So you’re pregnant, and that’s great news. You’re thrilled to be expanding your family, and you’re ready to meet your little one. But how do you know for sure? That is, if you’re not lucky enough to have had a positive pregnancy test? Or are you one of the many women who find out they’re pregnant unexpectedly?
If you’re not sure, you’re not alone. Between 20 and 40 percent of all pregnancies are unplanned. If you’re one of those 40 percent, there’s a chance you might not have a pregnancy test in your arsenal. But don’t worry — if you’re not sure about your pregnancy status, there are some early signs that may give away your pregnancy, without knowing for sure.
What Is a Positive Pregnancy Test?
A positive pregnancy test is a pregnancy test that comes back with a result of “pregnant” or “not pregnant.” It can be an early sign you could be pregnant, even before you take a pregnancy test.
So what are some other signs that you might be?
You may notice your breasts becoming tender and sore, or if they’re already sore, you may find that they get worse. This is because your body has been preparing for the arrival of the baby, which will happen soon enough.
You may also experience nausea, vomiting, and/or constipation more often than normal. These symptoms are typically caused by hormonal imbalances in your body, which can happen when you’re pregnant.
Another sign is spotting — though this one isn’t always present. Your period may last longer than usual and have more days in it than usual because your uterus is growing to fit the baby inside of it during your pregnancy. Your last menstrual cycle before getting pregnant was likely late because the fertilized egg had ascended into the fallopian tube and stopped moving down toward the uterus to implant itself in your uterine wall.
What Is a Negative Pregnancy Test?
A negative pregnancy test, otherwise known as a home pregnancy test, is a simple urine-based test you can do at home that will give you a definitive answer about whether or not you are pregnant. Negative pregnancy tests will show a clear line if your urine sample is being tested for the presence of hCG hormones. If you’re pregnant, the hCG hormone will be present in your urine and will create a positive result on the pregnancy test.
If your urine sample is not being tested for the presence of hCG hormones, then it will be negative and you won’t see any lines on the test.
Can You Have a Positive Pregnancy Test?
A positive pregnancy test is the most common way to know for sure if you’re pregnant. If you take a test and it turns out that you’re not pregnant, it could be because your period has just started, or because you’ve taken a home pregnancy test. If you want to take the more proactive approach, you can also buy a digital pregnancy test. These often have a less than .1 percent false-positive rate, meaning you won’t get those “you are not pregnant” negatives quite as often.
Tips for Positive Pregnancy Tests
It can be difficult to determine exactly when you became pregnant. Some women may not even know they are pregnant until around the fourth month, which is when many women find out that they are expecting.
If you’re not sure if you are pregnant, there are some signs that may give away your pregnancy status. These eight early signs to watch for could help you figure it out:
- Your breasts change size
- You feel more tired than usual
- You have morning sickness
- You’re scared of something outside your comfort zone
- Your body temperature changes
- Your period changes
- You crave specific foods or drinks
- You want to sleep more than usual
Best Time to Take a Pregnancy Test
The best time to take a pregnancy test is as soon as you think you may be pregnant. Most tests will have a window of about three days for accurate results. It’s important to note, however, that the earlier you take a test, the less accurate it’s going to be. If you wait too long, your levels are going to change and the results won’t be quite as accurate.
A good way to know when it’s time is if you start feeling nauseous or have any other symptoms that might suggest a pregnancy. The most common early signs of pregnancy include:
- Fatigue
- Male partner notices something different in his partner’s body
- Partner has morning sickness
- Partner misses period
If these signs occur in the first two weeks of your cycle, then it’s time for a pregnancy test!
How can you tell if you’re pregnant?
There are a few things you can do to help figure out if you’re pregnant. During your first trimester, many women experience morning sickness. This is most likely due to the pregnancy hormone called hCG, which is produced in large quantities during the first three months of gestation. Additionally, there may be mood swings, cravings for unusual food items, and increased urination or bloating.
Final words on positive pregnancy tests
If you’re having some doubts about your pregnancy, there are a few signs that may point towards the fact that you might be pregnant without taking a test.
These signs include:
- Cravings for food like fruit or vegetables
- A change in your menstrual cycle
- Morning sickness
- Excessive emotional emotions
- Tenderness in your breasts and abdomen area
- The presence of fluid in your urine
3 Thoughts You Need to Have When You’re not sure If You’re Pregnant
When you’re not sure if you’re pregnant, your mind is a wild and whirling vortex of thoughts. You might be thinking about how this could negatively affect your life and how this will change the course of your future. Your worries can cause a whole lot of stress, which may lead to changes in your behavior that are physical signs of pregnancy.
But don’t worry there are some early signs that can give away your pregnancy without actually taking a pregnancy test. Even if you haven’t taken a pregnancy test yet, it’s important to know what early signs to watch out for so you can have peace of mind before or after the big reveal.
Ikram Ullah is a seasoned content writer and editor hailing from Faisalabad, Pakistan, boasting a decade of rich experience in SEO and content writing. He is particularly distinguished in the realm of technology content writing, where he excels at demystifying complex technological concepts, making them accessible and engaging for a broad audience. Throughout his career, Ikram has made significant contributions to various websites, showcasing his commitment to technological advancements and his skill in creating informative and compelling content. His portfolio includes work for littlebyties.com, republicansunited.com, and invisiblelocs.net, each reflecting his dedication and expertise in the field.