Am I Pregnant? Early Signs of Pregnancy
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Although every pregnancy can produce different symptoms and women may have dissimilar experiences from one pregnancy to another, there are some telltale signs that you may be pregnant.
Following is a list of common signs of pregnancy. Some of the signs of early pregnancy are subtle and you may not notice them right away. However, if you suspect you may be pregnant, it's best to know sooner rather than later. You'll want to receive appropriate pre-natal healthcare and discontinue any unhealthy habits you may have. If you are experiencing any these early signs, take a pregnancy test right away.
There are links following each early pregnancy symptom to help you find more detailed information and explore the variety of styles of pregnancy advice and resources available.
Missed Period
There are many reasons for missing a period, including stress, illness, extreme weight gain, anorexia, and discontinuing use of hormone contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, etc.). However, missing your period is also one of the surest signs that you may be pregnant. Tracking your menstrual cycle is a good way to know when to expect your period. If you haven't done this, but still have the feeling that you are later, you probably are. Home pregnancy tests are fairly reliable when you follow the instructions. If you want to make sure of the results, buy a couple of different tests and if they agree, you can be pretty sure of the results.
Menstrual Cycle Disturbances - Not all missed periods mean you're pregnant. You may be under stress, ill, or taking a birth control pill with too little estrogen. This article goes into detail on various reasons for changes in the menstrual cycles in an easy-to-read chart format.
Breast Tenderness
Sensitivity of the breasts is noticed by some women as soon as a day or two after conception. It's often the first sign of pregnancy, although it's not always recognized as such. Many women will recall in hindsight that they indeed had sore breasts shortly after conception. Changes in size or shape, heaviness, tingling, or soreness are all typical sensations. Breast tenderness may subside in the later months of pregnancy or it may increase.
PregnancyInfo.net - This link takes you to an article on breast tenderness, but there's a lot more to this site. The really neat feature is that with a click of a button in the top left corner, you get all the information in Spanish.
Nausea
Nausea can occur with or without vomiting and is often worse on an empty stomach. Because this is often the case in the morning, this nausea has been termed morning sickness. But it can happen at any time of day. If you find yourself sick for no apparent reason, you may be pregnant. This is often the sign movies and television shows use to indicate that a character is pregnant. It's cliché for reason: it's common!
March of Dimes - This site has a lot of information, including this wonderful article on morning sickness. Common cures are listed, as well as education about when nausea may be more serious.
Fatigue
Many women feel very tired during pregnancy, especially the first few months. This is your body's normal response to it's new state of transition. Although energy levels typically rise during the second trimester, it's common at the start of pregnancy to feel extremely worn out. Fatigue can of course be a symptom of many other things, some very serious, but especially if you feel tired combined with any of the other signs listed here, you should take a pregnancy test.
eHow - For people who like step-by-step instructions, check out eHow for solutions to all your pregnancy discomforts! The article linked gives detailed advice on how to avoid fatigue during pregnancy. You can also read my artice, Why Am I So Tired? Fatigue in Early Pregnancy.
Frequent Urination
Long before you start to show, or even know that you are pregnant, the uterus is getting larger. Fluids begin to increase in your body as the womb gets ready to make a comfortable home for the baby. This added burden puts physical pressure on the bladder, plus the extra fluids in the body all have to be processed through the kidneys and bladder. This combination makes you need to use the bathroom a lot!
BabyCenter - This is a great site that can carry you all through pregnancy and then into caring for baby and child. The article here answers common questions about frequent urination, including when it might indicate a urinary tract infection.
Smell and Taste Sensitivity
Things that used to smell or taste good to you may make you feel nauseous. Some women even experience a metallic taste in the mouth. The way you relate to smells and tastes can vary from being slightly altered, to being completely changed. If you find for example that your favorite hair gel suddenly makes you want to vomit, you may be pregnant. But foods are the most common triggers for a lot of women. If the corner hot dog you used to love now turns your stomach, take a trip to the drugstore.
WhatToExpect.com - From the people who brought you the famous What to Expect When You're Expecting books, here is a great resource for pregnancy information. Like many of the sites listed, in addition to articles like this one on smell sensitivity, WhatToExpect.com offers a free newsletter and customized pregnancy calendar.
