How Soon Can You Know If You Re Pregnant

Other Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy

How soon can I know that I’m pregnant?

Pregnancy brings changes in your hormonal balance. And that can cause other symptoms that include:

A pregnant woman could have all of these symptoms, or maybe have only one or two. If any of these symptoms become bothersome, talk with your doctor about them so you can make a plan to offset them.

Show Sources

All You Need To Know About Testing Early For Pregnancy

After the egg is fertilized, it travels to the uterus and implants itself in the uterine wall. At this stage tiny amounts of the , start to appear in your urine. It is this hormone that all home pregnancy tests detect. can tell you 6 days sooner than your 1.

No matter when you test, you can be confident in the accuracy of a ‘Pregnant’ result with any

But if you are testing early, you should be aware that even if your result , you may still be pregnant. This is because levels of hCG vary from woman to woman and there may not yet be enough hormone for the test to give a . rise rapidly in early pregnancy, as shown in the graph below, meaning that if you test again on the day of your expected period, your result will be over 99% accurate.

What Are Common Symptoms Of Pregnancy

Everyone experiences different symptoms of pregnancy and at different times. Its important not to compare your pregnancy to someone elses because pregnancy symptoms can vary so dramatically.

There are several signs of early pregnancy that you may or may not have. The most common symptoms include:

Remember, the only way to know for sure that youre pregnant is to take a pregnancy test or have your healthcare provider perform an ultrasound.

Recommended Reading: What Nasal Spray Can You Use When Pregnant

Weight Gain During Early Pregnancy

Weight gain becomes more common toward the end of your first trimester. You may find yourself gaining about 1 to 4 pounds in the first few months.

Calorie recommendations for early pregnancy wont change much from your usual diet, but they will increase as pregnancy progresses.

In the later stages, pregnancy weight often shows up in the:

Hormones can cause the valve between your stomach and esophagus to relax. This allows stomach acid to leak, causing heartburn.

Hormones Can Cause Subtle Changes To The Body

How Soon Can You Know You Re Pregnant

As soon as the body becomes pregnant, hormones are in overdrive to ensure the body can properly care for a growing baby. As such, there are subtle changes to the body that hormones cause. And if women are paying attention, they can recognize what those changes are.

According to the Better Health Channel, changes hormones cause to the body early in pregnancy include:

  • Heartbeat is faster
  • Mood swings occur
  • Women have an immediate reaction to the thought of being pregnant

If any of these changes to the body are present, it may very well be that women are expecting. Something that pregnancy tests will not be able to determine for weeks in the future.

Read Also: How Can I Get Rid Of Morning Sickness During Pregnancy

Other Reasons For Missing Your Period

Here are some possible reasons for missing your period but having negative pregnancy tests:

  • Starting a new birth control method
  • Hormone imbalance

If you suspect one of these reasons may be disrupting your normal menstrual cycle, and you have a negative pregnancy, test then you should speak to a health professional.

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.

Read Also: What Can I Eat While Pregnant

Don’t Worry About The Best Positions For Getting Pregnant

Myths abound about the best positions for getting pregnant, but they are just that — myths. There is really no scientific evidence saying that the missionary position is better than the woman being on top when it comes to maximizing your chances of making a baby.

“Very rarely, a woman’s cervix is in an unusual position where certain positions can make a difference,” Goldfarb tells WebMD.

Get To Know Your Cervix

10 signs you’re pregnant

Ovulation isnât an entirely hidden process, and there are some definite physical signs of ovulation. As your body senses the hormone shifts that indicate an egg is about to be released from the ovary, it begins prepping for the incoming hordes of sperm to give the egg its best chance of being fertilized.

The other cervical ovulation symptom you can watch for is a change in mucus. Cervical mucus, which youâll notice as discharge, carries the sperm to the egg deep inside you. After your period ends, youâll have a dry spell, literally you shouldnât expect much, if any, cervical mucus. As the cycle proceeds, youâll notice an increase in the amount of mucus, with an often white or cloudy appearance and if you try to stretch it between your fingers, itâll break apart.

As you get closer to ovulation, this mucus becomes even more copious, but now itâs thinner, clearer and has a slippery consistency similar to that of an egg white. If you try to stretch it between your fingers, youâll be able to pull it into a string a few inches long before it breaks . This egg white cervical mucus is yet another sign of impending ovulation.

