What Do I Do If I Think Im Pregnant

What Should I Do If Im Pregnant

If your results are positive, there are a few next steps that you need to take.

• Talk to someone. This could be a trusted friend or family member, or a professional. There is help available through Family Planning Alliance Australia.
• Learn more about the options available if youre not ready to have a baby right now. Talking to your doctor or Family Planning Alliance Australia is a good place to start.

Youre Regularly Becoming Nauseous

We arenât talking about that nasty feeling you get after a greasy meal but chronic bloating and/or a recurring upset stomach. Nausea during pregnancy, often referred to as âmorning sickness,â usually starts around a month after you become pregnant. You may also develop intense desires for particular kinds of foods or suddenly become averse to foods youâve historically enjoyed. This nausea may or may not involve vomiting, so itâs important to note both kinds. If youâve been sick to your stomach for several days or nights and you arenât sick, pregnancy could be the reason.

Figure Out Your Due Date

Use BabyCenter’s due date calculator or something similar to get an idea of when your baby is due. You’ll need the date your last official period started to do this.

Why is this information useful? It’ll help you plan things like maternity leave, vacations, and whether or not you’ll be able to teach that jiu-jitsu class this spring.

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What Do I Do If I Think Im Pregnant

• Score4.8/5

The first thing to do if you think you’re pregnant is take a pregnancy test it’s the only way to know for sure. A pregnancy test can tell you if you’re pregnant as soon as your period is late. Read more about pregnancy tests.Read more

• Early signs of pregnancy | Mumsnet

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How Do You Know If Youre Pregnant

While the only way to find out for sure is to visit your GP, this quiz will let you know the likelihood of pregnancy based on your current symptoms.

Can’t see the quiz?

If you are trying for a baby or think you might have conceived, you’ll probably be on the watch for pregnancy signs. Small changes in the way you feel both physically and emotionally can be detected as early as a week after conception and some women report ‘feeling pregnant’ long before their changing hormone levels are picked up on a test.

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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.

Am I More Susceptible To Coronavirus Because I’m Pregnant

According to the CDC, at the moment, doctors and scientists don’t know if pregnancy gives you an increased risk of contracting Covid-19 or if your symptoms will be more severe if you do. However, it is known that pregnancy lowers your immune system.

Don’t panic, but now more than ever is a great time for you to hunker down and practice social distancing.

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What’s Involved In An Abortion

For some people, deciding whether or not to have an abortion is easier if you know how an abortion is carried out. There are different abortion procedures, and the method used depends on how long youve been pregnant, your medical suitability and your preferences.

You can find out more about abortion procedures from:

• The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists .

Do You Have Pregnancy Symptoms

Most pregnancy symptoms don’t show up until about the time that you miss your period, so about two weeks after you ovulate, and for some women, about four weeks since their last period. There are a lot of pregnancy symptoms out there, but the most common ones are:

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Prenatal Development: How Your Baby Grows in Pregnancy. June 2015.
• Sapra KJ, Buck Louis GM, Sundaram R, Joseph KS, Bates LM, Galea S, Ananth CV. Signs and symptoms associated with early pregnancy loss: findings from a population-based preconception cohort. Hum Reprod. 2016 Apr 31:887-96. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dew010. Epub 2016 Mar 2.

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Fertility Drug Side Effects

If you are working with a doctor to improve your chances of conceiving, it’s important to know that fertility drug side effects can sometimes be mistaken for early pregnancy symptoms. Progesterone supplements can cause nausea and a frequent urination. Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation treatments like oral clomiphine citrate drugs or injectable gonadotropin may lead to moodiness, sore breasts, and bloating.

Be sure to keep in close touch with your fertility specialist to understand all possible side effects of any medications you are taking. This is a good idea to not only ensure you are in good health throughout treatments, but to also help temper expectations month to month.

Knowing That You’re Pregnant

When you find out you’re pregnant, you may feel happy and excited, or shocked, confused and upset. Everybody is different.

Some of this may be caused by changes in your hormone levels, which can make you feel more emotional.

If you are feeling anxious or worried it will help to talk to someone, read about mental health in pregnancy.

