The first signs of pregnancy in the early stages
- Lack of menstruation. The main sign of pregnancy. However, there are other reasons that lead to a delay in menstruation: stress, illness, underweight or overweight, and more.
- Breast augmentation. Women's breasts are incredibly sensitive, so they are one of the first to respond to new life.
- Frequent urge to urinate. This symptom occurs against the background of increased hormone production.
- Changes in taste. The hormonal system changes, which leads to changes in food preferences.
- Fast fatiguability. The desire to sleep, fatigue - all these are signs of pregnancy in the first days after conception due to an increase in the strength of metabolic processes.
- Feeling faint. It usually starts about a month and a half after conception, but occasionally it occurs on the 20th day. However, this symptom is valid only together with other factors, since this feeling may be an indicator of a disease of certain organs.
How to determine pregnancy by the state of the body?
The first signs of pregnancy appear very early - even a few days before the delay of menstruation occurs. Of course, it is impossible to judge with 100% certainty that pregnancy has occurred, but it is quite possible to suspect it.
Most women in the early stages of pregnancy note the following changes occurring in their body:
- Emotional instability. After conception, hormonal levels begin to change, which can affect the state of the nervous system. Pregnancy will be indicated by sudden changes in mood during the day, increased irritability, tearfulness, and sometimes even aggression.
- Sometimes in the first days of pregnancy a woman experiences malaise, which can be mistaken for an incipient cold. At the same time, fatigue and weakness are present all the time, despite the usual daily routine.
- Drowsiness is observed, and the sleep itself becomes restless. Even after sleeping about 12 hours a day, a woman in the early stages of pregnancy will feel insufficiently rested.
- A feeling of heaviness or fullness may appear in the pelvic organs, which is associated with increased blood circulation in this area.
- Mild tingling may periodically occur in the area of the uterus, which does not cause significant concern.
- The chest becomes more sensitive, it can react with pain even to the slightest touch.
- Appetite begins to increase literally from the first days of conception, but the desire to eat something unusual and changes in taste preferences may appear a little later.
- In the morning, you may experience a feeling of nausea, which becomes stronger when you remember certain foods.
- A pregnant woman also becomes more sensitive to odors. This applies to aromas emanating from food, perfume, household chemicals, etc.
It is worth understanding that the combination of all of these symptoms is observed quite rarely, and they can be caused not only by pregnancy. However, a combination of 3-4 “symptoms” should give rise to certain thoughts. It would also be useful to take a closer look at your own appearance.
It may change somewhat after pregnancy:
- The face, arms, neck and legs may begin to swell slightly. Puffiness of the face is more noticeable in the morning, while the lower limbs swell in the evening.
- Hormonal changes in the body often lead to acne appearing on the skin.
- From the very first days of pregnancy, the intestines begin to work more slowly, which will lead to constipation. Hormones, in turn, provoke swelling of the intestinal walls, which is expressed in bloating.
- The veins on the chest increase in size and begin to appear under the thin skin. These are not all changes affecting the mammary glands. Often women note that the nipple areolas become darker.
- Increased blood circulation in the body as a whole can lead to the appearance of a blush on the cheeks, which appears especially clearly in the evening hours.
- Pigmentation may intensify not only on the nipple areolas, but also on the abdomen. It often has a distinct dark line running from the navel down.
If a woman is expecting a child, then she will definitely pay attention to these early signs of pregnancy, which make it possible to determine it without a test.
How many days after conception can pregnancy be detected?
There will be no 100 percent answers to the question “after how long can pregnancy be determined.” The female body is absolutely individual. Most often, symptoms are felt around the tenth day. But the time frame varies depending on the body's sensitivity to hormonal changes. The onset of pregnancy can be fully confirmed after the development of certain factors. It is impossible to identify signs on the first day of conception.
In principle, signs of pregnancy appear quite early. After approximately 1-2 weeks after conception, apathy, drowsiness, and pain in the chest area are likely. After 14-20 days, nausea, sudden love for some foods and aversion to others are possible. A few days before the expected menstruation, the basal temperature rises.
