How to Confirm Pregnancy?

Introduction

Any woman who is sexually active but not using protection can become pregnant. It is important to confirm pregnancy early for following reasons:

• To register for antenatal care.
• To terminate unwanted pregnancy.
• To differentiate from other conditions e.g.: menopause, if older (over 40years).
• To avoid doing the things that you should not be doing in pregnancy.
• To start doing things which are good during pregnancy

Symptoms (What you feel) Pregnancy through weeks 5-8

• Delayed period (amenorrhoea): If your menses get delayed more than 10 days beyond the due date, with previous periods being regular and if you have been sexually active, there is a very good chance that you are pregnant.
• "Morning sickness" (nausea): feeling sick, or vomiting in the morning
• Breast changes: Fullness, tingling sensations and heaviness in breasts is common. Your breasts may also feel painful to touch.
• Urine problems: Urinating more frequently.
• Tiredness (fatigue): feeling strangely tired and lethargic.
• Food fads: conventionally an image of a woman eating pickle /"imli" and other sour foods has been used to suggest pregnancy in Indian movies as most women develop strong likes and dislikes for various food items in pregnancy. Sometimes, there could even be craving for unusual things such as mud, clay or glass
• Increased vaginal discharge.

Other bodily changes are:

• Constipation.
• Mood changes.
• Irritability.
• Excessive salivation.

Home Pregnancy Tests

Advances in laboratory testing have made it possible for having access to easy-to-use and reliable pregnancy test kits over the counter.

• In pregnancy, the growing tissues of the new conception (early fetus) secrete a special hormone into your body called ‘human Chorionic Gonadotrophin’ (hCG) which enters the blood as early as 1 week following fertilization. This can be traced from your blood or urine by special tests. Home tests are done with urine.
• On the basis of the type and sensitivity of the test that is used, pregnancy can be detected as early as a day or 2 from the missed period.

Tests currently available include:

• In the first week (within 7 days of missed periods)
  • Pregcolor card (used widely in India)
  • Velocit one step pregnancy test
• Within 2 weeks of missed period:
  • Pregcolour bottle
  • Granindex slide test

These tests need a higher level of hCG before they become positive. Hence they become positive after five weeks from the last menstrual period.

Points to Note:

For best results, you have got to take care that

• Urine is collected in a clean, dry container.
• Early morning sample of urine is ideal.
• A fresh sample is preferable

It may happen that a test result comes negative although you may be, in reality pregnant. This is more likely if:

• Your cycles are irregular or are frequently delayed.
• Testing has been done too early in pregnancy. In such cases, if the test is repeated after a week, it may become positive.

It is worthwhile to confirm pregnancy diagnosis by a qualified medical practitioner as all tests have their own limitations.

Confirmatory Tests

Tests advised by Doctor: Investigations and tests.

After examining you, your doctor may feel that certain tests require to be done. Particularly, for early pregnancy you may be advised to do following tests:

• Serum beta – hCG: to confirm the pregnancy if urine testing is not conclusive, or help decide further treatment in case of complications like presence of bleeding / spotting in early pregnancy.
• Sonography: This test is extremely useful for various gynecological conditions, particularly pregnancy.

Role of Sonography In Confirming Pregnancy:

How soon can you know?

Abdominal sonography, scanning is done through a full bladder in order to see the uterus. Depending on the machine and the operator’s experience, you may usually find:-

• A tiny echodense ring (gestational sac in which the foetus is suspended/enclosed ) by 6 weeks

Transvaginal (internal) sonography, pregnancy can be picked up earlier, as early as 4 1/2 weeks.