How To Confirm Pregnancy In First Month

The First Month Of Pregnancy: Initial Symptoms And Maternal Care

The first month of pregnancy is a special one, as it is the moment when the woman finds out that she is expecting. Even though it is not visible yet, she is able to feel the first pregnancy symptoms by the end of this month. It is at this point that a pregnancy test can provide you with an accurate result.

Pregnancy starts when the sperm meets the egg in the Fallopian tube. From this moment on, a zygote starts to form , which will grow on a daily basis until it reaches the blastocyst stage.

When the embryo becomes a blastocyst, about 7-8 days after egg fertilization, it is ready to be implanted in the womb of the woman. This extraordinary event is known as embryo implantation and marks the beginning of the pregnancy journey.

Provided below is an index with the 6 points we are going to expand on in this article.

• How old is the embryo in the first month of pregnancy?

What Results Do You Get On A Pregnancy Ultrasound

Your ultrasound results will be normal or abnormal. A normal result means your pregnancy care provider didnt find any problems and that your baby is growing and developing normally. An abnormal result means your provider noticed something irregular. If they do, your provider will order additional ultrasounds or diagnostic tests to determine if something is wrong.

Occasionally, the ultrasound is incomplete if theres difficulty seeing all the structures needed for that particular ultrasound. Your babys position or movement sometimes makes it difficult to see everything your provider needs to see. If this is the case, youll need a repeat ultrasound and theyll try again.

There are some limitations to ultrasounds, so your provider may not find certain abnormalities until after birth.

How Early Can Home Pregnancy Tests Show Positive Results

Since the earliest recorded history, women have had a strong desire to know whether they are pregnant as early as possible. The body goes through countless changes in the first trimester, and one of the first indicators is a change in the hormones that leave the body through urine.

Ancient Egyptians relied on a form of urine testing to determine pregnancy status way back in 1350 BCE. A woman urinated daily on wheat or barley seeds and if the plants grew, it meant she was pregnant. Modern-day validation suggests that test was about 70% accurate in detecting human chorionic gonadotropin , a hormone produced by a womans body soon after implantation of a fertilized egg inside the uterus.

Thankfully, urine-based pregnancy tests have evolved substantially. Women now have access to advanced tests that can detect a pregnancy as early as eight days after ovulation. But while many home pregnancy tests are marketed as simple and effective, getting accurate results comes down to how early in your ovulation cycle you take the test.

Ovulation generally occurs around day 15 of a 28-day cycle. In a normal pregnancy, an egg is fertilized in the fallopian tube and then travels into the uterus, where it implants in the uterine wall. After implantation, production of hCG starts from cells in the developing placenta . Trace levels of hCG can be detected as early as eight days after ovulation.

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How Long Should I Wait Before Becoming Pregnant Again After An Ectopic Pregnancy

You should talk to your healthcare provider about future pregnancies after being treated for an ectopic pregnancy. Although pregnancy may happen quickly after treatment, its often best to wait about three months. This allows your fallopian tube time to heal and decreases the risk of another ectopic pregnancy.

Second Trimester Prenatal Screening Tests

Second trimester prenatal screening may include several blood tests called multiple markers. These markers provide information about your potential risk of having a baby with certain genetic conditions or birth defects. Screening is usually done by taking a sample of your blood between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy . The multiple markers include:

• AFP screening. Also called maternal serum AFP, this blood test measures the level of AFP in your blood during pregnancy. AFP is a protein normally produced by the fetal liver that is present in the fluid surrounding the fetus . It crosses the placenta and enters your blood. Abnormal levels of AFP may indicate:

• A miscalculated due date, as the levels vary throughout pregnancy

• Defects in the abdominal wall of the fetus

• Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities

• Open neural tube defects, such as spina bifida

Abnormal test results of AFP and other markers may mean that additional testing is needed. An ultrasound is used to confirm the milestones of your pregnancy and to check the fetal spine and other body parts for defects. An amniocentesis may be needed for an accurate diagnosis.

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Tests To Confirm Pregnancy

A missed menstrual period is usually the first sign of pregnancy. Tests to confirm pregnancy detect a pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin .

The various tests include:

• Home test kit these are available from pharmacies. A typical kit includes special paper that is sensitive to the presence of hCG in urine. It is important to use a home test kit according to the manufacturers instructions, or false results can occur. Always confirm your results with your doctor. Pregnancy tests taken by your doctor are rarely inaccurate.
• Urine test at the doctors office the doctor can test your urine for hCG.
• Blood test a test of the hCG levels in your blood can be accurate within one week or so of conception.

