How To Self Examine Your Stomach For Pregnancy

What To Ask Your Doctor

If youve decided youre ready to try for a baby, its time to get a pre-conceptional checkup. Your doctor can advise you on any necessary lifestyle changes, which are the best prenatal vitamins before pregnancy, and how to calculate your estimated delivery date. If youre tracking your cycle, this information can help your doctor determine these dates.

Pregnancy is commonly divided into 3 terms, each of which takes a little more than 13 weeks. Full-term babies are born from 39 weeks to 40 weeks and 6/7 weeks of gestation. And if youre pregnant with twins, it is advisable to deliver twins at 38 completed weeks’ gestation or later to avoid neonatal complications. Keeping track of your cycle will allow your doctor to be certain of these dates even before the first ultrasound.

Even though theres no baby during the first week of pregnancy, your body is already preparing itself for conception. That means that there are already many things you can do to improve your chances of having a healthy pregnancy. Follow a healthy lifestyle during the first days of pregnancy and youll be taking care of your baby even before its here!

Vulva Change In Colour

What else could it be?

Lesley tells us: This purple-blue discolouration of your vulva can be observed as early as four weeks of pregnancy but, unless you are regularly looking at your vulva, you may not be aware of it as it wont feel any different. Although many women experience this change in colouration, the absence of Chadwicks sign does not mean that you are not pregnant.

Weeks 37 To : Almost There

Although an âat termâ pregnancy can last 40 or more weeks, passing 39 weeks of pregnancy is the official mark of a full-term pregnancy. If your little one prefers to stay in the coziness of your belly a bit longer, your healthcare provider will keep track of vital signs to make sure all is well.

At this time, you probably need to rest and put your feet up, but you might also feel the urge to put any finishing touches on baby preparation, from decorating the nursery to shopping for all things baby. Downloading the Pampers Club app is a great way to get all the essentials and earn rewards for any purchases.

• Before you became pregnant, your little uterus weighed just about two ounces. Throughout the months of your pregnancy, your body stretched, adjusted, and expanded to create a baby bump . At this time, your uterus probably weighs about 2.5 pounds!

• At 40 weeks, your uterus has finished its expansionâphew!

• You may notice your baby bump stretches all the way from the bottom of your rib cage to your pubic area.

Also Check: Best Pillow For Side And Stomach Sleeper

When Should You Consult A Doctor

Most women avoid going to a doctor until they are well within a few months of their pregnancy. This is not recommended at all since there can be several complications during a pregnancy that needs to be tended to by a medical professional. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult a doctor regarding your pregnancy at the earliest chance possible.

Early Signs Of Pregnancy: 23 Symptoms To Be Aware Of

Don’t miss these early signs of pregnancy and oh-so common pregnancy symptoms

Sign up to the GoodTo Newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how to do this, and how we hold your data, please see our privacy policy

Thank you for signing up to . You will receive a verification email shortly.

There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Early signs of pregnancy are always there, and there are many, you just need to know what to look for.

If you think you might be pregnant and know it’s too early to take a pregnancy test, and definitely too early for an ultrasound scan, then look out for the subtle signs of pregnancy that we outline below you know your body better than anyone.

Early signs and pregnancy symptoms can show as soon as four days after conception. For most people, one of the early signs of pregnancy is a missed period,Lesley Gilchrist, registered midwife, and co-founder of My Expert Midwife, explains. Some people feel tired and a little sick before this. Its these symptoms that are the most common in early pregnancy. They tend to show around six weeks from your last period and improve from about 12 weeks onwards.

Recommended Reading: Stage 3 Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis

Weeks 9 To 1: Your Changing Shape

Once you enter 9 weeks of pregnancy, you officially have a little fetus growing inside you! At this point, you may be wondering when your baby bump will start to show. Keep an eye out on your profile and see if you notice any slight weight gain or growth above your pelvis. By the time week 11 or 12 arrives, you may have gained around 1.5 to 4.5 pounds. But no need to worry if youâve gained more or even lost weight. Everyone is different, and morning sickness and food aversions can impact early weight gains and losses.

• Thereâs potential for baby bump growth, but probably nothing too significant. The biggest change that you may notice is weight gain, which is normal at this stage.

