How a woman knows when she is pregnant

Frequently, the first clue to pregnancy is the enlarging of the breasts. The nipples become larger or pigmented, that is, darker in colour, and tiny new blood vessels form on the breasts. There may be new sensations of tingling and fullness.

Another early symptom may be an overpowering drowsiness, which is not related to fatigue but is a simple, acute sleepiness. Some women awaken early in the morning. Others feel suddenly dizzy. There may be an increased desire to urinate, with pressure in the bladder.

The best-known sign of pregnancy is a missed menstrual period. However, menstruation is sometimes delayed or absent for reasons other than pregnancy, and in rare instances women menstruate for several months after conception. The presence or absence of menstruation is therefore not absolutely reliable as an indication.

How the doctor knows when a woman is pregnant

In making an early diagnosis of pregnancy, the doctor is guided by the symptoms that his patient describes to him. His training will enable him to evaluate some of them better than she can.

At about the tenth week, the doctor’s examination enables him to detect pregnancy with a fair degree of accuracy. By pressing the abdomen in the proper place, he can feel the slight enlargement caused by the swollen uterus. The tissues at the entrance to the vagina have a bluish hue. If the fingers are inserted into the vagina, the cervix, or mouth of the uterus, can be felt, and it is definitely softer than it was in the non-pregnant state.

You can be absolutely certain of pregnancy at the middle of the fourth or the beginning of the fifth month. An X-ray will reveal the baby’s bones; its movements can be felt, and its heartbeat detected.

Laboratory tests

Tests have been devised that make it possible to determine pregnancy, in at least 95 per cent of all cases, within two weeks after the first missed menstrual period. Your doctor or any hospital can recommend a laboratory that performs these tests.

*160\68\2*