{"id":987496914,"date":"2022-07-20T10:26:21","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T15:26:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypreg.wpengine.com\/?p=987496914"},"modified":"2022-10-19T07:52:44","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T12:52:44","slug":"how-do-i-know-if-im-really-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mypregnancychoices.com\/es\/pregnancy\/how-do-i-know-if-im-really-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do I Know If I&#8217;m Really Pregnant? \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this blog we discuss:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Your Menstrual Cycle and Your Fertile Window <\/strong>(when there\u2019s a high chance for pregnancy and a low chance)<\/li><li><strong>Common Early Signs of Pregnancy<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>How to Confirm if You\u2019re Pregnant Or Not Pregnant<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, how can you know if you\u2019re really pregnant? Keep reading to get the information you need to determine your next steps.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ht-block-toc is-style-rounded htoc htoc--position-wide toc-list-style-plain\" data-htoc-state=\"expanded\"><span class=\"htoc__title\"><span class=\"ht_toc_title\">Table of Contents<\/span><span class=\"htoc__toggle\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\"><g fill=\"#444\"><path d=\"M15 7H1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1z\"><\/path><path d=\"M15 1H1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1zM15 13H1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1z\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/span><\/span><div class=\"htoc__itemswrap\"><ul class=\"ht_toc_list\"><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-understanding-your-menstrual-cycle-and-pregnancy\">Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle and Pregnancy<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-what-are-the-early-signs-of-pregnancy\">What Are the Early Signs of Pregnancy?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-how-to-find-out-if-you-re-really-pregnant\">How To Find Out If You\u2019re Really Pregnant?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-pregnancy-confirmation-appointments\">Pregnancy Confirmation Appointments&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-your-pregnancy-resource-center-support-when-you-need-it-most\">Your Pregnancy Resource Center: Support When You Need It Most<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-s\">Sources<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-understanding-your-menstrual-cycle-and-pregnancy\"><br><strong>Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle and Pregnancy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did you know that your menstrual cycle determines how likely you are to get pregnant at any given time? So, understanding where you are in your cycle can help you approach the possibility of an unexpected pregnancy with calm and clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s start with a definition: your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealth.gov\/menstrual-cycle\/your-menstrual-cycle\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">menstrual cycle<\/a> is the hormonal cycle your body goes through every month to prepare your uterus for pregnancy. It\u2019s made up of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/womens-health\/stages-of-menstrual-cycle#menstrual\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">four stages<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>The Menstrual Phase: <\/strong>&nbsp;Also known as your period, here your body has been building up a thickened uterine lining (the \u201cwalls\u201d of your uterus) all month to prepare for a potential pregnancy. If you don\u2019t get pregnant, your uterus discharges the blood, mucus, and tissue it\u2019s been collecting during this phase. This is the shedding of your uterus, a.k.a your period! This phase usually lasts 3-7 days and occurs every 24 to 38 days.<br><\/li><li><strong>The Follicular Phase:<\/strong> This phase begins at the same time as your period. Your ovaries make tiny sacs called follicles containing immature eggs during this stage. Also in this time, one of these eggs will become mature, which means it\u2019s prepped and ready for fertilization (interaction with a male\u2019s sperm cell).<br><\/li><li><strong>The Ovulation Phase:<\/strong> This is when you\u2019re most likely to get pregnant. Ovulation usually occurs halfway through your menstrual cycle when the mature egg that developed in the follicular phase travels from one of your ovaries into your uterus. Once here, if semen enters the vagina, the mature egg is in position to be fertilized by a sperm cell \u2013 and this is where pregnancy can occur, also known as <em>conception<\/em>.<br><\/li><li><strong>The Luteal Phase:<\/strong> This is the stage of your cycle <em>after<\/em> the mature egg is released from one of your ovaries. The follicles where your immature eggs are housed now changes structure. It begins producing hormones to keep your uterine lining thickened and primed for pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs, (that is, a mature egg comes into contact with a sperm cell and the egg accepts the sperm), hormones keep the lining thick. If pregnancy does not occur, hormone levels decrease, and the menstrual phase begins again.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-what-are-the-early-signs-of-pregnancy\"><strong>What Are the <\/strong><strong>Early Signs of Pregnancy<\/strong><strong>?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s say that your body has cycled through the menstrual, follicular, and ovulation stages, your vagina has come in contact with semen, and a sperm cell has reached and fertilized your mature egg. In this case, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll begin to experience the following symptoms, sometimes as early as one week after conception.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Fatigue: <\/strong>Extreme exhaustion&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Nausea: <\/strong>An unsettled stomach, that feeling of needing to vomit<\/li><li><strong>Breast tenderness: <\/strong>A dull, aching pain specifically in your breast tissue<\/li><li><strong>A missed period: <\/strong>Your period is a week or more late<\/li><li><strong>More frequent urination: <\/strong>Not always a full bladder, but a felt sense of pressure in your lower belly, resulting in more trips to the bathroom to relieve yourself<\/li><li><strong>Spotting: <\/strong>Instead of your regular flow, you\u2019re seeing small amounts of light pink to dark brown blood in your panties or when you wipe<\/li><li><strong>Food aversions or cravings: <\/strong>Foods you usually love suddenly don\u2019t seem appetizing or, foods you usually dislike or have never tried seem appealing<\/li><li><strong>Moodiness: <\/strong>This may be tricky to identify for some women, but can usually present as increased sensitivity to life\u2019s stressors; sometimes resulting in crying or rapid frustration with self and others.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While having these symptoms doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you\u2019re pregnant, checking in with your body and mind can help you identify if further confirmation is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-how-to-find-out-if-you-re-really-pregnant\"><strong>How To Find Out If You\u2019re Really Pregnant?