How Long Should You Wait To Take A Home Pregnancy Test
Early pregnancy symptoms show up weeks before your period, but an average waiting period of two weeks is recommended from the date of ovulation, to take a home pregnancy test. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a placenta-produced hormone that enters the urine, once an embryo is implanted in the uterus. This takes place about 6 to 12 days after fertilisation. hCG levels are picked up by the test, only closer to when periods are due. The ideal time to take a home pregnancy test is a week after your periods are due. There are 90% chances of an accurate result when the test is taken after the due date for the period has passed.
Early Signs Of Pregnancy: What To Expect In The First Few Weeks
by Sylvia KangNov 4, 2020
Trying to get pregnant is one of the most exciting, yet nerve-wracking times in a womans life. You may find yourself trying countless methods to get pregnant like obsessively tracking your ovulation, cutting caffeine out of your diet, or hitting the gym more frequently. Youll also probably find yourself on a constant lookout for any potential signs of early pregnancy.
Many people recognize a missed period as the first sign of pregnancy, but there can be many other signs of pregnancy. Lots of these signs occur prior to a missed period, so its important to know what youre looking for when it comes to whether or not you could be pregnant.
It seems surreal to notice symptoms as soon as the first few weeks of pregnancy, but its more common than you may realize. Some pregnant women experience very early signs of pregnancy just 1 to 2 weeks after conception and this post will explore 16 of them in detail.
Headaches In First Weeks Of Pregnancy
The basic triggers of this early sign of pregnancy are dehydration and stress on the body, according to Dr. Diane Christopher, M.D. The hormone progesterone can cause an increase in blood flow that may in turn stress your body.
- Adjusting to the new pregnancy, in itself, can be a challenge to the body. The resultant stress is said to be the cause of headaches.
- Headaches are more common within the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy.
Other than hormonal changes, the fatigue that has been discussed above can also be a source of migraines and headaches.
Occasional headaches may persist later in your term. They are often caused by increased hunger as the baby puts a stain on the body for nutrients. Other causes include emotional and physical stress, sinus congestion etc.
If the headaches persist longer than four hours, see a doctor especially if they are accompanied by other experiences such as puffy face, poor vision or blurred vision, weight gain, etc. Women who usually have migraines are more likely to get headaches during pregnancy.
Try to relax to relieve tension headaches. Spend some time in a dark, quiet room to relieve tension headaches. If they persist, see a doctor.
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What Is An Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that happens outside of the uterus. This happens when a fertilized egg implants in a structure that cant support its growth. An ectopic pregnancy often happens in the fallopian tube . In rare cases, an ectopic pregnancy can occur on an ovary or in the abdominal cavity.
This is a life-threatening condition. An ectopic pregnancy is not a pregnancy that can be carried to term and can be dangerous for the mother if not treated right away.
When Does Morning Sickness Start
“Morning sickness” is nausea and vomiting that typically come in the morning in early pregnancy. This usually happens between weeks two and eight of pregnancy. It’s somewhat a misnomer because the nausea and vomiting can actually happen at any time. It’s thought that changes in levels of estrogen may play a role in developing nausea.
Another early pregnancy sign may be food cravings or aversions. Women may have an unusual urge to eat a particular food, even one she previously did not like, or she may be completely repulsed by a food she used to love. This is common, and usually the food aversions fade at the end of the first trimester.
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When Does A Pregnancy Start
The start of pregnancy is actually the first day of your last menstrual period. This is called the gestational age, or menstrual age. Its about two weeks ahead of when conception actually occurs. Though it may seem strange, the date of the first day of your last period will be an important date when determining your babys due date. Your healthcare provider will ask you about this date and will use it to figure out how far along you are in your pregnancy.
Darkened Areolas Of Nipples
Changes around your breasts are some of the first and very early signs of pregnancy. Other than the nipples swelling, you might observe a change in the color of your areola . You may notice the following.
- Darkening of the areolas.
