Am I Pregnant? Part 2

Am I Pregnant? How To Tell and What To Do
Part 2: Probable Signs

Welcome back to the PPS blog! In our last post, we talked about the presumptive signs of pregnancy. These are symptoms that a lot of women experience in the early stages of or throughout their pregnancy. Having any one of these symptoms does not mean definitively that you are pregnant but having a combination of them without a clear cause may indicate possible pregnancy. If you’re curious about the presumptive signs of pregnancy and what to do if you are experiencing them, click here to read the first blog and then hop back over to this one.
Today, we will move on to talking about the probable signs of pregnancy.

Probable Signs
These are the signs that often tell medical professionals there is a good chance you are pregnant. A lot of them are determined by clinical exams and tests. They are not 100% definitive but they, especially in combination with one another, determine that you are likely pregnant.

• A Positive HCG Test
  • This is what we commonly refer to as a pregnancy test. It is a urine-based test that determines whether there is HCG (“the pregnancy hormone”) in your urine. HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone that should only be present in your pee during pregnancy, so a positive HCG test is read as a positive pregnancy test. These tests are trusted and accurate, but they are not 100% perfect. There is always a slim chance that a test may reveal a false positive or false negative, so a pregnancy test is still considered a probable, very likely, sign.
• Abdominal Enlargement
  • This is what we may often hear referred to as a baby bump. As your baby grows, so does your uterus, which expands up into your abdomen throughout pregnancy. This is typically not seen until the later trimesters of your pregnancy, but if you appear to have a very clear baby bump and there is no other cause for it, this is considered a probable sign of pregnancy. 
• Chadwick's Sign, Gooddell’s Sign, Hegar’s Sign 
  • Wow, that's a mouthful! Let’s explain further. All three of these signs can be seen and determined during a vaginal exam with your doctor. A blue tinge to the vagina and cervix (Chadwick’s Sign), a softening of the cervix (Goodell’s Sign), and changes to the lower portion of the uterus (Hegar’s Sign) are all probable signs that you are pregnant. Again, a medical professional trained to look for these signs must be the one to determine them. 
• The Ability to Feel the Fetus (“Fetal Ballottement”)
  • Similar to the above signs, during a vaginal exam, and depending on how far along in the pregnancy journey you are, a doctor may be able to feel the baby. The technical, medical term for this is fetal ballottement.  If they are able to feel the baby, it is a probable sign of pregnancy. 

Presumptive signs of pregnancy are the ones you may notice first on your own, and the ones that may lead you to investigate further, especially if they are changes from your normal health status. Probable signs are ones that further help determine if you are pregnant.  If you are experiencing any of the signs we have discussed so far in these posts and you are suspecting you may be pregnant, your next step would be to take a pregnancy test. Though you can get one over the counter at most grocery stores and pharmacies, you can also book a free appointment here with Paulding Pregnancy Services. Our tests are designed for medical professional use and are more sensitive to the HCG, or pregnancy hormone than an over-the-counter pregnancy test, meaning it will be more accurate and be of less cost to you. From there, Paulding Pregnancy Services can help you determine your next steps in the process, whether that be options counseling, ultrasound services, or getting you necessary pregnancy supplies.
Thanks for tuning in this week. Check back here frequently for more answers to your essential pregnancy questions. If you have further questions about the content, additional comments, or just something you’d like to share, feel free to drop it in the comment section below or reach out to contact@pauldingpregnancy.com. We would love to connect with you and get you the trusted medical information you need to make educated decisions in regard to your health.
 
*The information contained in this blog is for educational and informative purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice and care of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.*
 
References:
https://www.registerednursing.org/nclex/anti-intra-postpartum-newborn-care/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/menstrual-cycle/art-20047186
https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-health-wellness/breast-changes-during-pregnancy/