blood increases. You can feel these changes pretty clearly, which lets you know its time to start making that baby!

Also Check: Kt Tape Pregnancy Round Ligament Pain

Pregnancy Blood Test Results

Did your test come back positive for hCG in your blood? Then congratulations are in order youre definitely pregnant!

A test that comes back negative for hCG usually means a woman isnt pregnant. But rarely, its possible for an hCG blood test to deliver a false negative.

If your test doesnt detect any hCG but you and your provider still suspect youre pregnant, he or she may recommend re-doing the test in a week. At that point, if youre pregnant, your blood hCG levels should be higher and more easily detected.

If you were given a quantitative hCG test, the results will tell you exactly how much hCG is in your bloodstream. Try not to read into these numbers too closely or compare them with other moms-to-be. Theres a very wide range for what counts as normal and no two pregnant womens levels are exactly alike.

And if yours do look a little different? Take a deep breath: Everything is likely still A-okay. Most likely your due date is a little off, and in some cases, higher levels could mean youre having twins.

Ultimately, the most important thing is that your pregnancy is progressing normally and that your hCG levels continue going up until weeks 7 to 12 of pregnancy .

But if you have any questions or concerns, bring them up with your practitioner. Chances are he or she will be perfectly happy with your numbers and you should be too.

You May Like: Can I Use Vagisil Wipes While Pregnant

My Child Hates Their Playpen What Do I Do

Am I pregnant?

One of the special things about pregnancy is that no two women experience it in the same way. One woman doesn’t stop vomiting for weeks in the first trimester, and another might never even feel nauseous .

There are several early signs of pregnancy. Some of them are subtle, and you may not notice them right away, or you may mistake them for PMS since they are similar. In fact, in one study, 29% of women reported that missing their period was their first clue that they were pregnant.2

You’ll probably want to know if you’re pregnant sooner rather than later since it’s important to receive appropriate prenatal care and discontinue any unhealthy habits you may have.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below, and if you’ve missed a period, you should definitely take a pregnancy test. It’s the only way to know for sure if you’re pregnant or not.