What Can Be Expected At The Doctor

When you first learn you are pregnant, make an appointment with your doctor to begin caring for the developing baby. If you are not already on prenatal vitamins, start them immediately. Ideally, women take folic acid for a year before the pregnancy. Women normally see their doctor once a month during the first trimester.

During your first visit, a doctor will take a full health history and perform a full physical and pelvic exam. The doctor may also:

• perform an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy
• take your blood pressure
• test for sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and hepatitis
• estimate your date of delivery or due date, which is around 266 days from the first day of your last period
• screen for risk factors like anemia
• check thyroid levels
• check your weight

At around 11 weeks, the doctor will perform a test called a nuchal translucency scan. The test uses an ultrasound to measure the babys head and thickness of the babys neck. The measurements can help determine the chance that your baby will be born with a genetic disorder known as Down syndrome.

Ask your doctor whether or not genetic screening is recommended for your pregnancy. Genetic screening is a test used to find out your babys risk for specific genetic diseases.

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Making Decisions About Diagnostic Testing In Pregnancy

About one woman in 20 is told that there may be a complication in her pregnancy. As screening tests cannot provide definitive information, many women who have an increased-chance result on a screening test will go on to have a normal pregnancy.

The decision to have further tests to confirm whether a condition is present is up to the woman and her family after discussion with her doctor or midwife.

Diagnostic tests may be considered for a range of reasons. For example, if a diagnostic test confirms the presence of a medical condition:

• Some abnormalities can be surgically corrected while the baby is still in the uterus.
• A woman and her baby may need specialist care before, during and after at the birth.
• Knowing in advance that the baby has a particular condition may provide a family with time to prepare.
• Depending on the condition identified in diagnostic testing, some women or families may decide not to continue a pregnancy and arrange a termination of pregnancy .

What Happens To Your Body

For some women, the first trimester is characterised by nausea . But remember that every pregnancy is different and while some women have food cravings, others experience food aversions, and some have no change in appetite at all.

Other changes in the first trimester include changes to your breasts as they become tender, larger and heavier, while your uterus will grow and put pressure on your bladder so that you need to urinate more often.

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How Do I Know If Im At Risk Of An Ectopic Pregnancy

There are several risk factors that could increase your chance of developing an ectopic pregnancy. A risk factor is a trait or behavior that increases your chance for developing a disease or condition. You may be at a higher risk of developing an ectopic pregnancy if youve had:

• A previous ectopic pregnancy.
• A history of pelvic inflammatory disease , an infection that can cause scar tissue to form in your fallopian tubes, uterus, ovaries and cervix.
• Surgery on your fallopian tubes or on the other organs of your pelvic area.
• A history of infertility.
• An intrauterine device , a form of birth control, in place at the time of conception.
• A history of smoking.

Your risk can also increase as you get older. Women over age 35 are more at risk than younger women.

Many women who experience an ectopic pregnancy dont have any of the above risk factors.

Testing For Birth Defectsexpand All

• What is the first step to screen for birth defects during pregnancy?

  Screening for birth defects begins by assessing your risk factors. Early in your pregnancy, your obstetriciangynecologist may give you a list of questions to find out whether you have risk factors. If you do have risk factors, you might want to see a genetic counselor for more detailed information about your risks.

• What factors increase the risk of birth defects?

  Most babies with birth defects are born to couples without risk factors. But the risk of birth defects is higher when certain factors are present. Risk factors include

• having a personal or family history of birth defects

• belonging to certain ethnic groups

• being 35 or older

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If My Fallopian Tube Is Removed Can I Still Have A Baby

In most cases, you can still have a baby if you have had one of your fallopian tubes removed. You have a pair of fallopian tubes and eggs can still travel down your remaining tube. There are also assisted fertility procedures where the egg is extracted from the ovary, fertilized outside of the body and placed in the uterus for implantation. This is called in vitro fertilization .

Have an open conversation about your thoughts on future pregnancies with your healthcare provider. Together, you can form a plan and discuss ways to decrease any risk factors you may have.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 02/06/2020.

References

What Should I Expect After A Pregnancy Ultrasound

If you had an abdominal ultrasound, your sonographer wipes the gel off your belly. They may print off some ultrasound pictures for you to take home with you.

In most cases, your sonographer wont discuss the results of your test with you. If your obstetrician performs your ultrasound, they may discuss what they see as they go along.