Sensitivity Around the Waist
Many women find their pants feel snug early into pregnancy because the waistline can expand quickly with bloating. It's common to feel uncomfortable with anything tight around the waist. Of course there are a lot of reasons you may feel bloated. This is one of those symptoms that you are likely to notice in conjunction with another sign. However, this waist sensitivity seems to have a very particular feeling during pregnancy that is difficult to describe, but recognizable once you have experience it. It is almost as if you want to be sick if anything touches near your waistline.
Pregnancy Week-by-Week - This article deals with bloating which is titled Week 5, goes into some detail about why and how your body's changes cause bloating. It's important to remember that in pregnancy counting, week 5 is only 2-3 weeks after conception.
Emotional Upheaval
All throughout pregnancy, but especially at the start, hormone levels will be fluctuating. Pregnancy is a huge job your body is beginning to undertake and it's going nuts trying to prepare for the new task. If you find yourself laughing, crying, and shout all in the same breath, you may not be crazy. You may just be pregnant.
Caremark - This health site is not devoted exclusively to pregnancy, but covers a lot of women's health issues. This article on mood swings during pregnancy has an excellent list of things women can do to accept and manage their emotions.
Backache
While many women have a lower backache right before their period starts, this can also indicate pregnancy. A dull ache that won't go away, and is not accompanied by your period can be a sign of pregnancy.
Mayo Clinic - Here's a wonderful list of preventative and comfort measures women can take to alleviate backache during pregnancy. They recommend massage, among other things, as a way to relieve back pain. Now that's good advice!
Headache
Many women suffer minor to sever headaches as a result of the rapid hormone changes. Especially if a headache does not respond to the relief methods you normally use (ie. Aspirn or Ibuprofen) it may be pregnancy related.
American Pregnancy Association - They don't say so, but this site appears to be targeting women who are over 30. This article on headaches is just one of many resources, including information on infertility, adoption, and prenatal testing.
Basal Body Temperature
An elevated temperature that stays that way for two to three weeks can indicate you are pregnant. Women who are tracking their body temperature are most likely trying to get pregnant and may have noticed other signs as well.
ABC's of Basal Body Temperature Charting - Many women track basal body temperature as a way to predict when their most fertile time of month occurs. This article has detailed instructions about how to get started charting. It also includes all the background on why this method is helpful for people trying to conceive.
Find what you're looking for? Maybe you're experiencing some Unusual Pregnancy Symptoms.
Sneak Peek
Very cool video one woman took over the course of her pregnancy. There are a lot of these on YouTube, but this one seems to have the most pictures run together. She wears different clothes, but the effect is still pretty neat to see.
Fun Pregnancy Myths
In this video, people are asked to describe pregnancy myths and wives tales they know. It's a fun watch, and you never know, some of those old wives may be smarter than you thought!
Pregnant woman discusses symptoms
This video is pretty long at over ten minutes, and perhaps a bit on the whiny side, but it's a good peek into what one woman is feeling. It's worth watching if you're feeling like you're the only one who's ever felt this way. The music at the beginning lasts about a minute.
Take a Test
The most important thing you can do if you feel you may be pregnant is take a pregnancy test. These are inexpensive and widely available. You can even find them sometimes at the dollar stores! There are also community resources available such as Planned Parenthood where you can get a test for free if you cannot afford to pay. If you are too shy to buy one yourself, ask a friend to pick one up for you. For your health and your baby's health, it's best to know as soon as you can if you are indeed pregnant.
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Comments
Great hub and I appreciate that....
Keep it up!!!
Cheer's
I like the video of the woman's changes in stomach size through out her term. I will do the same for my wife. We are a little saddened as our ultrasound last week revealed that my wife will miscarry. This would have been our first. We are sad, but resiliant and will try again when ready.
Nice hub!
Jonathan
Jonathan,I'm sorry to hear of your loss, but glad to know your attitude is positive. Documenting your wife's changing body is a great way to celebrate pregnancy.Lela
It's nice to know if someone needs to know this hub is at thier fingertips. Good job.
Very very informative hub! I think you've got all of the symptoms listed here. Great writing!
A great well-written article. You have symptoms that most pregnancy sites don't even include. Thank you for the info and the great links!
Very handy. Thanks!
Your hub came in handy with my new surprise, number 4 is on the way:.) Thanks!
