How To Know If You Might Be Pregnant

When Does Implantation Bleeding Happen

After a sperm fertilizes your egg, the combination becomes an embryo. It travels to your uterus, where it implants itself into the lining.

Sometimes, as the embryo attaches, it causes a little bleeding. This usually happens about the time you would have your period. You may even confuse it with your period and not realize youre pregnant. Implantation bleeding is normal and doesnt mean you or your baby will have problems.

Is Your Dog Pregnant Why You Should Involve A Vet

So how do you know if you need to involve a veterinarian in the birth of puppies, the most deliveries around eventful so thats the good news usually vets dont have to get involved but if you see before the day of delivery, if youre seeing abnormal discharge or may be signs of illness in a dog, wont eat, wont drink, lethargic, that type of thing, that would be a reason to take them in.

If the temperature has dropped and youre already beyond the 65 days and that temperature is dropped and its been more than 48 hours that might be a reason to have the dog checked out.

If you see a pet thats actively pushing for more than 30 minutes and they havent produced a puppy, you need to call the better get right to an emergency clinic.

Now if they have off and on signs of labor then thats not quite as critical but if thats happening for more than two hours, another good reason to call the vet.

More than four hours between puppies if you know for sure that there are more to come. Now, sometimes there can be big lapses there but certainly, if the dog is showing any indication that shes in discomfort and has it produced a puppy within four hours than I would call the vet.

Also, if theres a birth sack visible but its not continued to advance so the puppys not coming out that would definitely be an emergency.

Change In Cervical Mucus

Some of our forum mums find their cervical mucus changes and they seem to have more mucus than usual.

In very early pregnancy, your mucus may seem to be thinnish and slippery for longer than usual and it will then thicken due to the increase in progesterone.

For forum mum Blue_Gecko, this thickened mucus was one of the clearest early signs she was pregnant. The cervical mucus was creamy and quite heavy, she recalls. It felt quite moist down there.

Cervical mucus is usually a pale white/yellow colour but dont worry if you see a brownish discharge: this is also common. Its usually harmless, but if youre worried, have a chat with your GP.

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Food Aversions And Sensitivity To Smell

Sensitivity to certain smells is a common symptom for pregnant women. You may also find that your tastes have changed for certain types of food.

Any of the above signs can mean youre pregnant, but there are women who conceive and experience none of them. Likewise, you can experience all ten and not be pregnant. The best way to confirm pregnancy is to schedule an appointment with a provider, preferably your gynecologist.

If you notice a few of the early pregnancy symptoms above and think you may be pregnant, wait one or two days after your missed period and take a pregnancy test. If the test is negative, wait a few more days and take another, just in case the first was a false negative. If the test is positive, schedule an appointment with your OB/GYN.

At Baptist Health, were committed to helping women through every stage of their health journeys. If youre trying to conceive or thinking about getting pregnant, read through our preconception to-do list, or if you have an upcoming OB/GYN appointment, learn how you can get the most out of your visit.

Other Causes Of Bleeding During Pregnancy

Many things can cause bleeding in pregnant women, some of them harmless and some serious. If youre bleeding a lot, with or without pain or cramping at any time, call your doctor.

Continued

If youre pregnant and see blood in your underwear, it may be caused by:

Sex. Hormonal and physical changes may be to blame for this. It should stop on its own.

Fibroids and polyps. Your doctor might do some tests to check for these growths on your uterus.

Cervical problems. Conditions like infection or growths on your cervix can also cause bleeding.

Infection. Sexually transmitted diseases like trichomoniasis can cause light bleeding as well as more serious problems. Starting treatment as soon as possible will keep your baby healthy.

Ectopic pregnancy. This is when an embryo implants outside your uterus. You may have bleeding with pain and cramps. Its dangerous and needs medical care right away.

Miscarriage. About 15% of known pregnancies end during the first few months. Most women bleed and cramp afterward. Call your doctor right away if you know that you’re pregnant and you have these symptoms.

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Varicose Veins And Leg Oedema

Varicose veins of the legs are very common in pregnancy due to a combination of factors, including increased volume of circulating blood during pregnancy, and pressure of the pregnant uterus on the larger veins. This increased pressure on the veins can also result in swelling of the legs that can cause pain, feelings of heaviness, cramps and other unusual sensations.