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When Should I Call My Doctor About A New Pregnancy

If you have missed a period, taken a pregnancy test and gotten a positive result, your next step will be to call your healthcare provider for your first appointment. While scheduling, your provider may ask if you have already started taking a prenatal vitamin with at least 400mcg of folic acid. These vitamins are important in early pregnancy because they help in the development of your babys neural tube. The neural tube will become the brain and spine. Many healthcare providers recommend that any women who could become pregnant take folic acid at all times.

If you are planning a pregnancy, a preconception appointment with your healthcare provider is a good place to start. A preconception appointment is especially important if you take medication for a chronic illness or have other medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension or lupus.

During this appointment, your provider will discuss any current medical conditions, as well as your general health before pregnancy. This appointment is meant to get you into the best place for a new pregnancy.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/01/2020.

References

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How Can You Tell By Feeling Stomach That Your Pregnant

Walk your fingers up the side of her abdomen until you feel the top of her abdomen under the skin. It will feel like a hard ball. You can feel the top by curving your fingers gently into the abdomen. Figure 10.1 With the woman lying on her back, begin by finding the top of the uterus with your fingers.

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What Should I Do If I’m Pregnant And Get Sick

The symptoms of COVID-19 can be like those of other viruses, like colds and the flu. So chances are, unless you get tested, you won’t know if you have COVID-19. Call your health care provider right away if you have any symptoms, such as:

• a cough
• symptoms of a cold such as a sore throat, congestion, or a runny nose
• chills
• a loss of taste or smell
• nausea or vomiting
• diarrhea
• tiredness

Most people who get sick can be cared for at home with fluids and rest. But if you need to see a health care provider, call the office or hospital before going in. For emergencies, call 911.

How Do I Find Out If Im Pregnant

If you have more than a couple of the above signs and youve recently had sex, you should take one of the following steps to find out if youre pregnant:

• Do a home pregnancy test. These are available from the supermarket or a pharmacy and usually cost around $10$20. If the test is positive, make an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible.
• Go to a family planning clinic. You can find a service near you on the Family Planning Alliance website. They can do a blood test to determine if youre pregnant.
• Visit a GP, who can do a blood test to determine if youre pregnant.

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Schedule Your First Prenatal Appointment

Your first prenatal appointment may involve confirming the pregnancy with an early ultrasound or blood work and going over your medical history and medications to set your pregnancy off on a healthy start.

A healthcare professional will also calculate your due date and provide lots of information about what to expect during pregnancy.

Be sure to ask your pregnancy care professional lots of questions. Feel free to write some down ahead of your visit. Your prenatal appointments are your opportunity to ask any and all questions to better help you care for yourself during pregnancy.

You should let your doctor or midwife know if youre experiencing any symptoms such as bleeding, cramping, or pain.

Automate As Much Of Your Life As Possible

Because it’s about to get real crazy. Is pregnancy brain a real thing? Many pregnant women will say that it is, and it appears that the hormonal changes are pinned as the culprit. A study trying to get to the bottom of pregnancy brain found that a group of pregnant women in their third trimester performed worse than the control group of non-pregnant women in tests of verbal memory and processing speed.

If you don’t already, utilize online banking, prescription refills, and grocery delivery to make more room in your schedule for things like doctor’s appointments, fresh air, and naps.

General Health

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How To Get Insurance

If you don’t currently have insurance, look into that now. Many employers will allow an exception outside of the enrollment period for a “life event”pregnancy may be considered one .

• If you can’t afford employer-provided insurance and do not qualify as a dependent on your parent’s health insurance, look into expanded or emergency Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act in your individual state.
• It may also help to ask been-there-done-that moms in your area to help walk you through the process of procuring insurance and recommending a doctor who will meet your needs.
• If none of this works for you, another option is to search for Planned Parenthoods or Pregnancy Care Centers in your area who can help you get the important care you need at the beginning of your pregnancy and provide resources for the coming months.

