If you are pregnant, you should immediately notice the first symptoms of pregnancy; however not all women get them, and even if you complain of typical ailments, it doesn't necessarily mean you are expecting a baby. The best way to understand this with home methods is to use a pregnancy test that you can find for free in the pharmacy. If the result is positive, you can get confirmation by contacting the gynecologist and decide accordingly how to proceed.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Early Signs
Step 1. Think about the last time you had sex
To get pregnant you must have had vaginal intercourse; with the oral one there is no such risk. Also, you need to consider whether you have had a secure relationship; if you do not take the birth control pill and have not used other types of contraceptives (such as a diaphragm or condom), you are much more likely to get pregnant than to have safe sex.
It takes about 6-10 days for a fertilized egg to begin the implantation process, which is when you are officially pregnant and when the body also begins releasing hormones. The pregnancy test is typically not accurate until the first day of your expected period
Step 2. Take note of the absence of menstruation
This is often one of the first signs of a possible pregnancy; if a week or more has passed since you should have had your period, you may be expecting a baby.
- If you are used to keeping track of your period, it should be easier to know when you have had your last bleeding. if more than a month has passed, it could indicate the beginning of a probable gestation.
- However, this is not a 100% certainty, especially if you tend to have irregular periods.
Step 3. Check for breast changes
Although its size increases over the course of pregnancy, you may also notice early variations. Hormone levels fluctuate when pregnant, causing breast pain and swelling; once the body has adapted to the endocrine changes, this specific pain should subside.
Step 4. Pay attention if you feel excessive tired
Pregnancy often causes this symptom. A new life is developing in the body and it is hard work; however, in the early stage of gestation, the main cause of the feeling of fatigue is the increase in progesterone, the hormone that also causes drowsiness.
Step 5. Check for stomach problems
Morning sickness is a typical ailment that also tends to lead to vomiting. It manifests itself as a general feeling of discomfort in the digestive tract especially in the morning (although it can occur at any time of the day); it is a symptom that often begins in the first two weeks after conception and disappears after the first trimester.
- You may also feel an aversion to the strong odors of certain foods, while at the same time you may begin to feel the desire to eat certain specific foods.
- You may also develop other gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation.
- Keep in mind that although this is a typical symptom, not all women experience morning sickness or disgust with certain smells or foods during gestation. Although this is a classic stereotype in television programs and movies, in reality many women do not suffer from this disorder.
- Many "expectant mothers" develop a very intense sense of smell and perceive unpleasant odors - such as spoiled substances, smoke and body odors - more intensely, even if these do not necessarily cause nausea.
Step 6. See if you need to urinate more frequently
This is another early pregnancy symptom which, along with many other signs of gestation, is due to hormonal change.
In the late stage of gestation, the baby may put pressure on the bladder, causing a greater need to go to the bathroom, but in the early stage this symptom is due to the change in hormones
Step 7. Look for signs of implantation bleeding
Some women complain of light spotting when menstruation should have started; you may see underwear staining with some blood or brownish discharges; this symptom may occur for a few weeks, although the discharge is lighter than with usual menstrual bleeding.
Step 8. Pay attention to mood swings
Hormonal alterations during pregnancy affect the psychological sphere, leading to a state of euphoria followed abruptly by a crying fit. While not all women experience rapid mood swings, it is still a possibility; if you find yourself starting to cry over a trifle or verbally assault your loved ones, you may be pregnant.
Step 9. Watch out for dizziness
You can suffer from it throughout gestation, even in the early stage; during this initial period they are usually due to the body developing new blood vessels (altering blood pressure), but could also be caused by a lack of blood sugar.
Part 2 of 3: Undergo Assessments
Step 1. Get a pregnancy test
It is a very accurate method if you do it after the expected date of the menstruation that has not happened. You can buy the device at a pharmacy or parapharmacy, as well as in the departments of supermarkets dedicated to products for preparation for maternity or intimate hygiene. Some tests are accurate even before the expected date of monthly bleeding, but that specification should be noted on the packaging.
- Test as soon as you get up in the morning, as this is the time of day when you can get the most accurate results. Follow the directions on the package, but you will usually need to urinate on a reactive end of the stick in the kit and place it on a flat surface.
