Finding out if you are Pregnant
A missed period is one of the biggest clues that a woman is pregnant. However, there are many reasons a period may be late or not come at all. These can include dietary changes, rigorous exercise, travel, and stress. Some women have periods so irregular that they can't predict when the next one will come.
It's also possible for you to think you've had your period when you didn't. When a newly fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus, sometimes it triggers a little bleeding. This usually happens a few days before the time you would expect your period to come if you weren't pregnant. Sometimes the fluctuating hormone levels in the first week or two after conception may prompt some bleeding from the lining of the uterus similar to a period.
So, although a missed period is certainly your best clue to a possible pregnancy, it's not a definitive sign. Other symptoms of early pregnancy to look for include:
- Extreme fatigue
- Breast tenderness
- Nausea, with or without vomiting
- Constipation, gas, and/or bloating
- Abdominal cramps
- Frequent urination
- Food cravings or aversion
- Mood swing
- Increased vaginal discharge
Obviously, many of these symptoms may occur for other reasons. The stress of trying to conceive or worry that your method of contraception failed, can often make it difficult to tell if you are pregnant based on symptoms alone.
The easiest way to be sure is to use a home pregnancy test which you can buy at most chemists. If you think you might be pregnant or a home test indicates that you are, it is important to visit a doctor as soon as possible. A blood tests can confirm pregnancy as soon as 6 or 7 days after conception. A urine test can be used to detect pregnancy 10 days after conception.
When is my due date?
Your due date is calculated from the first day of your last period, even though you actually conceive two weeks or so after this date (depending on the length of your cycle). Your baby is likely to be born two weeks either side of the due date.
