Could i Be Pregnant

Could I Be Pregnant? Simple Answers

 

Maybe the time comes when you ask yourself “could i be pregnant” and don’t know what to do? Wondering if you are pregnant can be a very stressful time for any woman. While you may be feeling overwhelmed by your emotions, the smart thing to do is to stay calm, educate yourself with the facts about pregnancy, and take a pregnancy test at the appropriate time so you can know for sure if you are pregnant or not.

If you suspect you may be pregnant, no doubt you are wondering if you are showing any of the signs of pregnancy. There are many signs of early pregnancy and the more signs you have, the more likely it is that you may be pregnant. Do keep in mind that most of the signs of early pregnancy are not a guarantee that you are pregnant; the only reliable indication of pregnancy is a positive urine or blood test.

 

SIGNS THAT YOU ARE PREGNANT

Listed below are the most common early signs of pregnancy:

Heightened sense of smell: It is very common to become more sensitive to smells during pregnancy. The reason is that the pregnancy hormones, particularly estrogen may cause you to react strongly to certain smells.

Food cravings and increased sense of taste: Food cravings may be a sign of pregnancy however this is not a reliable symptom since your cravings may be simply due to being low in a certain nutrient. Increased sense of taste or a strong aversion to the taste of coffee or other foods that you normally like can be another sign.

Changes in your breasts and nipples: Swollen, tender breasts are a symptom of early pregnancy however this may also be a symptom that your period is almost due. If your nipples increase in size, or the color of the nipples darkens this may be an early sign of pregnancy, or it may be simply due to a hormonal imbalance or an effect from a previous pregnancy.

Increased need to urinate: A typical sign of early pregnancy is the need to visit the bathroom more often which is caused by the effects of the pregnancy hormone HCG as well as the physical changes in the abdominal area.

Feeling tired: High levels of HCG can often cause fatigue particularly in the early stages of pregnancy, although of course fatigue may have many other possible causes.

Morning sickness: Morning sickness may begin as soon as a couple of days after conceiving while some woman won’t experience any until a few weeks after conception, and if you are really lucky you won’t experience any morning sickness at all. Pregnancy related nausea may strike at any time of the day or night, not just in the morning!

Missing your period: Missing your period is the most obvious symptom of early pregnancy, especially if it coming on a regular basis. Of course stress, illness or hormonal changes can also be the cause of late or skipped periods.

CAN I BE PREGNANT AND STILL GET MY PERIOD?

 

If you are pregnant you will not get a normal period, however it is possible to have light bleeding that looks a lot like a period.

Once you are pregnant your body produces a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, commonly known as HCG. This pregnancy hormone stops your body from having periods throughout the course of your pregnancy.

Light bleeding particularly in the early stages of pregnancy is more common than you might think. This is called breakthrough bleeding, and it occurs because the hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle temporarily overpower the pregnancy hormones. Therefore the breakthrough bleeding occurs at the same time you usually have your period.

Implantation bleeding or cramping is a pregnancy symptom that may occur around eight days after conception as the egg burrows into the lining of the womb. This may be accompanied by light spotting that is pink or brown in color, often occurring approximately the same time as your period is usually due but the bleeding will be much lighter than a normal period.

Sometimes bleeding may be the sign of a miscarriage, in this case it will not feel like breakthrough bleeding or a regular period as the cramps will be more painful and bleeding will be much heavier and in this case you should visit your doctor for medical advice.

If you are experiencing bleeding that is very dark or watery, accompanied by sharp pain in the lower abdomen, especial if the pain is on one side, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible since this may be a sign of ectopic pregnancy which requires urgent medical treatment.

While most cases of light bleeding during early pregnancy are nothing to be concerned about it is important to mention your symptoms to your doctor or midwife who may recommend a test to monitor your hormone levels or a scan.

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WHEN TO TAKE A PREGNANCY TEST?

 

Home pregnancy tests work by detecting the presence of HCG in your urine. Some home pregnancy tests are very sensitive, and may be able to detect very low levels of HCG as soon as seven days after conception, or four days before your period is due.

The sensitivity of a pregnancy test is measured by the mix/ml or mille-International Unit per milliliter. Pregnancy tests range from 10mIU/ml to 40 mlU/ml and the sensitivity of the test should be listed on the product packet. The most sensitive tests will have the lowest number of mIU, meaning that the test can detect pregnancy at a very early stage.

Most home pregnancy tests will provide reliable results as long as you wait until the day when your period is normally due. If you are tempted to test sooner than this, keep in mind that  even very sensitive pregnancy tests may not detect the small amount of HCG in your urine if you test too early. Getting a false negative is possible under these circumstances.

If the test is negative, you may not be pregnant, or you may have tested too early. In fact some women may have very low levels of HCG even if they wait until the first day of a missed period to test. If your test results come up negative, but you are still waiting for your period after a few days, take another test just to be sure. It can also help to take the test first thing in the morning since the HCG levels are usually higher at this time.

Blood tests are even more sensitive than urine tests and can usually give accurate results as early as six to eight days after ovulation; however your doctor is probably unlikely to send you for a blood test until after the day when your period is due.

Can pregnancy test be wrong? Home pregnancy tests have a very high accuracy rate when the result is positive. So if you have used the test on the first day of your missed period or later and the test is positive, then you are almost sure to be in the family way! To confirm the results and stop asking yourself “could i be pregnant“,  visit your doctor. We will do the appropriate tests and, in case the test are positives, congratulations!