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Detecting Those Early Signs Of Pregnancy |
For most women, the first sign of pregnancy is a missed menstrual period. However, a late period may not always mean that a baby is on the way. Not every woman starts her period at the same time each month. Stress, illness, or a change in exercise or diet can delay menstruation. Thus, it’s important to pay attention to other symptoms of early pregnancy:
- Tender, swollen breasts
- Change in nipple color
- Spotting or a very light menstrual period
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Feeling bloated
- Increased frequency in urination
- Moodiness
- Headache
If you have missed your period and are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, you may be pregnant. This is possible even if you were using birth control. The next step is either to buy a home pregnancy test or contact your doctor.
Because of advances in testing, pregnancy can now be detected as early as four days before a missed period. These tests detect the hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) that is produced by a developing placenta. The hormone is released into a pregnant woman’s urine and blood and is detected by a pregnancy test.
Home pregnancy tests are simple to use. Most tests involve urinating on a chemically treated stick. If hCG is present, the chemicals in the stick react to the hormone and produce a signal in the test’s result window. The tests are extremely accurate if they are used correctly. However, they do occasionally give incorrect results if they are not used properly or if you are taking certain medications. If a home test result is negative, but your period doesn’t start in a few days, repeat the test or ask your doctor to give you a test. If a home test is positive, visit your doctor as soon as possible. The sooner that you start your antenatal care, the better off you and your baby will be.
Important!
Seek medical help immediately if you suspect that you are pregnant or are in early pregnancy and are experiencing any of these symptoms:
- Severe abdominal pain
- Spotting that lasts for more than one day
- Blood clots or flesh-like tissue from your vagina
- Heavy bleeding that is soaking more than one sanitary pad an hour
- Foul smelling vaginal discharge
- Faintness or dizziness
- Painful urination
- Severe vomiting
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