• Along with a growing belly may come some emotional changes, too. Adjusting to your new body shape typically takes time, especially when you start to store fat in your lower waist. This fat is needed for your pregnancy, but it can be emotionally challenging.

• Keep in mind that body image can impact the way you feel, and that itâs normal to have a lower libido. But itâs also normal to want to have sex while pregnant, too.

Coping With Common Discomforts Of Pregnancy

Pregnancy produces many physical changes. Aside from weight and body shape, other alterations in your body chemistry and function take place. The heart works harder, your temperature registers slightly higher, body secretions increase, joints and ligaments are more flexible and hormones are altered.

Mood changes are common, resulting from a combination of hormonal changes and greater fatigue, as well as normal anxiety over body image, sexuality, finances, marriage roles and impending parenthood.

The following is a list of the most common discomforts of pregnancy and some guidelines for coping with them.

You May Like: Low Fat Diet For Gallbladder Removal

Fetal Development At 1 Month Pregnant

Baby is working hard on developing from a fertilized egg full of multiplying cells into what we call an embryo. Theyll stay an embryo until the end of month 2 when they officially become a fetus.

Right now, your baby is only about 6 or 7 millimeters in size, but growing quickly and already starting to build up their organ systems. The placenta and umbilical cord are forming, too, to nourish your baby through your pregnancy.

Basal Body Temperature Pregnancy Test

When you are pregnant, your basal body temperature or the lowest temperature your body attains when you are resting is quite high when compared to normal times. So, this test proves to be helpful to check your pregnancy status at home. All you need is a basal body thermometer.

Dont Miss: When Is Getting Pregnant Most Likely

Also Check: Supplements To Improve Gallbladder Function

You Can Feel Your Womb

It will still take some time before your belly starts showing that you are pregnant. And yet you will be able to feel that your womb has grown. Lie down on your back and press gently just above the edge of your pelvic bone. Use all your fingertips together. Can you feel the hard edge? A kind of rubber ball? That is your womb! It wont be long now before you start seeing a little baby bump. Once the edge of the womb emerges from under the pelvic bone, the womb will no longer be able to hide behind it.

J Special Points About The Palpation Of The Fetal Head

You May Like: How Can I Know If I Am Pregnant

You May Like: Average Cost Of Gallbladder Surgery

How To Self Examine Your Stomach

Free CPR+AED Course. Kursus CPR+AED percuma Contribute to #CPR1000 Donate Now

Recommended Reading: What Can Cure Nausea During Pregnancy

Remember: 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. You can even buy them on Amazon. For your health and your baby’s health, it’s best to know as soon as you can if you are indeed pregnant. Buck up and get one!

When taken properly, home pregnancy tests are 99% accurate. Though some say you can take them up for five days before your missed period, the earlier you test, the more likely you are to get a false negative. If the test is negative and your period still doesnt come, try again.

Read Also: Best Dog Food For Sensitive Stomach And Gas

Week 1 Pregnant Lifestyle

If youre trying to conceive, there are many lifestyle changes you can adopt to improve your chances of getting pregnant. Some of these new habits include:

• Starting a healthier diet: there isnt a specific fertility diet, but eating healthier foods can help you get pregnant faster. Include foods like leafy greens, mercury-free fish, seeds and nuts, complex carbs, fruits, and plenty of water in your diet to prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy.
• Avoid certain substances: even if youre not technically pregnant, staying away from alcohol, tobacco, excessive caffeine, simple carbs, trans fats, and environmental pollutants can improve your chances of having a healthy baby.
• Start exercising: its never too late to get healthy once youve decided you want a baby. Exercising is a great way to reach a healthy weight before a baby!
• Get enough sleep: studies have shown that women who dont get enough sleep can have more trouble getting pregnant.
• Track your cycle: use a menstrual calendar like Flo to determine exactly when your cycle begins, how many days it lasts, and the approximate date of your ovulation.