Hi,
During the days of pregnancy, the girl should not take additional burdens like lifting heavy articles or things, they should be take care of health, they should be diet based on the guidelines given by doctors. they should have rich foods, like dry fruits, greenary vegetables etc., they should walk in the mornings or nights, to get relief for body, they should not have oily foods.
These are the necessary actions should be taken care while in the days of pregnancy.
Regards,
Guru.
ITS REALLY INTERESTING! THANKS FOR THE INFO!!!
This would have come in handy when i was almost 3 months pregnant and figured it out. Excellent hub you've put together!
Great Hub. Thanks for the information.
Very nice hub. I had a chance to observe my wife and every time (3) had been a bit different.
With #2 my husband "knew" two days later ! He swore my breasts had grown! Back then there were no at home tests, and even when I called the doc., they said I'd have to go long enough to miss a period so that my urine would have enough to accurately test. Things have changed!
Excellent hub! Very informative. Thanks!
During all my pregnancies, I had a great deal of trouble taking prenatal vitamens in that they increased my morning sickness. I usually quit taking them but made sure i had plenty of fresh veggies. You might consider writing a hub on medicine and pregnancy. This could include the use of prenatal vitamen but also the danger of over the counter drugs that an uninformed person may think are safe (after all they are FDA approved right?) but will actually hurt the unborn child. For instance the anti-histamine Contact is known to cause miscarriages in early term women.
During all my pregnancies, I had a great deal of trouble taking prenatal vitamens in that they increased my morning sickness. I usually quit taking them but made sure i had plenty of fresh veggies. You might consider writing a hub on medicine and pregnancy. This could include the use of prenatal vitamen but also the danger of over the counter drugs that an uninformed person may think are safe (after all they are FDA approved right?) but will actually hurt the unborn child. For instance the anti-histamine Contact is known to cause miscarriages in early term women.
There is surely nothing more beautiful and awesome to behold than pregnant young mother. Thanks!
this is a great hub, being a guy i obviously can't comment too much - but a friend of mine has recently had "the scare", an i imagine its information like this that she would have found REALLY useful, (she came back negative by the way - much to her delight!)
another friend of mine though has just had a baby girl they've called Lisa. App-arently she's had a REALLY easy pregnancy and time leading up to it though, the only thing she said she had where the cravings *smiles*. An insane craving for a hot-dog one-day apparently, funny girl.
Nice and very useful hub! Thanks for sharing this information!
Very informative for women like me who are newly mariied. Thanks!
Thanks dear.
Hi
How common is it to still have your period and not have any signs of pregnancy at all during the 9 months ? I heard of a woman who had her period for the 9 months, never felt sick and you couldn't note that she was pregnant.. her only sign was that she gained weight... and she got her baby in a flight to another city because she was going to see a doctor... I saw it on a brazillian chanel, TV Record...
Is this common ?
Haha yes darling
your pragnant : ]
some ways to tell, simple
hardness in the breasts of course.
Miss/late periods
Stomach getting bigger
rounder thats obvious lol.
Theres alot of things you
can tell if your pragnant
if these comments arent enough
information try googling!
Lol, may sound dumb but
i allways find what im
looking for on it =l
so how did u get pregnet
I knew I was pregnant two weeks before I missed my period. With my first pregnancy I had suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum and had severe nausea throughout my whole pregnancy. We were trying for our second and about two weeks before I was due for my period I started waking up in the middle of the night with nausea. After the second night, I new I was pregnant and confirmed it a two weeks later with a test. At first the test came back negative. I threw it away in the garbage and spent the next couple of hours going crazy. I was sure I was pregnant. Several hours later, I looked at the test stick again and wouldn't you know it - I WAS PREGNANT!!! This was all discovered on LABOR DAY, 1999 and in 2000 I had my daughter.
For all who take the home pregnancy tests - if it comes back negative - and you really think you are pregnant - check it again - you never know!
Nice tips. It will help for men too.
I love this hub~~ you've outlined pregnancy in a creatively wrapped nutshell. This videos are excellent.
Besides smells & tastes suddenly seeming "different" another way to tell you are pregnant is if you smell things you've never smelt before. All the sudden your sense of smell increases a hundred fold.
when i was pregnant with my first child everything made me sick the smell of fast food and even perfume. All i wanted to eat was fruit and salad that was the only thing i could eat that wouldn't make me sick. With my second pregnancy i craved spicy food and root beer sodas.