Also Check: How Do Pregnancy Pills Work

Barrier Methods And Natural Methods

If you were using a barrier method, there is good news. These methods do not interfere with fertility. Barrier methods include:

Barrier methods block sperm from reaching your egg. These methods do not stop ovulation. Whether you are using them or not, your monthly cycle does not change.

As an added bonus, condoms also protect you from sexually transmitted infections . Left untreated, some STIs can lead to infertility.

Some people use natural family planning methods. If this is you, you may be able to get pregnant faster. Many of these methods have you keep track of your most fertile days. So now, just do the reverse. Instead of avoiding sex around those days, go try to make a baby.

How Soon You Can Take A Pregnancy Test

Step back from the supermarket shelves you should wait until the first day of a missed period before you do a pregnancy test . This is usually about two weeks after you think you conceived. So get your diary out and start counting.

Too keen to wait? Some tests are more sensitive than others and can be taken earlier . This might be four or five days before your period is due .

If you can though, its most reliable to wait for the first day of your missed period. And that way you wont get any upset from an inaccurate result.

You May Like: What To Use For Toothache During Pregnancy

Will You Notice Any Pregnancy Symptoms During Weeks 1 2 Or 3

During weeks one, two, or three, you may not even suspect youâre pregnant and you might not notice any pregnancy symptoms at all, as itâs still very early. Donât worryâthis is common .Missing a period is often the first clue that you may be pregnant, and around the time you miss a periodâor a little laterâyou may start noticing those very early pregnancy symptoms. One common early pregnancy symptom is implantation bleeding, which is light spotting that occurs when the tiny ball of cells attaches to the uterine lining. Not everyone experiences it, but this light bleeding is normal and can sometimes be mistaken for menstrual blood. It usually happens 10 to 14 days after conception.Other signs of pregnancy in the first month can include

  • frequent urination.

Morning sickness is another common symptom of early pregnancy, but it usually crops up between weeks 4 and 9.Now that you know these early signs of pregnancy, take our quiz to test your knowledge!

Why Are Hot Baths Bad For Pregnancy

How Soon Can You Tell If You

Many pregnant women like taking hot baths in a bathtub to relieve stress and pain. A hot bath with soothing Epsom salts can reduce lower back pain, stress, and help relax the muscles and nerves. However, prolonged hot baths may not be a good idea, especially in the first three months of pregnancy.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has conducted studies that support the finding that body temperature rising above 102.2 ºF when a person is in a hot bath may increase the incidences of birth defects in babies.

You May Like: What Can I Eat To Get Pregnant Fast

When Is The Best Time Of Day To Take A Pregnancy Test

The best time of day to take a pregnancy test is first thing in the morning because at that time your urine contains the highest concentration of hCG. This is particularly important the earlier you are taking your pregnancy test. You can test later in the day, but you will have a higher chance of seeing a false-negative test result because your urine will be diluted. Tips for testing include:

  • Use first-morning urine .
  • Dont drink a lot of fluid that could dilute your hCG levels before your test.
  • Check to make sure the pregnancy test is not expired, which can provide inaccurate results. Checking the expiration date is particularly important if you keep pregnancy tests at home just in case.
  • It is understandable that once you have the pregnancy test in your hands, you want to get to the answers quickly. Plus, it seems like a no-brainer because they are designed to be easy to use. Take time to read all of the instructions and follow them precisely. Even if you have taken pregnancy tests before, little variances between them can be the difference between a result you can count on and a wrong one.
  • We all know how easy it is to lose track of time, so do not try to estimate when to read your results. Set a timer so you can read your test results exactly at the time directed in the instructions. Do not read the test window after that set time because a faint evaporation line can appear, which makes your test appear to be positive when it is really negative.

Im Pregnant But Have Some Bleeding Is This My Period

Implantation bleeding sometimes happens in pregnant women around the time their period would have been due. Implantation is when the developing embryo plants itself in the wall of your womb. An implantation bleed is very light bleeding that is usually pinkish and sometimes brown. Not everyone will have an implantation bleed.

Its common to have light bleeding or spotting without pain before 12 weeks. This isnt often serious, but you should contact your doctor, midwife or Early Pregnancy Unit immediately to be checked, just in case.