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve missed a period or have some pregnancy symptoms, here\u2019s how you can confirm if you\u2019re really pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Confirming Pregnancy After Unprotected Sex<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just because you\u2019ve had unprotected sex DOES NOT mean you\u2019re pregnant. Ovulation <em>needs<\/em> to have occured in order for you to become pregnant. However, if you have unprotected sex anywhere from 5 days before ovulation or 1 day after ovulation, you can become pregnant because of the duration that sperm can survive inside the vagina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may be wondering, <strong>how soon after unprotected sex can I take a pregnancy test<\/strong><strong>? Typically, you can take a home pregnancy test as soon as the first day after your missed period.<\/strong> If you\u2019re unsure when you\u2019re supposed to get your period, it\u2019s best to wait 21 days after having unprotected sex for the most accurate result. Should your home pregnancy test reveal that you are pregnant, the next step is to confirm that result with a pregnancy resource center, women\u2019s center, or hospital.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Confirming Pregnancy After Your Missed Period<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Missing a period also doesn\u2019t always mean you&#8217;re pregnant. It could be due to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Extreme weight gain or loss<\/li><li>High stress<\/li><li>Hormone imbalances<\/li><li>Birth control pills or change in birth control method<\/li><li>Breastfeeding<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve missed your period and you\u2019re concerned you may be pregnant, an at-home pregnancy test is an effective first step to determine if you\u2019re pregnant or not. If your test result is positive, call your local pregnancy resource center or OBGYN to make a <em>pregnancy confirmation<\/em> appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-pregnancy-confirmation-appointments\"><strong>Pregnancy Confirmation Appointments&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What to expect from your first appointment at our Center<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At your confidential appointment with Pregnancy Choices, we\u2019ll run a lab grade pregnancy test with your provided urine sample. The results are immediately provided to you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on the date of your last menstrual period, we may offer to perform an optional ultrasound, which is the most accurate way to confirm pregnancy. Finally, we\u2019ll discuss all of your results with you and answer any questions you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Pregnancy Choices, we provide completely free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds. We can typically get you in for your appointment sooner than a hospital because we exclusively provide pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and STI testing. Our services are available Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please note that a pregnancy confirmation appointment with us is different from a prenatal visit with your OBGYN, as your doctor may also check your vital signs, order blood work, and perform a pelvic exam at an initial prenatal visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-your-pregnancy-resource-center-support-when-you-need-it-most\"><strong>Your <\/strong><strong>Pregnancy Resource Center<\/strong><strong>: Support When You Need It Most<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Considering you\u2019re pregnant can feel overwhelming, and an unexpected pregnancy comes with many complex emotions. Our goal is to make pregnancy confirmation and planning as easy, supportive, and accessible as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Pregnancy Choices, we utilize a unique life coaching model that allows us&nbsp;to hold space for you to process whatever you\u2019re feeling. We strive to empower you with information and resources in a non-judgmental environment, supporting you in whatever decision you make regarding your pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Think you might be pregnant?<\/strong><br><strong><a href=\"tel:9522349853\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\">Call our office today<\/a> to schedule an appointment or <a href=\"http:\/\/mypregnancychoices.com\/es\/schedules\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">schedule your pregnancy test online.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-s\">Sources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\" style=\"font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-weight:300\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealth.gov\/menstrual-cycle\/your-menstrual-cycle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow external\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">https:\/\/www.womenshealth.gov\/menstrual-cycle\/your-menstrual-cycle\n<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/womens-health\/stages-of-menstrual-cycle#menstrual\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow external\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/womens-health\/stages-of-menstrual-cycle#menstrual\n<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/pregnancy-symptoms\/early-signs-of-pregnancy\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/pregnancy-symptoms\/early-signs-of-pregnancy\/\n<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/can-i-get-pregnant-if\/can-i-get-pregnant-if\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow external\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/can-i-get-pregnant-if\/can-i-get-pregnant-if\/\n<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/pregnancy\/trying-for-a-baby\/doing-a-pregnancy-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow external\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/pregnancy\/trying-for-a-baby\/doing-a-pregnancy-test\/<\/a><\/pre>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you think you may be pregnant, you probably have many thoughts and questions running through your mind. It\u2019s normal to feel any number of emotions, both positive and negative.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":987496939,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,43],"tags":[50],"class_list":["post-987496914","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-am-i-pregnant","category-pregnancy","tag-pregnancy-tests"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypregnancychoices.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/987496914","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypregnancychoices.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypregnancychoices.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypregnancychoices.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypregnancychoices.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=987496914"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mypregnancychoices.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/987496914\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypregnancychoices.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/987496939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypregnancychoices.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=987496914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypregnancychoices.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=987496914"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypregnancychoices.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=987496914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}