- Wait for the chemical you urinated on to act for about 5 minutes. On the packaging of the device it should be described what you need to look for; some tests show two lines if you are pregnant, while others show a single blue line.
Step 2. Decide if you want to rerun the test if it fails
In most cases, if you get a negative result, you are not pregnant; however, if you test too early (before the hypothetical date of your period), you may get a so-called "false negative". If you want more certainty, you should repeat the test.
This time, do it after the expected date of the start of your period
Step 3. Get confirmation of the positive result from the gynecologist
Although modern home pregnancy tests are very accurate, you rightfully want to be 100% sure of your condition. Also, in this case, you need to start making plans, for example deciding whether or not you want to keep the baby and / or start antenatal care. You can also discreetly and anonymously perform a urine test at family clinics or in your gynecologist's office.
Even when your urine test is positive, your doctor will usually recommend that you do a blood test to confirm that you are pregnant and, if so, help you make a plan
Part 3 of 3: Proceed to the Next Steps
Step 1. Determine if you are capable of raising a child
If the pregnancy was not planned or desired, you can decide whether or not you want to keep the baby; ponder whether you have the physical and financial capabilities to raise it. If you are unable, can you make the necessary changes to breed it? A child is a big responsibility, emotionally, physically and even economically. While no parent is perfect, you should at least want to make this commitment to another human being.
Step 2. Talk to your partner about it
Consider if you want to raise your child with the child's father; the emotional relationship must be mature enough to be able to manage this responsibility. If your partner is someone you want to raise your unborn baby with, talk to them about the pregnancy to understand how to proceed together.
If you can't reach the father, talk about your pregnancy with a loved one, such as a parent or sibling, just to have someone to explore your options with
Step 3. Begin prenatal care
If you decide to continue with the pregnancy, you have to start with the next stages; by "prenatal care" we basically mean keeping the baby healthy by undergoing regular checks by the gynecologist. During the first visit, the doctor checks your general health and performs tests, such as screening for sexually transmitted diseases and diabetes, as well as checking fetal health; it also helps you define a calendar for subsequent visits.
Step 4. Determine if you want to carry out the gestation
You can decide not to keep the baby, which is a completely respectable choice; in this case the main option is abortion, although emergency contraception ("morning after pill") works up to five days after unprotected intercourse.
- Look for an abortion clinic in your area where they can help you with your choice. However, keep in mind that there are many conscientious objecting physicians and it is not always easy to find one willing to proceed, as well as the fact that many gynecologists may provide you with various information to discourage you from taking this path. If you decide to have an abortion anyway, don't be disheartened; just make sure you are fully aware of all the risks involved. You may be given an ultrasound before the termination of the pregnancy; Furthermore, in some circumstances parental authorization may also be required if you are a minor.
- The two main types of surgery during the first trimester are pharmacological and surgical. Don't be frightened by the word "surgery", as it typically doesn't involve incisions or cuts; usually a forceps or tube is used to dilate the cervix and proceed with aspiration of the fetus.
- The pharmacological procedure involves taking an abortion tablet.
Step 5. Learn about adoptions
If you wish to carry the pregnancy to term but fear that you will not be able to raise the baby, giving it up for adoption is a viable alternative. This is a difficult decision to make and, once all the papers are signed, it also becomes binding. If you think this is a good solution for you, start reading books on this topic, do research on the internet, talk to close friends and contact the appropriate structures to go this route.
- Inform yourself carefully about the legislation. It may be necessary to have the consent of the child's father to proceed with the birth anonymously; Also, if you are under 18, you should also talk to your parents before making a decision.
- Decide on the type of adoption you want to undertake. In Italy, the easiest way to give your child up for adoption is to declare that you want to give birth anonymously when you go to the hospital. The health facility guarantees all the necessary care to keep you and the unborn child safe and opens the protocol that allows you to make the child immediately adoptable. If you live in other countries, you may want to hire an agency or lawyer to handle the case independently.
- If it is required by the law of the state in which you live, choose with great care the family that will raise the child. For example, you may want the new parents to have the same religious faith as you or choose a couple that allows you to be part of the baby's future life. In some cases, the new family may also pay for your prenatal medical care and all childbirth expenses.