If you have varicose veins, it is recommended that you:

• Wear support stockings.
• Avoid standing for long periods.
• Exercise gently and regularly .
• Lie down to rest with feet elevated, when you can.
• Try massaging your legs.

Quick Ways To Tell If Your Dog Is Pregnant

Eating habits changed during the beginning of the pregnancy. In fact, you may find a significant decrease in appetite to the point of not wanting to eat altogether.

There is no need to force her to eat just let her obey her body and keep food available in case she decides that she wants a little bit of something.

2. Nipples Start To Swell

Usually, although not always the female nipples will start to swell during pregnancy especially if this isnt her first litter.

3. Need For Attention

Many females that have been bred starts showing a little bit more need for attention. They may act a little insecure and you may notice them looking for more attention than usual while this alone isnt a guarantee that youll be expecting puppies, pay attention especially if you notice the other signs of pregnancy that wevealready mentioned.

4. Milky Colored Discharge

Many pregnant dogs also have a milky color discharge. There should not be any odour to the discharge and thereis no reason for alarm, its just another sign that you should probably start preparing to welcome a new litter of puppies soon.

5. More Affectionate Than Usual

You will notice your dog will be affectionate than usual at the beginning of her pregnancy.

6. Decrease Of Energy

Your dog may also seem less energetic than usual, less interested in playing or doing other activities that she may normally enjoy.

7. Decrease Or Increase In Appetite

8. Weight Gain

9. Take Her In For Check-Up

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How Soon Can You Get Symptoms And Signs Of Pregnancy

Most pregnancy symptoms will start to appear around five or six weeks after your last menstrual period. Usually symptoms wont appear immediately, as it takes a few weeks to develop them. Having symptoms a few days after sex isnt usually a sign of pregnancy, and can actually be due to something else such as PMS.

However, a missed period, fatigue or morning sickness before this five-week mark could indicate pregnancy, Lesley Gilchrist, registered midwife and co-founder of My Expert Midwife, says. The most common early signs are missing a period and feeling out of sorts and not yourself- often feeling overwhelmingly tired and needing to sleep a lot.

Morning sickness is also common and can take on several forms for different people, such as feeling nauseous at certain times of the day or all day, vomiting, dizziness or a combination of all these. The need to wee a lot can also be common and is caused by changing hormones in the early days, as are tender, swollen breasts which are sensitive when touched.

You Missed Your Period

You should take a pregnancy test. If it’s positive, you’re pregnant. If it’s negative, wait a few more days and retest. If it’s another negative, you’re still not experiencing any symptoms of pregnancy, and you’re sure you’re taking the test correctly, then you’re probably not pregnant and you’ve missed your period for another reason.

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High Blood Pressure And Dizziness During Early Pregnancy

In most cases, high or normal blood pressure will drop in the early stages of pregnancy. This may also cause feelings of dizziness since your blood vessels are dilated.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, as a result of pregnancy is more difficult to determine. Almost all cases of hypertension within the first 20 weeks indicate underlying problems. It may develop during early pregnancy, but it may also be present beforehand.

A medical professional will take your blood pressure during your first doctors visit to help establish a baseline for a normal blood pressure reading.

More Hungry Or More Thirsty

While some mums-to-be suddenly cant bear the thought of eating, others suddenly find theyre so ravenous, eating is all they can think about.

For forum mum MsDodger, her appetite went through the roof. I eat a lot normally but this it was a massive leap, she says. I could not stop snacking all day and eating large meals.

And this ravenous urge can apply to drinking as well, as eating, as bleurgh discovered. Thirst! I wondered how much I could actually drink before drowning myself. Even my hubby said he nearly asked if I was drinking for two before I tested.

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You Might Be Pregnant Heres How To Tell For Sure

Your last period shouldâve started a week ago, and youâre starting to get worried. Are you just a little late, or is it possible a baby is on the way?

Having a child of your own is a big responsibility, and being overwhelmed at the thought of parenthood is common. In fact, more than a few women enter into denial and intentionally avoid taking a test to confirm their pregnancy. But knowing youâre pregnant for sure is the first step before seeking out the information, resources, and relationships youâll need to thrive during this next season of life. So before you start narrowing down baby names, what are the signs you might be pregnant?

When Will You Start Feeling Symptoms Of Pregnancy

Some women experience symptoms of pregnancy very early on, though many women do not. According to one study of 136 women who ended up having babies, 50% had some symptoms roughly eight days after their missed period, 70% had some symptoms roughly two weeks after their missed period, and 90% had some symptoms one month after their missed period.2

Many early pregnancy symptoms are also very similar to PMS, which can be confusing. I go into more detail about the early symptoms of pregnancy below.

