Am I Pregnant?

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[Matt B]

The symptoms of early pregnancy will vary from woman to woman. Some will not feel any of the symptoms listed below, while others can experience all of them. Many women will experience symptoms within days of conception. Others can take weeks before any symptoms surface. Experiencing one or several of the symptoms listed below does not necessarily mean a woman is pregnant. The early pregnancy symptoms listed below will generally surface after implantation (the fertilized egg burrowing into the endometrial lining, which occurs approximately 8 to 10 days after ovulation). There are three stages of pregnancy, called trimesters. Initial conception to the fourteenth week of pregnancy makes up the first trimester. The symptoms listed below usually drop in severity after the first trimester.

Breasts: Pregnancy causes the breasts (and nipples) to feel very tender. It is possible for them to become swollen and even increase in size. In many cases, the veins of the breast will become much more visible. Nipples have also been known to darken in color. These symptoms are caused by an increased amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (or HCG). HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy.

Nausea/Vomiting: Nausea/vomiting can occur during the second week of pregnancy. A number of women experience this symptom in the morning (the well known "morning sickness"). But, it is possible to experience this symptom throughout the day, not just in the morning. It is not known what directly causes nausea/vomiting. One theory puts the blame on the hormone progesterone, which is the most dominant hormone found during pregnancy. Progesterone is known to effect smooth muscle tissue, which also includes the stomach. Another theory puts the blame on elevated levels of steroid hormones and HCG.

Dizziness: An inactive pregnant woman runs the risk of feeling dizzy or even fainting. The developing uterus has been known to compress the major arteries in a woman's legs. This results in a drop in blood pressure that can cause a woman to become very light headed (or in extreme cases, collapse).

Lethargy: Because the body goes through some serious hormonal changes during pregnancy, it is quite possible to feel run down. The body temperature increases during pregnancy due to higher amounts of progesterone, which can also have an impact on a woman's energy levels.

Body Temperature: Body temperature is increased during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Higher levels of progesterone can cause an increase in body temperature. The changing metabolic rates, cardiac rates, and blood flow found during pregnancy have also been attributed to an increase in body temperature.

Frequent Urination: The uterus will swell and enlarge to make room for the growing fetus during pregnancy. The expanding uterus puts pressure on the bladder, which brings about feelings for the need to urinate frequently. This symptom is most commonly experienced within 1 or 2 weeks after the conception has occurred.

Increase of Saliva: Women have been known to experience an increase of saliva. It is not known what causes this, but this symptom usually disappears at the end of the first trimester.

Eating Patterns: An increase in appetite can be caused by pregnancy. The metabolic rates of the body are changing. This, coupled together with the need for the woman's body to support another, causes an increase in eating. The body will also begin to crave healthy, nutrient-rich foods. These eating patterns can last well into the pregnancy.

Taste/Smell: Being turned away by certain junk/fattening foods is another sign of pregnancy. The body wants to gather as many nutrients as possible in anticipation of the developing baby. This can lead to an avoidance of a woman's favorite unhealthy snacks. On a side note, some women have reported an increase of smell during their pregnancy. Others have reported a strange, metallic present in their mouths. To date, there is no explanation for these phenomena.

Heartburn: As the uterus swells and grows, it pushes upwards. This can cause some discomfort. Increasing levels of HCG can slow down digestion. When the stomach does not empty as fast, the body compensates by making more acid. This increase in stomach acid can cause heartburn.

Constipation: The hormones involved in pregnancy will slow down normal bowel functions to increase vitamin and nutrient absorption. This is one of the longer lasting symptoms of pregnancy and typically gets worse as the pregnancy progresses.

Mood Swings: An abundance of hormones has been known to cause violent mood swings. A combination of hormones and with having to deal with other symptoms of pregnancy makes the woman very sensitive and very subject to mood swings. Mood swings are also associated with a woman's menstrual period.

Vaginal Discharge: Light bleeding (also called spotting) can occur during pregnancy. The spotting is most commonly seen during the same time when the woman would be experiencing her menstrual period. Many women mistake spotting for a light menstrual period. Spotting can be caused from implantation.

Delay of Menstruation: The most common and well known symptom of a pregnancy is a missed menstrual period. When a woman is experiencing her menstrual period, she is actually shedding the lining of the uterus. There is no need for this when the woman is pregnant because the uterus is busy supporting the developing fetus.

Skin: The changing levels of hormones during pregnancy can cause a variety of skin conditions. The most common are outbreaks of pimples. Other women have reported a drying of the skin, which can also include chapped lips.

At Home Pregnancy Tests
At home pregnancy tests measure the level of HCG in your urine. The appearance of HCG soon after conception and its' sudden rise in concentration make it an excellent marker for the early detection of pregnancy. Not all pregnancy tests are of the same strength. Some have been developed to be much more sensitive to the amount of HCG present in urine.

