Signs Of Pregnancy
What are signs I may be pregnant?
Typical signs of pregnancy are, the most obvious, missing a period. If you miss your period, then taking a pregnancy test is not a bad idea. Other signs tend to be breast tenderness, nausea, although nausea doesn't always kick in until six to eight weeks. Breast tenderness tends to be a pretty early sign. Also a lot of people complain of bloating or a feeling of fullness. They often tap their belly when it's very flat and say, "I'm much bigger than I usually am," and it's not true to the naked eye, but a patient can tell when they are starting to show a little bit. So, a sense of increased size, a little breast tenderness, a little nausea, and no period are all indicators of possibly pregnancy.
How do I know if my pregnancy symptoms are normal?
Normal is very loosely defined, so you cannot know if you're normal. There's the Internet and there are books that you can read, but you don't have to have breast tenderness. You don't have to have nausea to have a normal pregnancy. Things that aren't normal are cramping and bleeding. However, absent of that, any symptom you're feeling without a period can definitely be pregnancy.
When should I see the doctor once I think I'm pregnant?
People who are trying to get pregnant are often very excited when they get pregnant, so they like to come into the doctor right away. Doctors are always happy to see you; most doctors are. The truth is, we really don't like to see you before about 6 to 8 weeks because when you come in at 4 to 5 weeks all we can really offer you is a blood test. An ultrasound won't show anything at 4 or 5 weeks. Starting at 6 weeks you can sometimes see a little sack inside the uterus, but you can't really see a baby, a foetus, or a heartbeat until after 6 weeks. So, if we get you to come in at 7 weeks, then we're a little bit more able to provide you with information you can go home with, walking on cloud nine. Before that it's a little bit more difficult, so hold off until about 7 to 8 weeks.
