When a woman misses her period for even a day, the first question that comes into her mind is, am I pregnant? Most women have been through the uncertainty that would drive a woman crazy and confused especially if she was not trying to get pregnant. Panic mode sets in, and one gets to go through the dreading process of finding out once and for all whether she is worried for nothing or come nine months she will be having a bundle of joy.
Signs of pregnancy vary from one woman to the other and also vary as the pregnancy advances. The most common symptom is the obvious one, is a missed period. If the period still does not come by a week and you had unprotected sex at an earlier time, then there is the probability that you might be pregnant. Some women do say that even before they miss the period or after they discover that they have missed their period, they know or have a feeling that they are pregnant.
Followed by a missed monthly period, nausea kicks in. This is also called morning sickness. Morning sickness could be caused by anything from food or a particular smell. Vomiting can dehydrate you so you need to drink a lot of fluids. Nausea can happen any time of day and not necessary in the morning and can last through out the pregnancy for some women. One is encouraged to eat food in small quantities and avoid eating foods that are spicy or high in fat. This may or may not be the reason if you want to know – am i pregnant.
There is implantation bleeding, which happens when the fertilized egg is attaching itself on the uterus wall. This type of bleeding can easily be confused with a short period as most women put it. It usually happens between six and eight days after you become pregnant. Craving for odd foods is also a symptom that pregnant women experience. The cravings could be anything from sweet foods to fries and ice cream and they can happen anytime of day.
One can also experience frequent urination as an indication to know am i pregnant. This is not necessarily because of the intake of the fluids but because as the fetus is growing, pressure is applied on the mother’s bladder, restricting its capacity to hold more urine, causing the woman to frequently visit the bathroom. Swollen and tender breasts are an early sign of pregnancy – the same tenderness that one experiences before the menstrual cycle. The areolas darken than most parts of the breast, which is also another sign of pregnancy.
Some women will have changes in their sexual drive, which goes into overdrive during their pregnancy. This is usually due to the changes in the hormones that your body is going through during your pregnancy. Other women would rather be relaxing than be bothered with sex. They may find passion in cooking or cleaning.
Fatigue is also common with pregnant women and this is because your body is working very hard to keep up with the new changes that are happening to internally in you. Fatigue can be accompanied by a numb feeling experienced on the lower back and it can last for a short or a long while, varying from one woman to another.
The best way to find out if you are going to be a mum in nine month or less or to confirm whether you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests vary and each comes with different instructions, so one has to read the instructions carefully to answer am i pregnant. There are two main types of pregnancy tests, urine and blood. They both detect the presence of the hormone HCG, which is produced when the egg has successfully implanted itself on the uterus walls and the placenta is developing. You can opt to take a home pregnancy test at the comfort and privacy of your home. Most pregnancy tests use a dipstick, where you urinate directly into a clean container or cup and then using a dipstick, you insert it into the cup, and following the instructions, the test results should be out in less than ten minutes. You can also use the pregnancy test kit where the woman’s urine streams down the pregnancy kit. These home tests detect the hormone one week after missing a period. The results obtained are fairly correct but if you are still not convinced, then you can make a visit to your doctor and have a blood test done to know am i pregnant.
If you are afraid of needles then you can have a pelvic examination or a urine test at the hospital. Having routine pelvic tests through out the pregnancy is very important. It will help in knowing how the baby is progressing and also to find out if there is any complication. The pelvic tests do not hurt at all but when it does you need to let your doctor know. Am i pregnant – I am sure you would have the answer now.