CONFIRMING YOUR PREGNANCY
Written by Caroline Meyer
For most women, especially those that have a regular menstrual cycle, the first sign of pregnancy is usually a missed period. There can however be other reasons for a missed period such as illness, low body weight, stress, hormone issues and strenuous activity. Some women may even continue to have a light “period” even when pregnant.
While women are not all the same and some will experience some or all of the early pregnancy symptoms, some may only experience one or two, or in some cases none at all. Here are some of the early pregnancy symptoms you may experience.
Feeling Of Nausea Or Actual Vomiting
This is known as morning sickness but for some women it can occur at any time of the day. You may feel nauseous when brushing your teeth in the morning or the smell of coffee can turn your stomach. It can occur on its own or as a result of smelling or tasting something. If you find that the nausea and vomiting is occurring constantly and you are unable to take in adequate nutrition, you should inform your doctor and get assistance as soon as possible.
Fatigue
During the first 12 weeks of pregnancy many women experience feelings of tiredness even after a good night’s rest. There are many hormonal changes taking part in the body during this period of time which can lead to feeling fatigued, nauseous and bring on emotional outbursts. The fatigue and emotional upheaval can lead to feeling sad and depressed in the early weeks as well.
Breast Changes
Some women experience in increase in breast size from the early days of pregnancy. Breasts may also become tender and sensitive and may feel tingly. The nipples may darken, and veins may also become more visible. Nipples may also react to heat and cold more and may stand out.
Bladder Changes
Some women experience bladder changes from the early months of pregnancy. The feel the need to pass urine a lot more often and may end up getting up a few times in the night to use the bathroom. They may not pass much urine, but they feel an urge to do so more often. This is also hormone related and after the first couple of months this usually passes. There will probably be bladder issues later on in the pregnancy again when baby starts pushing up against it.
Other Possible Changes
Some women experience an increase in vaginal discharge but without irritation or soreness that could indicate infection. They may also get constipated more often. Many women report a metallic taste in the mouth which may also change their taste in food and drinks. There may be cravings for certain foods or strange combinations of food. They may go off food they have previously enjoyed and quite a few women report an aversion for coffee, tea and fatty foods. The sense of smell also seems to be quite heightened during the early pregnancy period and certain smells can bring on nausea. On the plus side, some women develop a dislike to tobacco smoke during this time period and often give up smoking which is of benefit to their health and that of their baby.
Are You Pregnant?
You may experience some or all of the symptoms but the only way to really tell in the early days is to be tested. You can purchase a home pregnancy test from your local pharmacy. These tend to be quite accurate if you follow the instructions correctly. Wait at least a week or two after a missed period to try a home pregnancy test. Older women or those using fertility drugs may get a false reading from these tests. You can also have a urine test done at your doctor or local clinic. Even if you receive a positive result from the urine test, you should still see you doctor for a confirmation.
Urine tests test for human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) which becomes heightened during pregnancy. There may also be a false negative if your do the test too early in the pregnancy or if the instructions are not followed carefully as different tests measure for HCG in different ways. If you have a negative result, try again in two to three weeks for a more accurate reading.
A blood test can give a reliable result even from the earliest stage of a pregnancy. This would need to be arranged by your doctor. This test also looks for levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin hormone but picks up the levels a lot more accurately than a urine test. You can check for pregnancy using a blood test after you have missed your first period and should get back a reliable result.
Another check for pregnancy can include an internal examination. This is usually only done two or more weeks after the missed period. The doctor will be able to check for changes in the cervix and uterus. The uterus starts to expand even in the early weeks of pregnancy. The cervix is usually softer and will most probably change in colour. Even after an internal examination, your doctor will most likely require a urine or blood test for a confirmed diagnosis.
When Will Baby Arrive?
While it is possible to work out an estimated date, unless you are booked for a specific date for induction or a caesarean, it can’t be guaranteed that your baby will arrive on its due date. You can work out an estimated date of conception and then add 40 weeks to this date for an estimated due date. If you are not sure of the approximate date of conception, this is usually worked out by adding 40 weeks to the date of the start of your last period.
Once you have evidence of being pregnant by a confirmed urine or blood test you can start looking at your options in relation to your pre-natal treatment and birthing options. You can also take time in the early weeks to check on maternity and plan for the time period when you are off work and estimate when you would return. You can talk to your regular doctor about seeing an OB/GYN if you do not already have a relationship with one or look at options for a doula (midwife) or other care giver depending on your preference. This is also a good time to do some research into pregnancy and childbirth to see what you can expect and to allow you to make informed decisions.
Pregnancy can be very exciting and a time of joy for most women, but some women may feel overwhelmed and confused or may need additional understanding and support. If the pregnancy is unplanned and unwanted, further counselling may also be required to allow for all options to be explored. If you feel the need, speak to your doctor about counselling and support.