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Pregnant or Not? How To Know

Medical Author: Medical Author: Melissa Stoppler, M.D.
Medical Editor: Barbara K. Hecht, Ph.D.

To learn whether you are pregnant or not, a pregnancy testmay provide you with the answer. This test can be done in the privacy of your home using one of several available test kits. Or the test can be performed in your doctor?s office or clinic. Home pregnancy tests are always done on urine while those in a doctor?s office or clinic may be done on urine or blood.

All pregnancy tests are based upon measurement of the same hormone -- human chorionic gonadotrophin or hCG-- which is only present in a woman when she is pregnant. This hormone is made after the eggis fertilized and its levels rise rapidly in early pregnancy. It acts to support progesterone, a hormone necessary to maintain the pregnancy.

Most home pregnancy tests are done because of a missed period. If a woman has regular menstrual cycles, a home test can be very informative. It can tell whether or not there is a pregnancy as early as the first day of the missed period (which is about two weeks after conception).

Manufacturers of home test kits claim that their kits are 97%-99% accurate, but the sensitivities of different test kits depend on the levels of hCG in the urine required for a positive result. If your test result is positive, see your healthcare provider promptly.

Read more about pregnancy tests »

Pregnancy facts*

*Pregnancy facts Medically Edited by: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

• A normal pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks and is grouped into three trimesters.
  
  
• Symptoms of early pregnancy include the absence of menstrual periods, breast changes, tiredness, nausea, mood swings, or other symptoms.
  
  
• A pregnancy test measures the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine or blood.
  
  
• Symptoms of late pregnancy can include heartburn, difficulty sleeping, swelling of the ankles or fingers, hemorrhoids, and mild contractions.
  
  
• By the end of 37 weeks, a baby is considered full term and its organs are ready to function on their own.
  
  
• As you near your due date, your baby may turn into a head-down position for birth. Most babies "present" head down.
  
  
• Babies at birth typically weigh between 6 pounds 2 ounces and 9 pounds 2 ounces and are 19 to 21 inches long. Most full-term babies fall within these ranges.

Introduction

Pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, counting from the first day of your last normal period. The weeks are grouped into three trimesters (TREYE-mess-turs). Find out what's happening with you and your baby in these three stages.

What is the first trimester (week 1-week 12)?

During the first trimester your body undergoes many changes. Hormonal changes affect almost every organ system in your body. These changes can trigger symptoms even in the very first weeks of pregnancy. Your period stopping is a clear sign that you are pregnant. Other changes may include:

• Extreme tiredness
• Tender, swollen breasts. Your nipples might also stick out.
• Upset stomach with or without throwing up (morning sickness)
• Cravings or distaste for certain foods
• Mood swings
• Constipation (trouble having bowel movements)
• Need to pass urine more often
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Weight gain or loss

As your body changes, you might need to make changes to your daily routine, such as going to bed earlier or eating frequent, small meals. Fortunately, most of these discomforts will go away as your pregnancy progresses. And some women might not feel any discomfort at all! If you have been pregnant before, you might feel differently this time around. Just as each woman is different, so is each pregnancy.

What is the second trimester (week 13-week 28)?

Most women find the second trimester of pregnancy easier than the first. But it is just as important to stay informed about your pregnancy during these months.

You might notice that symptoms like nausea and fatigue are going away. But other new, more noticeable changes to your body are now happening. Your abdomen will expand as the baby continues to grow. And before this trimester is over, you will feel your baby beginning to move!

As your body changes to make room for your growing baby, you may have:

• Body aches, such as back, abdomen, groin, or thigh pain
• Stretch marks on your abdomen, breasts, thighs, or buttocks
• Darkening of the skin around your nipples
• A line on the skin running from belly button to pubic hairline
• Patches of darker skin, usually over the cheeks, forehead, nose, or upper lip. Patches often match on both sides of the face. This is sometimes called the mask of pregnancy
• Numb or tingling hands, called carpal tunnel syndrome
• Itching on the abdomen, palms, and soles of the feet. (Call your doctor if you have nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice or fatigue combined with itching. These can be signs of a serious liver problem.)
• Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. (If you notice any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of weight really quickly, call your doctor right away. This could be a sign of preeclampsia.)