Checklist For Your Pregnancy

Theres not a whole lot to accomplish at 1 month pregnant, other than coming to terms with the existential reality that your entire life is going to change forever within the next year . But there are a couple of things you might want to tackle:

• Schedule an appointment with a midwife or OB-GYN to confirm your pregnancy. Most docs wont see you until youre at least 8 weeks along, but you can make the appointment now if you want.
• Sleep. Youll need it, not just throughout your whole pregnancy but afterwards, too!
• Start making a plan for eating well and exercising during pregnancy. You might not be able to get started until after morning sickness comes and goes, but it doesnt hurt to think about it now.
• If you havent already, kick dangerous habits like smoking, drug use, and drinking to the curb so you can have the healthiest pregnancy possible.
• Start taking a prenatal vitamin. You dont necessarily a prescription the ones available over-the-counter are just as good. Be sure it has at least 400 micrograms of folic acid.

Recommended Reading: Best Juice For Kidneys And Liver

Other Home Pregnancy Tests

In addition to using the natural ingredients available in your kitchen cupboard, you can do home pregnancy tests using certain chemically laden ingredients commonly available in every household. As a bonus, find the answer to your burning question how to test pregnancy at home using homely products.

The First Trimester: Fetal Development

The most dramatic changes and development happen during the first trimester. During the first eight weeks, a fetus is called an embryo. The embryo develops rapidly and by the end of the first trimester, it becomes a fetus that is fully formed, weighing approximately 0.5 to 1 ounce and measuring, on average, 3 to 4 inches in length.

You May Like: How To Reduce Fatty Liver Disease

Week 1 Pregnant Ultrasound: Do You Need It

You dont really need an ultrasound during the first week of pregnancy. However, your doctor might perform one if you havent had a pre-conceptional checkup or if youve had trouble conceiving. At this point, an ultrasound can help diagnose anatomical abnormalities that might make it harder for you to conceive, such as fibroids or polycystic ovarian syndrome.

When Will My Stomach Get Hard

When your stomach expands and feels hard, the answer may be as simple as overeating or consuming carbonated drinks, which is easy to cure.If this is the case, it is important to avoid these behaviors.There are also potentially more severe reasons, such as an inflammatory bowel illness.A sore stomach may be the consequence of consuming carbonated beverages too rapidly, which can cause gas to build up in the stomach.

Don’t Miss: Ca 19-9 Pancreatic Cancer

Can I Tell If I’m Pregnant By Feeling My Belly

Emily Gulla

Have you heard rumours that you can feel your stomach to see if you’re pregnant? Read on to find out the facts, including when you can feel your baby move from the outside, and how to tell you’re pregnant in the early stages.

This page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.

If you think you could be in the early stages of pregnancy, you might be wondering how to feel your stomach to see if you are in fact pregnant. Here’s what you need to know…

Feeling your belly from the outside

There are a lot of myths out there but, unfortunately, it’s notpossible to tell if you’re pregnant by feeling your stomach or belly from the outside in the early stages of pregnancy.

FREE NEWBORN NAPPIES

Later on in pregnancy, it may be possible for you or others to feel your baby moving by touching your belly from the outside, and you will start to develop a feel-able baby bump but these things won’t happen until much later down the line, around the middle of your pregnancy.

How your belly might feel on the inside

While you won’t be able to tell that you’re pregnant by physically touching your stomach in the early stages of pregnancy, there are some early pregnancy symptoms which you may feel internally in your abdomen area, and these could give you an early sign that you’re pregnant.

Weeks 33 To 3: Getting Into Position

Your baby may arrive soon, and your baby bump probably gives it away. If youâre having multiples, expect your belly to be bigger, as itâs a snuggly home to more than one! Because of this growth, late-stage pregnancy can be a bit uncomfortable, but, soon enough, itâll all be worth it.

If the nesting urge didnât get you last month, you may experience it more at this point in your pregnancy. Nesting is not just a myth, and it can help you alleviate any stress or anxious thoughts as that baby bump grows. For any physical discomforts, stretching and light exercise, like prenatal yoga, go a long way.

• Sometime soon, your baby will “drop” into position to prepare for delivery. You may notice your baby bump shifting downward.

• As your baby moves down toward the birth canal, you might even feel some relief in your upper abdomen, but there could be more pressure on your pelvis and bladder. If your baby doesnât assume into the typical birthing position , your bump could be a bit wider or top heavy!

• A top-heavy pregnancy belly is more common if your baby is breech in your belly.

• As your baby moves into position, you might also notice some relief in digestive symptoms such as heartburn or constipation.

Also Check: What Are The 4 Stages Of Cirrhosis Of The Liver