Positive Signs Of Pregnancy
POSITIVE SIGNS OF PREGNANCY – As its name suggests, positive
signs of pregnancy are signs or methods that can confirm that you are
100% pregnant. They include fetal heart sounds, sonography or ultrasound
detection, palpation of the entire fetus and its movement, x-ray and
pregnancy tests.
- Fetal Heart Sounds – The heart of a fetus begins beating
on its 24th day, but can only be heard through a physician’s Doppler
by 10th week or a fetoscope by 16th week of pregnancy. The normal
fetal heart rate is in between 120 and 160 beats.
- Sonography or Ultrasound Detection – This method
determines the growth of a baby by taking a picture of the gestation
sac as early as the 4th week after conception.
- Palpation of the Entire Fetus and its Movement – If a
woman is not obese and is on her 24th week of pregnancy, palpation
of the fetus’ head, back, upper body parts and lower body parts can
confirm pregnancy. From the 24th week onwards, a trained examiner
can also elicit fetal movement and verify pregnancy.
- X-ray – To confirm if you are indeed pregnant, an x-ray
can identify the entire fetal skeleton during the 12th week after
conception. However, an x-ray is not a recommended test for
validating pregnancy.
- Pregnancy Tests – Instead of an x-ray, you can use a home
pregnancy test kit or take a urine test and blood test or to confirm
or deny pregnancy. Both urine and blood tests are based on the
presence of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in the urine or
blood.
- Home pregnancy test kits – These kits are available
over-the-counter and are inexpensive.
- Urine test – If done two weeks after the first missed period
or 42 days after the last menstrual period, a urine test can
confirm pregnancy. It is recommended to use the first urine
specimen of the morning.
- Blood test – A blood test can detect HCG in the blood just
two days after implantation or five days before the first
menstrual period is missed. Of all pregnancy tests, a blood test
is the most expensive and most accurate to use.
Be aware that pregnancy signs differ from woman to woman and
even from one pregnancy to the next. Some women experience
symptoms of pregnancy within the first few days of conception,
while other women undergo these physical changes over a few
weeks. In some pregnant women, these signs may not be present at
all. On the other hand, you should also remember that you can
experience 90% of these signs and may not be pregnant. The
possible and probably signs are only used as indications. If you
think you may be pregnant, it is recommended that you visit your
medical practitioner immediately.
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