How to take a pregnancy test
At the pharmacy you will find several test options: inkjet and test strips, with or without indicating the expected period. To get a reliable result, the test must be used correctly and then interpreted what you see. How to take a pregnancy test depending on its form, read below.
Many people find it more convenient to use jet tests; they do not require finding a container for urine.
How to use the jet test
- Remove the test from the package.
- Remove the protective cap, but do not throw it away.
- Direct the part of the test with the indicator down under the flow of urine for 5-7 seconds.
- Place the cap on the test.
- Place the test on a dry surface.
- Check the result after 5 minutes (but no longer than 10).
Classic test strips are also quite convenient. But you will also need a small container for urine. Otherwise, the process is not much different from using a jet test.
How to make a test strip:
- Remove the test from the package, holding the colored end.
- Dip the test into the container with urine to the desired level for 5-7 seconds.
- Place the test on a dry surface.
- Check the result after 5 minutes (but no longer than 10).
To evaluate the test result correctly, use the manufacturer's instructions.
Typically, the result can be presented in three forms:
- Stripes. The most common tests show a result in the form of one (not pregnant) or two lines (pregnant).
- Plus and minus. The other part reports news in the form of “+” (pregnant) or “-” (not pregnant).
- Words and numbers. Some modern tests show the result in words or numbers (gestational age).
How was pregnancy determined before?
Previously, women did not have the modern benefits of civilization. Therefore, we had to be content with what we had in the house. The bulk of all traditional tests involve urine, but there are some very unusual methods.
So, how to determine pregnancy using folk remedies:
- Plant two bulbs. For one, wish for a positive result, and for the second, a negative result. Next, wait until they grow up to 4 centimeters. Which of the bulbs will do it faster - that is the answer.
- When a woman dreams of fish, this means pregnancy. A sign that modern ladies also trust.
- It is believed that in the early stages the color of urine has a bright yellow tint.
- A metallic taste in the mouth also indicates an interesting situation.
Traditional methods for determining pregnancy in the early stages may not be the most reliable, but they are inexpensive and are still common.
Pregnancy symptoms
In connection with the advent of the ultrasound diagnostic method (or ultrasound), the main and reliable sign of pregnancy is the detection of an embryo in the uterus and the determination of its heartbeat.
The sensations described by women who suspect they are pregnant are classified as dubious signs. This name is due to the fact that symptoms do not always indicate an imminent addition to the family. They are based on subjective sensations and occur in other conditions. So a pregnant woman may suspect a viral infection, food poisoning, premenstrual syndrome or cystitis.
Here are the first symptoms that pregnant women often call:
- nagging pain in the lower abdomen, a feeling of heaviness in the pelvic area;
- painless bloating;
- frequent urination, including at night, against the background of a constant drinking regime;
- painful contraction of the uterus and slight bleeding (drops of blood on the underwear) at the time of embryo implantation;
- changes in taste and olfactory sensations - some smells may seem too strong, repulsive, a desire to consume certain foods appears;
- nausea or vomiting - at certain hours or throughout the day;
- dizziness, general weakness, decreased productivity, drowsiness;
- change in emotional background (irritability, decreased or elevated mood);
- general malaise, increased body temperature to subfebrile levels (37 degrees), headaches.
- engorgement and increase in the volume of the mammary glands, the appearance of small reddish stretch marks (“stretch marks”) around the areola;
- pigmentation of the nipples, midline of the abdomen.
These signs may appear even before your period is missed. Not everyone experiences such feelings. Some cannot even describe them, because during the first trimester they feel quite comfortable and do not immediately pay attention to the cessation of menstruation.
Other women, especially those who have a strong desire to become a mother, sometimes attach too much importance to even insignificant and unreliable signs. In an effort to find out the good news as early as possible, they can use “proven” folk diagnostic methods: evaporating urine until a white precipitate appears, adding drops of iodine, soda, wine, or potassium permanganate to the urine. The most exotic methods of detecting pregnancy include a hair ring test and pulse counting. These “tests” can brighten up your leisure time, but their reliability is low.