If a sonographer performs your ultrasound, an obstetrician will look at the images, then discuss their findings with you at your next appointment. Most practices schedule your appointment right after your ultrasound so you get your results the same day.

What are the risks of prenatal ultrasounds?

Studies have shown ultrasounds are safe during pregnancy. There are no harmful side effects to you or your baby.

Is it safe to do an ultrasound every month during pregnancy?

While ultrasounds are safe for you and your baby, most major medical associations recommend that pregnancy care providers should only do ultrasounds when the tests are medically necessary. If your ultrasounds are normal and your pregnancy is uncomplicated or low risk, repeat ultrasounds arent necessary.

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Can You Feel Conception

Not usually. You may notice signs that you’ve ovulated, such as changes in your cervical mucus or basal body temperature. However, most people don’t feel fertilization. You may feel a dull ache or experience light spotting several days after conception. This could be from the fertilized egg implanting in your uterus.

When do you start feeling pregnant?

How long it takes to feel pregnant varies. Some people may start to feel pregnant shortly after conception, while others dont have any pregnancy symptoms for weeks after a positive test.

Take a home pregnancy test if you have any of the above symptoms and think theres a chance youre pregnant. Your healthcare provider can order a blood test to confirm pregnancy.

Changes In Cervical Mucus

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.

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Im Pregnant What Do I Do Now

Finding out youre pregnant can be scary, but try to stay calm. Youre going to be okay, and there are people who can help you.

If youre pregnant you have 3 options:

Parenting giving birth and raising the child.

Abortion ending the pregnancy.

Adoption giving birth and giving the child to someone else, forever.

If you think you might choose parenting or adoption, you need prenatal care to make sure you stay healthy during the pregnancy. If youre thinking about getting an abortion, make an appointment as soon as you can. Abortion is very safe, but there are more risks the longer you wait. And it can be harder to get an abortion as time goes by. Whatever you decide to do, go to a doctor right away so they can help you stay healthy.

The staff at your local Planned Parenthood health center can give you accurate information about all your options, answer your questions, and offer support.

You can also get information and health care from other family planning centers or your family doctor. Be careful when looking for a reliable health center there are fake clinics that say they have pregnancy services. These are called Crisis Pregnancy Centers, and theyre run by people who are anti-abortion and try to scare or shame people out of choosing abortion. Read more about Crisis Pregnancy Centers.

No one should pressure you into making any decision about your pregnancy, no matter what. Only you know whats right for you.

Can You Feel Pregnant Before You Miss Your Period

Yes, you can feel pregnant before you miss your period. Some people say theyve felt pregnancy symptoms within a week of conception .

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 and not be pregnant. This can happen when you lose or gain a lot of weight or are stressed. Breastfeeding can also cause your period to stop.

The best way to know youre pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests are available at your local pharmacy or grocery store without a prescription.

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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.

How Soon Can I Take A Pregnancy Test

Pregnancy tests work by detecting a certain level of human chorionic gonadotrophin in your pee. You can take a pregnancy test as soon as youve missed your period. However, its best to wait at least one week after youve missed your period to get the most accurate results. While some tests claim to give you accurate results before a missed period, taking a test too soon can result in a false negative .

Your healthcare provider can take a blood sample to test for pregnancy as early as one week before a missed period.

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How Far Along Are You At 1 Month Pregnant

At one month pregnant, youâre at the start of the first trimester. Though there is no standard way of grouping pregnancy weeks into months , the first month usually includes week one through week four of pregnancy. The breakdown of weeks into trimesters also varies here is a common method we’ll follow: First trimester: 1 to 13 weeksSecond trimester: 14 to 27 weeksThird trimester: 28 to 40 weeks

What Does 1 Month Pregnant Really Mean

Youre 1 month pregnant, but your baby is only, like 14 days old? How does that work?

Welcome to the first often confusing thing about pregnancy: your gestational age. Pregnancy is measured, or dated, from the first day of your last period.

No, you werent pregnant then, and yes, it can seem odd that it works this way, but the actual date of conception can be pretty hard to pin down.

Besides, before we knew so much about conception, we knew through observation that people tended to give birth about 40 weeks after the start of their last period.

So if youre 1 month pregnant, it means your last period started about 1 month ago, but since you probably didnt conceive your baby until about 14 days later, theyre only 2 weeks old. Your baby will always be younger than your pregnancy.

Dont freak out, though: The whole world of obstetrics and fetal development revolves around gestational age, so sticking with that number means youre in line with everyone elses milestones and expectations.

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