- The bumps around nipples may become more prominent due to dilation.
- The change in color is likely to be caused by the increased progesterone hormone.
According to Dr. Jill Hichtman, the color change and the prominent bumps are nothing to be concerned about. They are caused by the swelling of oil glands called the glands of Montgomery. These glands secrete an oil that lubricates and protects the skin around the areolas.
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How Is An Ectopic Pregnancy Treated
There are several ways that an ectopic pregnancy can be treated. In some cases, your provider may suggest using a medication called methotrexate to stop the growth of the pregnancy. This will end your pregnancy. Methotrexate is given in an injection by your healthcare provider. This option is less invasive than surgery, but it does require follow-up appointments with your provider where you hCG levels will be monitored.
In severe cases, surgery is often used. Your provider will want to operate when your fallopian tube has ruptured or if you are at a risk of rupture. This is an emergency surgery and a life-saving treatment. The procedure is typically done laparoscopically . The surgeon may remove the entire fallopian tube with the egg still inside it or remove the egg from the tube if possible.
Sore Or Sensitive Breasts
One of the earliest changes you may notice during pregnancy is sore or aching breasts. Your breasts may also feel tender to the touch, or fuller or heavier than normal. This is due to rising progesterone levels in the body.
This symptom may continue throughout your pregnancy or subside after the first few weeks.
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Tender Breasts And Sore Nipples
Breasts show significant changes even in early pregnancy, like:
- Tenderness and pain
-
Protruding nipples and darker, bigger and spotted areolas
Because of changes in hormones like oestrogen and progesterone,the supply of blood to the breasts increases,making them very sensitive.
Sometimes, the breasts may become itchy and develop stretch marks in the later stages of pregnancy.You may also notice bumps around the areola.
As your breast size goes on increasing, it is advisable to go for bigger-sized bras.You should always wear bras that provide good support and are made of breathable material, like underwire and cotton bras.
Feeling Nauseous And Sick
Morning sickness affects everyone differently. It can be feelings of nausea or make you physically sick, and it can start a few weeks after conception or even after just a few days. If youre lucky, you may not experience morning sickness at all.
And dont be fooled by the name morning sickness can strike at any time of day or night, not just in the mornings!
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What Are The Advantages Of Using A Home Pregnancy Test
There are quite a few advantages to using a home pregnancy test, including:
- Pregnancy tests are inexpensive.
- Theyre easy to use.
- Home tests provide results quickly.
According to pregnancy kit manufacturers, most at-home pregnancy tests are 97% to 99% accurate when you use them as instructed. Positive results can be trusted, but you can get a falsely negative result very early in pregnancy.
Blood tests tend to be more expensive and, for many women, the wait for an appointment can be difficult. Home tests allow you to quickly know if youre pregnant shortly after conception.
How Soon Will I Be Able To See Early Pregnancy Symptoms Before Missed Period
Many women have experienced early signs of pregnancy like nausea and vomiting, fatigue, tender breasts, etc. within days after conception. Some other show it a week before missed periods and some other a few weeks after missed period. There is no set time frame in which each women will see these symptoms, it will differ for each woman. But most women start noticing some of the symptoms after 6 weeks of conception.
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Mood Swings Are An Early Sign Of Pregnancy Before Missed Period
Even before your missed period, you may start to experience mood swings as an early sign that you are pregnant.
However, because symptoms of implantation often occur when you expect your period, it could be easy to confuse them with signs of premenstrual syndrome. Doctors from WebMD say that hormonal fluctuations can play havoc with your mood and feeling of well-being. The result is that you could be more emotional in the days before your period.
If you are experiencing mood swings in early pregnancy, you could try some of these 18 quick and natural ways to boost your mood. You also need to make sure that you get enough nutrient and vitamins in your diet that can boost your mood and are essential if you are pregnant.