There was this documentary on NatGeo, I think, that showed how the ancient Egyptians diagnosed if a woman was pregnant or not. Apparently, the women were made to urinate on wheat and barley seeds. If the seeds sprouted, the woman was diagnosed as being pregnant.
My mother was four months pregnant when she noticed my presence and she was completing her routine sit ups. Might explain a few things :)
great hub
Really informative post.
Good article, rated up
deserves 100%
Can anyone please help me. It is too early to test and I have diareah(excuse spelling!) in the mornings. Can you get diareah instead of morning sickness. My stomach seems fine once I have been 2-3 times.
Thanks
I have just done a test and it is negative so either it is too early - possibly or I am not pregnant. I will c the doc later today and so will let you all know.
oops... I think I'm pregnant!!!!!
Lela......thats grt HUB especialy for men also & very informative
Great hub! Keep it up.
i have pregnant almost 8 month... thnks tha artikle
Ok I have been on the birth control shot for 6 moths now. So i didnt think I could get pregnant well i went to the doctor and they said I had had a miscarriage. But now I think I kight be pregnant again I have most of the symtoms. I dont know what to do or what to think. I need help. Is it even possible for me to be pregnant?
A friend of mine just found out she is pregnant... how exciting!
Good stuff....
Great Hub! Thanks for all the info! Have bookmarked this site already!
I think I concieved 8 days ago, my breasts are tingly, my stomach is bloated and achy, I have lower back ache ( like I normally do 2 days before my period- trouble is, I'm not due on for another week!)
My sense of smell has changed and I'm tired all the time, everything seems like too much effort. I have this feeling that I am..... And I can't explain it, I've taken a test but Its negative.... have I taken it too early? I'm not expecting my period for another 7 days! If no-one replies to this, I'll let you know the outcome anyway :)
i have noticed myself gaining weight but i got my period for one day last month and i have taken 2 at home test and they both say no...my breasts are sore..im tired and i feel naucious when i eat something ...could i be pregnat still
Hi, I also belive I may be with child. We have been trying for over 4 years, and I am a week late. In the last month I have experienced dizzyness, faint, exhaustion and tender breast. The home test have come back negative, but that doesn't suprise me, my sister never got a postive home pregnancy test or urine test in general. She was only able to confirm through blood tests. So Marissa, if you really think you may be with child call your doctor and ask for a blood test.
Best wises to all!
Yoyo
Im from michigan and the thing is i want to go get a blood test done but i cant afford to do like the hospitals and stuff do them....i need to soon...especially seeing im feeling worse than i have been
Hi Ladies,
If you really need to have a blood test done, but cannot afford one I would find out if there is a community clinic in your area that provides free or reduced services.
well i git my tubes tied 3 years ago after a c section but now i feel prego i missed3 monthes period then i had one for 1 week and it was verry light and a few day,x of just brown spotting i,m soo confuse i even took 2 pregnetcy test and they were neg
Vicky, tests can give a false negative. You might want to see a doctor about those symptoms. Be healthy.
I have all the signs of pregnancy but my home pregnancy tests are comming up negative! My hubby and my mother in law both think im prego, and i feel that i am! Is there a reason that my hpt's are comming back negative, im over a week late on my period, more like two? I'm going to the Dr's next tuesday, I'll let everyone know when i find out something! I love this page, its really insightful, and it comes frome the heart!
This is our first month trying and my period is due in a week.. I feel really bloated and like kinda crampy in the lower abdomen.. the past 2 mornings I woke up not sick but my belly felt off.. I took a pregnancy test thismorning but it was negative.. so IDK.. I guess I'll wait to see if my period comes. Fingers X!
ok update.. still have all the same symptoms and now 2 days late! Getting a pinching in my left lower side too (not sure if its related) and my breasts are tender. Took a peg test thismorning and still negative.
hi! i am now 5 days delayed.i was previously diagnosed to have PCO and have blocked (R) fallopian tube coz of endometriosis. i have the majority of the symptoms mentioned like breast tenderness that wouldn't go that's been there few weeks before i missed my period,unilateral low pack pain,feeling of tiredness & sluggishness and occasional nausea and crampy lower abs. but the thing is,i'm not sure if these would say that i'm preganant or just an aggravation of my condition.for the record,i didn't have missed periods for pathological reasons and i have a regular period.i did an HPT but it came back negative.anyway,i've tested only a day late.could it be too early?