Ways to determine pregnancy at home in the early stages
It is especially important to find out about the baby earlier for those who are expecting their first child or whose previous attempts were in vain. There are a lot of determination methods; it is impossible to name the best way to determine pregnancy after conception, but each of them has its own advantages.
- Pregnancy test
Well known method. The reaction is based on the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine, which is produced only during pregnancy. It is most reliable, according to gynecologists, to carry out the test on the first day of a missed menstrual cycle. But the hormone is produced already on the tenth day from the moment the embryo attaches, so it is possible to determine pregnancy several days before the start of the expected menstruation.
If a girl is looking for opportunities and ways to determine pregnancy at home, then the method described above definitely meets her desired needs.
- Determination of pregnancy by an obstetrician-gynecologist
An experienced gynecologist, when examining a woman, can determine pregnancy by the size of the uterus and the height of its fundus. However, this method is effective only from 3 to 20 weeks after the probable origin of life. Further, in women, the size of the uterus at different stages may differ.
- Blood analysis
Determining pregnancy using a blood test is one of the reliable ways. Blood is donated from a vein, and the results will be available after a few days.
An analysis for human chorionic gonadotropin is carried out either 2 weeks after conception or from the first day of delay. Plus, the reliability is about 98 percent. The downside is the high cost and the likelihood of a false negative value if there is an ectopic pregnancy.
The hormone TBG (trophoblastic beta globulin) is produced by the embryo. It appears in the blood already on the 1st day after conception. Plus, the reliability is about 99 percent. The downside is the high cost, there is a possibility of false positive values in cancer cases.
- Carrying out an ultrasound
It is advisable to conduct this study three weeks after the alleged conception. Transvaginal ultrasound is considered more accurate. In addition, an ectopic pregnancy can be detected. But in the early stages, this method is usually prescribed only if the doctor suspects pathology. The first planned ultrasound at 12 weeks will be more meaningful.
- Feel along the cervix
Only a very experienced specialist can determine pregnancy before a missed period by palpation. It is better not to carry out such procedures on your own; it is better to trust your gynecologist. What are the changes in the uterus during pregnancy: it takes on a bluish appearance due to active blood circulation, becomes soft like lips, after conception the uterus descends under the influence of progesterone.
- According to the state of the body
If a woman asks the questions “How to determine pregnancy before a delay without a test” or “How to determine pregnancy in the early stages before a delay,” you should listen to yourself.
Here are some factors that may indicate conception:
- Feeling weak.
- The mammary glands become sensitive.
- Appearance of noticeable Montgomery tubercles.
- Increased sense of smell.
- Nausea.
- Drowsiness.
- Aching in the back and lumbar region.
- Frequent urge to go to the toilet, in small ways.
However, only visits to a specialist, ultrasound examination, blood tests, etc. will give accurate results.
- Checking your basal temperature
An excellent method to determine pregnancy before delay at home. When a lady is impatient, she should monitor her basal temperature throughout the menstrual cycle. If there is a child, the temperature will rise to 37 degrees, or in the second phase of bleeding it will drop significantly for a day. How to measure it? A thermometer is inserted into the rectum to a depth of 2 centimeters five minutes after waking up, without getting out of bed.
- With iodine
Methods for determining pregnancy before delay are not necessarily related to medicine. There are methods that are popular among the people. One of them is as follows: soak a sheet of paper in morning urine and drop a drop of iodine on it, and then observe. The standard color should be blue-violet, but if the color turns brown, pregnancy is likely.
- Using soda
Another popular method for the impatient. It is based on the assumption that in the presence of pregnancy, urine shifts from its normal state towards alkaline. Add a spoonful of soda to the jar of urine collected in the morning. When bubbles appeared, conception occurred. If the soda sinks to the bottom without a pronounced reaction, pregnancy is likely.
- Checking the pulsation near the navel
Methods for determining pregnancy without a test are unreliable. But if your turn to see specialists has not yet come, why not use them? There is a belief that a sign of pregnancy is a beating in the navel area or two fingers below. The inferior vena cava is located in this area. As the uterus enlarges, it puts pressure on the vessels and other organs, which leads to this phenomenon. However, there are other causes of pulsation. For example, an aortic aneurysm or fetal hiccups. In any case, it is better to contact specialists.