Concentrations of HCG are reported in milliInternational Units (mIU). The most sensitive pregnancy tests can, at the very least, detect around 20 mIU/ml HCG. The average (and less expensive) pregnancy tests looks for levels anywhere from 40 to 100 mIU/ml HCG. With the most sensitive variety, a woman can detect a pregnancy 6 to 8 days after conception (even before she misses her menstrual period). If instructions are followed to the letter, home pregnancy tests are quite accurate (97% and up). Human error accounts for almost all of the error associated with home pregnancy tests.

Doctors can perform a blood test to determine the presence of HCG in the blood. The blood tests are very sensitive. It can tell a woman if she is pregnant within 6 to 8 days after conception. A blood test is not as prone to human error because the test is being administered by trained professionals. If a positive test result is obtained from a home pregnancy test, then it is generally recommended to make an appointment with a doctor for confirmation and counseling.

Written and submitted by Paul

[firstmother]

hi im new here and i was wondering if i would be pregnant. i havnt had my period yet i sometimes dont get it i dont know why but it happens i was wondering if you could help me out. my breast are sore along with my nipples i get nausous almost throw up i am very moody more then ever my husband says i am sleeping alot not energetic i am wanting to be pregnant i just want some confermation. please help me to become pregnant or confirm it. i took home pregnancy test and they came back negative all of them .

[XxpiperxX]

go to the doctor !

[hollabackgirl]

we had unprotected but he withdrew, but my periods late only by a few days.. i know that it wont show up on a test for while, should i just wait it out? is there anything like the morning after pill i could take?

[Lydia70]

there is the "morning after pill" which may be hard to get a prescription for in some states. Also - check out the planned parenthood website, they offer instructions on how to take birth control pills like a morning after pill.  Look on their site for "emergency contraception".  You take like 4 pills of certain brands and then take 4 more 24 hours later.  Good luck!

[LittleM]

The first dose of emergency contraception has to be taken with 72 hours of unprotected sex.  It is not 100% effective, and is not considered abortion - it prevents pregnancy.  Here is the Planned Parenthood link.

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/portal/medicalinfo/ec/pub-emergency-contraception.xml

It lists the brands of pills and how to take them.

[katy]

hi there iv missed my pirod 5 days now i toke a test 4 days afeter i miss my bleed, but it was not pregnat, iv been mody and loads of spots on my face,and been craving healthy foods to,i never miss a pirod at all iv been of the pill for 3 months now have sex most days try to full pregnat,when i fell pregnat with my two other children i toke a test at 3 weeks it showd up but very fant but this time nothing at all, i went to the doctors and thay said try another test in a week,iv been haveing a discarge of a thinck creamy couler,snd my hands are dry,and iv come up with some spots on my bum check and my legs i thought thay was bug bits as i live in the cuntry side,could any help me?

[Lexy]

We Cannot help you.

What yo need is to go back to the Doctor.
DEMAND he do a proper test and not send you off to a pharmacy (unless your insurance doesn't cover it, then ask him to suggest a particularly accurate test).

More than that...can't really do.

Its ALWAYS good to eat/crave healthy foods btw.

Frankly you're describing a shitload of allergy symptoms....so have your doc also check for other stuff....

[katy]

the thing is that when i was pregnant with my two girls i had sore tits but this time i dont, im so unsure if i am or not? i did a cheep test but most people say thay dont matter thay still work and if i was to be pregnant it would show up right, as it did with my girls the test showed up when i was 3 weeks pregnant even before i missed my bleed, the doctor said that i could of fullen pregnt a week ago but my hcg level could be low so wont show up, i dont fell pregnt at all but i was woundering if i could be carrying a boy and its differnt if u get what im saying,i never trust my body thats y im on hear asking for help,

[Lexy]

Oh.
Rest assured there's absolutely no difference between males or females this early into the pregnancy.

Which means there will be no difference in symptoms either (atleast not BECASUE its a boy)


I guess all you really CAN do is get check with the doc again in a week and another home test in a week after that.
Although if the doc clears you and the pregnancy test showed up negative...

And you said you were on birth control right?

You should trust your body, over what most others have to say to you.
Its got the most Accurate sensor system to give you a status report of your body than ANY medical institution. The only problem is that sometimes the body is so outta whack you're getting your signals crossed and can't tell What you're feeling. Then we goto doctors/pharmacies.

Sounds like you're not pregnant at all (although i'm not doctor).
But it Does sound like your body is having a harsh reaction to SOMETHING.
So think over your diet lately and environment and the like. Try and see if you've recently changed anything and if that's correlated to when you first started feeling symptoms.