hi pls. help me...i dont know if i am pregnant but since january i dont get any period. If i am really pregnant, it must be 3 month. My stomach is bloated and i always feel i want to vomit all the time. my breast is now bigger but i always feel painful cramps just like when i have a period. Im not trying pregnancy test but I know my self that i am really pregnant! i'm not yet ready for this so i am now still trying to abort this. i try parsley infusion but only when i have time. Last Sunday, fresh red blood was on my panty and i thought my menstruation will now come but it stop after that day. what is that mean? back to normal again, having painful cramps, bloated stomach, gaining weight and still trying to find things just to stop my pregnancy...anyone help??? pls..im desperately need your help...
What do it mean when ya period stays on for 9 days?
hi my breast has been leaking clear fulid and i have come on my period but i am feeling sick and my mum and friends think i am pregnant help me plz
i am two months late on my period, and i have tender breasts and i feel pretty tired latley. I dont have any of the other signs though ? I am going to take a pregnancy test today and i'm hoping the result are negative seeing as i am only 15.
I am very scared. Help me please.
Thank you so much for sharing such great information!!
16 n 6weeks ate on my period, im never late on my periods, ive had some really bad backaches, i cnt sleep at night at all i get so restless and moody! my nipples are sfter and darker and i wee constantly i had sex but around 3days after i went t a clinic for one of those new pills out that act as a fast ative abortion, i need some help...plzz xx
Hey I agree, I didn't know that gas, and bloating were early common signs of pregnancy.. no other sites say that! This site is very usefull!
Thanks..
best of luck to everyone
Hey everyone!!!
I'm 19 years old an i haven't seen my period in about 2 months now and i think that i may be pregnant. the only symptoms that i am having is pain in my lower stomach an side, always tired in the day, an it may just be in my head, but it feels like i huv kind of a lump in the middle of my stomach. I took a HPT a week before my missed period, and about 2 weeks after my missed period and they bouth came out negative, but i am still having a gut feeling that i am pregnant... What should I do???
P.s. I dnt believe in abortion , but at the same time i no that my mother would kill me if i were pregnant... What should i do??? Really need your advice ASAP!!!!
hey ppl my fiance took 2 home preg testest and both was prosite and now she is bleeding HARD and on her peroid.. Is she Preg? Everyone asking her if she is preg and she gainin weight and she have alil belly.. any help would be great..
WELL IM ONLY 14 YEARS OLD AND LAST MONTH I HAD MY PERIOD FOR LIKE 1 DAY AND I BEEN REAL BLOATED AND BERLY THIS WEEK I HAVE STARTED TO FEEL DIZZY AND NASEOUS AND TIRED"/MY FRIENDS THINK IM PREGO BUT HONESTLY I DONT WANT TO I THINK IM TO YOUNG FOR THAT"/I REALLY NEED YALLS HELP PLZZ HELP ME"/I KNOW IF I WAS TO BE PREGNANT MY MOM WOULD KILL ME"/
First of all, why are all of these children having sex? Further, if they are having sex, why wouldn't they be practicing safe sex by wearing condoms? 14 and 15 year olds??? It makes me truly sad. But anyway...when you are that young, it is normal for your period to be pretty sporatic. It kinda comes and goes when it wants. So for your sake, your family's sake, the sake of a potential life, and for the sake of society as a whole, I really hope it's just because your period is adjusting.
Hi all,
I am wondering if I am pregnant. You would think that I would know if I am pregnant however I am not sure. I had my period last month and for that past week or so my stomach has been bloated almost hard like and My breasts are a bit tender but nothing more than usual and i have been waking up to urinate in the middle of the night. Much like i did with my first pregnancy. I am not actually set to have my period for another week or so yet I really feel like i am pregnant. Do you your symptoms show earlier with your second pregnancy? Am I pregnant? Please help!!
