How to Know if You are Pregnant

For most women, the first sign of pregnancy is when their periods stop and the know they are pregnant before even taking a test. Others take a test and get a false negative result. This can happen if you just missed your period, or for other reasons. Most importantly, know the difference between a sign and a symptom of pregnancy. Collectively introduced in this article, here are some common signs to look for.

Steps

 * 1)  Look for symptoms of pregnancy. The most common symptom of pregnancy is a missed period, but not all women stop bleeding when they conceive. In fact, some women bleed throughout their pregnancy and do not know they've conceived until late in their pregnancy. If you experience bleeding, but still suspect pregnancy, look out for other symptoms, such as fatigue, cravings, sore breasts, and morning sickness.
 * 2) Take some tests. Many family planning clinics offer free confidential urine tests that you can take if you're concerned. You can take a test from the day your period is due, and a test from a pharmacy is as accurate as a test from the doctor. Taking more than one test means you're less likely to get a false positive; hormones also fluctuate throughout the day. Your most reliable time is the first pee of the day. Blood tests are the most accurate though.
 * 3) * Home pregnancy test kits generally involve the woman peeing on a pen-like device containing a test strip.  Each manufacturer of the device uses a different system of symbol and color to indicate whether the test result is positive or negative.
 * 4) * Read carefully in the directions for the home pregnancy test as to what the test looks like if it is positive versus negative.  A "positive" test result means you're probably pregnant, or a "negative" result means you're probably not pregnant. The reliability level claimed by manufacturers of home test kits ranges, with some manufacturers making tests that work earlier in pregnancy by detecting smaller amounts of pregnancy hormone.
 * 5) * If you get a negative result from the in-home test, use a second tester in several days or a week, when the pregnancy hormone levels are a little higher and the test more likely to show the pregnancy. Or go to a physician if you want a quicker and more definite answer.
 * 6) * The tests are not perfect.  Tests can miss finding a pregnancy if there are certain types of problems in the pregnancy.  Since these problems in pregnancy may require prompt medical treatment to preserve the health of the mother or fetus, get a physician to follow up on any test result, positive or negative, that you get at home if you have any doubts.
 * 7)  Some very sensitive blood tests can determine pregnancy within days of conception, before home testing will yield a positive test result.  These tests have to be administered by a laboratory or physician.  The test is for a hormone present when a woman has conceived a pregnancy, hCG, which is human chorionic gonadotropin.  However, the hormone persists after the end of a viable pregnancy, as when a fetus dies prematurely, so this test is not always a sign of an active pregnancy.
 * 8)  Be aware of your body. Do you suddenly feel "ripe?" Many women feel kind of thick and juicy, like a ripe peach. Some feel calm and safe, as if they have achieved something. This is a very subtle feeling, which may make more sense with hindsight.
 * 9) * How are your breasts? Tender or swollen breasts are another frequent sign of pregnancy. Although women's breasts become tender and sore during their menstrual cycle, there will probably be a difference to your usual symptoms; perhaps more swelling, or very tender nipples. A tingling sensation that accompanies the swelling is not common with menstruation.
 * 10)  Think about your tastes.
 * 11) *You might notice cravings you normally don't think of, and it varies from woman to woman - from fruits to steaks to watermelon...
 * 12) *Often you will be repulsed by things as well; certain smells, raw meat, even images of war or violence that never bother you can suddenly make you feel nauseous or sad.
 * 13) *You may get hungry more often and if you don't eat, you may feel nauseous until you do.
 * 14) Pay attention to your senses. Your senses are often heightened, especially tastes and smells.
 * 15) Monitor your bathroom habits. If you're pregnant, you may need to urinate more often.
 * 16)  Examine your energy levels. You might wake up and feel extremely tired within a few hours of waking and need a nap.
 * 17)  Keep a dream diary. Keep a notebook by the bed. Often hormonal changes can trigger vivid and unusual dreams.
 * 18) Keep track of your emotions. You might feel emotional about little things, cry more easily in movies or when hearing a sad story.
 * 19) Have you thrown up lately? A lot of the time at the beginning of the cycle, pregnant women tend to throw up often. This could mean a few things -- you could be sick or pregnant.
 * 20)  [[Image:Ultrasound Machine 1.jpg|right|180px]]Schedule an ultrasound exam. If you've taken a home pregnancy test, had your doctor test your blood for hcg hormones, and your instinct still screams that you are pregnant, you don't have to settle for 99%. Tell your doctor to schedule an abdominal or vaginal ultrasound for 100% accuracy and to put your mind at ease.

Tips

 * If you have a lot of these symptoms and your test comes back negative, don't rule out pregnancy. False negatives are rare but possible, and can be caused by over-hydration. Wait a few days and take another test, first thing in the morning.
 * You may notice pregnant women wherever you go! (It's like buying a certain kind of car, suddenly you notice others who have the same car too.)

Warnings

 * Don't count on morning sickness to tell you what's going on. Many women do get sick and throw up, but not everyone, not necessarily in the morning, and not necessarily right away.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Cope With Food Cravings During Pregnancy
 * How to Decide if You Should Have a Prenatal Test
 * How to Recognize Implantation Bleeding
 * How to Know the Earliest Pregnancy Signs
 * How to Announce Your Pregnancy
 * How to Deal With Teen Pregnancy
 * How to Prepare for the Arrival of a Newborn As a Father
 * How to Be Pregnant Gracefully
 * How to Write a Birth Plan
 * How to Create a Pregnancy Memory Album
 * How to Tell a Teacher You Are Pregnant

Sources and Citations

 * Pregnancy Symptoms and Signs
 * http://www.americanpregnancy.org/gettingpregnant/understandpregnancytests.html