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Video: How To Confirm Pregnancy Without Taking A Test

While pregnancy tests are the sought after option, there are a few ways by which you can know with reasonable certainty that you are pregnant. In this article, we will look at how to confirm your pregnancy without a test, for the benefit of expecting parents.

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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.

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How Do I Know If My Child Has Autism

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.

Going Off The Pill To Get Pregnant

How long does it take for the effects of birth control medication to subside? It’s actually possible to become pregnant immediately after going off the pill — as soon as the pill’s hormones are out of your system — although it may take a few months before ovulation begins normally again.

Is it safe to conceive right after you go off the pill? Yes. Women who conceive immediately after going off the pill are as likely to have a healthy baby as women who waited a few months in between.

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How And When To Confirm A Cryptic Pregnancy

Here are a few steps that can confirm a pregnancy:

• Take more than one pregnancy test at least one week apart after a missed period to validate the result. The usual pregnancy tests performed by health care providers, such as blood tests, urine tests, and ultrasound imaging are highly accurate in most cases.
• Make an appointment to see a health care provider, who can check for other reasons for a missed period. Speak with them about any menstrual cycle irregularities. Your provider may recommend an early ultrasound if one is needed to determine exactly how long far along the pregnancy is, if there are unusual symptoms such as bleeding, or if another test had abnormal results.
• Monitor symptoms and report them to a health care provider, who can provide a referral to a specialist, if necessary.

What Precautions Should You Take During Early Pregnancy

Even if you havenât spotted any signs of pregnancy very early on, youâll want to do everything you can to stay healthy and safe. In fact, itâs always wise to take some precautions as soon as you start trying to conceive or learn that youâre pregnant.Even simple adjustments can help support you as you start your pregnancy! Though youâll want to consult your healthcare provider to determine whatâs best for you, some worthwhile lifestyle changes and precautions include

• taking folic acid.

When you start trying for a baby or learn that youâre pregnant, folic acid is essential, as itâs a B vitamin that helps reduce the risk of certain birth defects that affect the babyâs brain and spine. Your healthcare provider can recommend a prenatal vitamin that contains at least 400 micrograms of folic acid. Pre-pregnancy is also a great time to eliminate some less healthy habits, including

• smoking

• exposure to secondhand smoke

• drinking alcohol.

In addition, your provider may recommend limiting your daily consumption of caffeine. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best ways to stay healthy and safe when youâre pregnant. For more general advice, download our pregnancy guide!

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Being A Supportive Partner

Research has shown that when a pregnant person has a supportive partner, they are more likely to have a healthy pregnancy. Partner support is also good for babies. Infants who are born to people who have the support of a partner are less likely to be born preterm.

There are many ways that you can be a supportive partner. You can encourage your partner to make and keep prenatal appointments and, if possible and desired, go to these appointments with them. You also can help your partner make healthy choices throughout their pregnancy, such as avoiding alcohol or quitting smoking.

What Are Early Signs Of Pregnancy

Your symptoms likely wont begin until your fourth week. This is when you may experience mild blood spotting and cramping and when you can expect to miss your period. But, if you are asking yourself, How do I know if Im pregnant, see if you can relate to any of these early indications:

1. Missed Period

According to an American Pregnancy Association survey, approximately 29 percent of women claimed their first sign of pregnancy was a missed period. Missing your period is a common symptom of pregnancy and it often leads women to do a pregnancy test. You may notice some bleeding even if youre pregnant, but it will usually be lighter and shorter than your normal menstrual period.

2. Urinating Frequently

A couple weeks after you conceive, you may have to urinate more. This is because of your pregnancy hormone hCG. This hormone causes an increase in blood flow to your kidneys, which helps them eliminate waste from your body more efficiently. As your uterus is growing more quickly the pressure on your bladder is greater. The amount of urine storage space you have decreases which causes you to urinate more often.

3. Swollen, Tender Breasts

4. Nausea and Sometimes Vomiting

Nausea was the first pregnancy indication 25 percent of women experienced. Although morning sickness doesnt usually hit women until around a month of becoming pregnant, nausea is often felt earlier. Its thought that your pregnancy hormones are what cause nausea, but it isnt quite clear.

5. Spotting

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