ok if i am pregnant idf only be on week 2...im experiancing some minor cramps, sore tender breasts, and i am sleepy all the time. Its pretty odd for me. But my husband and i have been safe i mean we'd mess around and b4 hed...well u know, wed put a comdom on, not only that but he just under went a surgery that supposedly wont let him ejaculate sperm for a lil while, so im so confused. please help
It probably doesn't help that I've had reoccurring dreams about being pregnant and not knowing until the baby starts kicking...so I've been slightly paranoid about it. Two months ago, my period came a week late. This month, it arrived when it was supposed to. I'm on birth control, but lately I've been feeling very sick to my stomach, full, mood swings, slight breast tenderness. I've taken four at home pregnancy tests over the course of the two months, and all have been negative. Emotion says I very well could be, but logic is saying it isn't likely. Is there ANY possibility that I could be pregnant? Is it possible to be on the pill, have you "period", and test negative, but still be pregnant? I'm just trying to figure out whether or not I should have my Dr. do a blood test while I am there for my physical next week.
I am glad that you included the basal temperature holding steady as a symtom of pregnancy. I would imagine that for most women, that actually is the earliest symptom of pregnancy, as the basal temperature usually drops a day or two before the onset of menses. I figured out I was pregnant with my son with my first missed period, before any pregnancy test available at the time could detect any pregnancy.
Also, symptoms may not show up any earlier with second or later pregnancies. It's just that after the first one, we're more familiar with how it feels and what goes on during early pregnancy, so we catch on sooner.
As for all the requests for help, your best bet is to see a doctor. And if you're a kid, talk to your parents. Most parents aren't monsters and won't kill you just because you think you might be pregnant.
i hope my friend isnt pregnant...shes only 13..
I have a beautiful 2 1/2 year old that was delivered via c-section at 32 weeks because of preclampsia. I have been TTC for 1 year and have had 3 miscarriages. I just found out I am pregnant again...so far all the test done have shown that I have anti-thyroid antibodies. I took 2 home pregnancy test a during the week before my period and 1 one day after my period was late and they were negative. The test taken at home after being 1 week late came back positive. The HCG line came back faint once and faint and not complete on the repeat. The blood test came back positive...however the blood test showed my progesterone to be low and so I am taking prometrium vaginally. I am concerned that the home pregnancy test had the faint lines and if that has any correlation to the low progesterone?
i have irregular period but for the past 3mnth its been on the 24th day, its the 24th day today and my period hasnt started, feeling bloated, bust very heavy, frequent urination and cramp in my right side. I have tired HPT today but came negative. I'll wait until the 28th day and hope it doesnt start b4 then becos we have been trying for 1yr now. Pray with me that it comes positive next time i try a HPT.
i have my period but two days before i had sex it look funny i dont know if im pregnant or not
woohooo!!! just found out am 4 and a half months pregnant didnt even know until i fainted in work! still getting my periods and hardly put on an ounce of weight, roll on 9 months and my wee baby!
Hi everyone, I'm currently in a long distance relationship, however my bf visited me for a week... After he left I started feeling very nauseous, I kept feeling tired all the time, I had severe back aches, I kept getting extremely moody, I got really bloated and my breast got really tender, I also had severe cramps and foods that didn't usually affect me, started affecting me... Now what is bothering me is that, my period came 3 days early and lasted the normal length of time, however after my period I thought it would all end, but on the contrary, it's like I went back to step one and all these symptoms have returned... Anyone has any information on this? Could I be pregnant? I'm going to take a hpt tomorrow anyway and see how it goes.
I love the video of the ladie's belly changing during her pregnancy...so cute...I just had a miscarriage a few monthes ago....but my husband and I are ready to try again in a few monthes...it saddens me though, because it took me almost a year to get pregnant the first time. But that video has given me a great idea! Thanks for sharing all this great information!
Jenn
Nice hub, good information
Oh..i seem to have 4-5 of these symtoms!!!
I've been on the depo shot for about 3 months now. I've had only one period being on the shot. 3 weeks ago my boyfriend and I had sex, I started to get bad backaches and now I'm starting to notice my breast enlarging but not hurting. Also, I don't really feel sick but every so often I'll throw up a little in my mouth. Should I take a hpt?
Just Toyia says:
2 years ago
A good thing to remember is one positive home pregnancy test is almost always certain. I was laughed at when I went to the doctor for my first examine and told them I took 3 pregnancy tests and they all wer epositive but I still wasn't sure I was pregnant- Now apparently false negatives are common....