Don’t Miss: How To Help Nausea And Vomiting During Pregnancy

Cramping And Spotting During Early Pregnancy

From weeks 1 to4, everything is still happening on a cellular level. The fertilized egg creates a blastocyst that will develop into the fetuss organs and body parts.

About 10 to 14 days after conception, the blastocyst will implant in the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus. This can cause implantation bleeding, which may be mistaken for a light period. It does not occur for everyone. If it does occur, it will usually happen around the time you expect your period.

Here are some signs of implantation bleeding:

  • Color. The color of each episode may be pink, red, or brown.
  • Bleeding. Implantation bleeding is usually much less than your usual period. Its often described as light bleeding that never turns into a flow or enough to need a tampon.
  • Pain. Pain is usually milder than your usual menstrual pain. It may involve some cramping. It can be moderate or severe, but its most often mild.
  • Episodes. Implantation bleeding is likely to last less than 3 days and does not require treatment. It can sometimes last only a few hours.

How Accurate Are Pregnancy Tests

4 Weeks Pregnant: What You Need To Know – Channel Mum

Pregnancy tests are super accurate when you use them correctly. The pregnancy tests you get at the drugstore work 99 out of 100 times. Theyre just as accurate as a urine pregnancy test that youd get at a doctors office.

Pregnancy tests work by checking your urine for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin . Your body only makes this hormone if youre pregnant. HCG is released when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of your uterus when pregnancy begins. If your pregnancy test results are positive, it means you’re pregnant. If theyre negative, it means youre not pregnant.

Pregnancy tests are most accurate when you take them after youve already missed your period.

A pregnancy test will be less accurate if its expired or if you dont use it the right way. So always check the expiration date on the package, and carefully read the directions that come with your pregnancy test.

Don’t Miss: How Find Out How Many Weeks Pregnant

When Do Early Pregnancy Symptoms Start

Regardless of your feelings about a possible pregnancy, it can be easy to ascribe any sensations you’re having to potential pregnancy symptoms. However, keep in mind that premenstrual syndrome symptoms and those of early pregnancy can be very similarand pregnancy symptoms most often don’t occur until after you’ve missed a period not before.

Having symptoms a day or two after having sex is usually not a sign of pregnancy. Here are some things to consider as you try to determine if you’re pregnant.

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.

Don’t Miss: Can You Get Laser Hair Removal While Pregnant

When Is The Best Time In Your Cycle To Test

Although your body begins to produce hCG 7 to 10 days after fertilization, waiting provides the most accurate results. In order to give your body enough time for hCG to build up to a detectable level in your urine by a pregnancy test, it is best to take a pregnancy test about 14 days after fertilization. For a woman who has a 28-day cycle and ovulates 14 days after her last period, this would mean testing on the day you expect your next period if you suspect you are pregnant. For the most accurate results, take a pregnancy test a couple of days after your missed period.

If your test is negative and your period does not start, you still might be pregnant, but your hCG levels are just not high enough to register on the test. Most testing kit instructions recommend you wait one week to take another test however, many women test a few days later. Contact a healthcare professional if you still have a negative pregnancy test or have further questions.

Changes In Cervical Mucus

Itchy Breasts and Other Early Signs of Pregnancy

Have you become a student of your cervical mucus? Then check it out now: If it becomes creamy and stays that way after ovulation, its a good sign youll have a positive pregnancy test.

As your pregnancy progresses, youll also notice increased vaginal discharge, called leukorrhea. This thin, milky-white discharge is normal and healthy, but speak to your practitioner if it appears lumpy or thick.

You May Like: Does Taking The Abortion Pill Affect Future Pregnancy

Do All Women Get Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy

Every woman is different. So are their experiences of pregnancy. Not every woman has the same symptoms or even the same symptoms from one pregnancy to the next.

Also, because the early symptoms of pregnancy often mimic the symptoms you might experience right before and during menstruation, you may not realize you’re pregnant.

What follows is a description of some of the most common early symptoms of pregnancy. You should know that these symptoms may be caused by other things besides being pregnant. So the fact that you notice some of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you are pregnant. The only way to tell for sure is with a pregnancy test.

Related Posts

Recent Stories