What can affect a pregnancy test?
- A false positive result can be obtained when taking fertility drugs that contain the hCG hormone. Typically, these are drugs that are administered by injection.
- A false negative result may result from taking certain hormonal medications that affect your cycle (for example, hormonal contraceptives). In this case, due to a cycle failure, you risk running the test ahead of time.
- You may also get a positive test result if you have recently been pregnant, have an ovarian cyst, or have an ectopic pregnancy. Therefore, in case of an unexpected positive result, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor.
- You also run the risk of seeing erroneous data on a test that has been left for more than 10 minutes after use.
If you follow all recommendations for use, the test will most likely show a reliable result. So, feel free to do your research without fear of being misled. If after the test you still have doubts, a blood test will help to accurately determine the presence of hCG.
We hope that using a pregnancy test will bring you only positive news. Be healthy!
Can you trust traditional methods?
As you can see, there are many methods for determining pregnancy, including traditional ones. But should you trust them? There are many adherents of such methods, but there is no scientific basis for them. The fact is that the probability of answering the desired question is always 50%: you are either pregnant or not. Only the beautiful lady can decide whether to believe these methods.
Determining pregnancy using traditional methods has its advantages - they do not require cash injections, trips to hospitals or laboratory tests. These methods will simply give the woman satisfaction of her curiosity until she goes to see specialists.
A woman, answering her questions “How to determine pregnancy in the first days of conception,” “When the first signs of pregnancy appear after conception,” “How to determine pregnancy in the early stages without a test,” will be able to choose any of the above methods. She will also calm herself down a little by giving up bad habits and protecting the fetus from negative influences before seeing a gynecologist. In addition, only a doctor can make sure that the fetus is developing correctly, and nothing threatens the expectant mother and her child.
How to determine pregnancy without a test: advice from doctors
Doctors have their own criteria for assessing a woman’s condition. With their help, the doctor can suggest that the patient is pregnant, even without examination and testing. Knowing these medical “secrets”, you can try to independently detect signs of pregnancy.
- The appearance of bloody discharge from the vagina. It is impossible to call such discharge menstrual bleeding, since it will be very insignificant. Moreover, the color of the discharge will be close to pink or brown. They usually appear 7-12 days after conception has occurred and indicate that the embryo has implanted into the wall of the uterus. In this case, small capillaries may collapse and bleed slightly. This is what explains the appearance of bloody discharge. Although, there is another reason why droplets of blood may come out of the vagina after pregnancy - cervical erosion. The fact is that after conception, the pelvic organs begin to be more actively supplied with blood, which leads to increased bleeding of existing epithelial damage.
- Calf muscle cramps that occur at night may indicate pregnancy. Moreover, their intensity is great enough to wake up a woman.
- Blood pressure very often decreases in the first months of pregnancy. Moreover, in hypotensive patients it can reach extremely low levels. This will lead to dizziness and weakness. Sometimes women even lose consciousness due to a sharp drop in blood pressure.
- Immunity deteriorates, which can lead to the development of colds in early pregnancy.
- A woman's drooling increases, and very often this symptom is combined with the appearance of a feeling of nausea.
- There is more vaginal discharge, but normally it should not change its consistency, color and smell. This is explained by increased blood supply to the pelvic organs.
- Very often, in the early stages of pregnancy, a woman’s thrush worsens. This, first of all, will be associated with a deterioration of immunity. Thrush is always accompanied by severe itching and burning in the vaginal area, as well as the appearance of a cheesy discharge.
- Urination becomes more frequent, and this phenomenon is observed throughout the entire period of pregnancy. If in the early stages of gestation frequent trips to the toilet are associated with increased kidney function, then in later stages the woman is forced to urinate more often due to excess pressure of the fetus and uterus on the bladder.
The most important sign that allows you to suspect pregnancy is the absence of menstrual bleeding on time. It is this symptom that both doctors and women themselves focus on. But when a delay in menstruation is accompanied by the above changes in the body, you can once again be convinced that your assumptions are correct.