If You Have A Late Period It Doesn’t Mean You’re Pregnant

Finding out if you’re pregnant is going to be the most crucial step in moving forward with your anxieties and the best way to know if you’re pregnant or not is to take a pregnancy test. But, before we talk about how to get a pregnancy test, here are some quick reminders on what could cause your period to be late, if that’s the reason you suspect you’re pregnant:

So anyway, I’m sure that most of that came as little comfort to you, but it’s good to get a reality check.

If you’re wondering if you’re pregnant, now is a good time to rethink your birth control. Websites like Bedsider.org are excellent resources for finding a birth control method that fits your life.

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Getting Pregnant: The Basics

One thing I need to clear up before you continue on reading is that if you have not had sex then you can not be pregnant. Babies can’t come from nothing, they need a sperm to meet an egg first. I think this article by Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center is immensely helpful in understanding in what instances conception happens and how to prevent it.

Now, if you’ve recently had unprotected sex or fear that your birth control method failed, and you’re starting to get that cold sweat feeling every single time you scroll past your cousin’s new baby on Instagram, then you’re in the right place.

Do Pregnant Women Have A Higher Chance Of Getting Coronavirus

Experts don’t know if pregnant women are more likely to get coronavirus than other people. But because of the changes women go through during pregnancy, they may be more likely to get some infections.

Pregnant women who do get infected with coronavirus are more likely to have a severe illness than women who aren’t pregnant. So it’s important to protect yourself by following all recommended pregnancy precautions.

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How Can Pregnant Women Protect Themselves From Coronavirus

To protect yourself from coronavirus and other infections if you’re pregnant:

• Get a COVID-19 vaccine, including a booster dose.
• Wash your hands well and often or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Wear a mask, as recommended by health experts . Your health care provider can advise you.
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay away from sick people.
• Stay at least 6 feet away from people you don’t live with
• Clean and disinfect things that people touch a lot, like phones, doorknobs, and counters.

I Got A Negative Result What Should I Do Next

If youre still not sure about the result, you wait until the day of your expected period to test, or test again in three days time if youve missed your period, with a from a reliable brand and follow the instructions carefully. You can also go to your doctor if you have doubts. You may get tested at the clinic or your doctor may recommend another brand of test to use.

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Preparing To Talk To Parents

No matter how close you are to your parents, you’re going to wonder how they’ll react. It’s one thing if your parents realize you’re having sex and they’re OK with that. But it’s another thing if they’ve forbidden you to date or if having premarital sex is completely against their values and beliefs.

Most parents fall somewhere in the middle. For example, some parents have pretty liberal values but they’re still shocked to learn their teen had sex. Even parents who know their teens are having sex can still be disappointed or worried about their future.

Your parents’ personalities also play a part in how they’ll react. Some parents are easy to talk to or calmer in a crisis. Some are more emotional, more easily stressed out, more likely to get upset or angry, to yell or cry, or express themselves loudly.

Most parents want to be supportive of a daughter who is pregnant , even if they are angry or upset at first. But a few may react violently to the news and let anger get out of control. If you think your parents might fall into this category for example, if they have a history of physical violence read the section on “Protecting Yourself” at the end of this article.

Some parents don’t show how they feel at first. They may take time to absorb the news. Others react quickly and there’s no mistaking how they feel. Some will listen and be sensitive to your feelings. Some parents will spring into action, taking charge and telling you what to do.

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Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins

If you havent started already, you should begin taking a prenatal vitamin right away, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists . This will help make sure that youre getting all the vitamins and minerals you need for a healthy pregnancy.

You can purchase prenatal vitamins over the counter at most major pharmacies or grocery stores. Just be sure it has at least 400 mcg of folic acid, per the .

You can also ask your pregnancy care professional for recommendations or a prescription.

Prenatal vitamins are crucial because your babys neural tube which later becomes their brain and spinal cord develops during the first month of pregnancy. Folate helps reduce the chances of neural tube irregularities, such as those that cause spina bifida.

Other things your prenatal vitamins should have are:

• calcium
• vitamins A, C, D, and E
• vitamin B12
• magnesium

Your healthcare professional will also generally recommend you separately take an iron supplement as well.

Some prenatal vitamins also include choline, which is essential for brain development and placental function, according to .

They also may include docosahexaenoic acid , which is important for babys brain growth and function.

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