Why You Feel Pregnant
It can be fairly common to experience some physical symptoms as you enter into what many people call the two-week wait, the period of time between when you ovulate and when you expect your period. These symptoms can include:
- Breast soreness
- Mood swings
- Nausea and/or changes in appetite
While all of the symptoms could be pregnancy symptoms, they are more likely explained by either fluctuation in your hormones due to your menstrual cycle, or by other events in your life. These events can include illness, stress, or even something as simple as not enough sleep or too much exercise.
Some women will experience premenstrual syndrome symptoms as pregnancy symptoms, where other women do not typically have these symptoms every cycle.
When you experience a symptom that is not common to your cycle, it may be easily confused with a potential pregnancy.
To help relieve focusing on these symptoms, you can take positive steps for your physical and emotional health. Eating nutritious foods, not smoking, and limiting or avoiding alcohol will promote your health and wellness whether or not it turns out you are pregnant.
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Conception And Signs Of Implantation
Many of the signs of implantation are due to hormonal changes in your body when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the wall of your uterus.
In order to get pregnant, your cervix releases an egg around about the middle of your menstrual cycle. At this time, its natural to see an increase in sticky white discharge and other signs of ovulation. Only when a sperm lives long enough to make its way to the egg and fertilizes it, can a pregnancy happen.
Implantation happens when the fertilized egg implants itself in the lining of your uterus. According to Dr. Nivin Todd on WebMD, implantation happens 3 to 4 days after fertilization. Signs of implantation such as light spotting and cramping can happen when this occurs.1
According to the American Pregnancy Association, the signs of implantation occur just before your next period. They say that implantation signs are usually noticeable 10 to 14 days after ovulation.2 Therefore, its easy to confuse signs of implantation with the onset of your menstrual period. However, if you have signs of implantation and you miss your period, there is a good chance that you are pregnant.
Do All Women Get Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy
Every woman is different. So are their experiences of pregnancy. Not every woman has the same symptoms or even the same symptoms from one pregnancy to the next.
Also, because the early symptoms of pregnancy often mimic the symptoms you might experience right before and during menstruation, you may not realize you’re pregnant.
What follows is a description of some of the most common early symptoms of pregnancy. You should know that these symptoms may be caused by other things besides being pregnant. So the fact that you notice some of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you are pregnant. The only way to tell for sure is with a pregnancy test.
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When To See A Doctor If You Have Signs Of Implantation Or Pregnancy
Light spotting, mild cramping, and changes in your breasts are normal signs and symptoms of implantation and early pregnancy. However, if you think that you might be pregnant and a pregnancy home test has confirmed this, you should visit your doctor.
The American Pregnancy Association recommends visiting your healthcare provider around 8 weeks after your last menstrual period. This will help you arrange the proper prenatal care and discuss pregnancy in general and birth options.13
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Am I Pregnant 12 Pregnancy Signs And Symptoms To Look For
Have you been experiencing bodily changes? Do you think you may be pregnant? This can be a puzzling time as it is. To add to the confusion, many pregnancy signs and symptoms can have causes unlinked to pregnancy.
You should know that the early signs of pregnancy tend to differ from one woman to the next. Of course, your best bet is to take a pregnancy test as soon as possible. But paying attention to early symptoms of pregnancy is also important. With that in mind, consider these 12 early signs of pregnancy.
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Signs You Should Take A Pregnancy Test: Early Signs Of Pregnancy
Different people have different reactions to the idea that they might be pregnant. Whatever your feelings are, you can prepare for the future by learning about the early signs and symptoms of pregnancy.
If you want to find out if youre pregnant for sure, youll need to get a testing kit. You can buy a pregnancy test at most drugstores and pharmacies or order one online.
Many of the early signs of pregnancy are very similar to those youd experience around the time of your period. None of these early signs of pregnancy can determine that youre pregnant for sure, so consider them symptoms to look out for, rather than a reliable test. Youll need to take a pregnancy test if you want to confirm that youve conceived.
Here are 10 common signs of early pregnancy: