Have you heard stories of women arriving at the ER with terrible stomach cramps only to find out they’re giving birth? It sounds too amazing to be true, but it is. A cryptic pregnancy is when you’re pregnant but don’t know it.
Although not overly common, it’s important to recognize how and why a woman could not know she’s pregnant. If you suspect you are pregnant, contact us at Pee Dee. We’ll give you the resources and referrals to find out.
How Does a Woman Not Know She’s Pregnant?
Here are a few reasons why a woman could miss the fact that she’s pregnant:
- Her periods are very irregular.
- She doesn’t have the typical pregnancy symptoms, nor does she know what they are. Early symptoms might include a missed period, tender breasts, fatigue, and the frequent need to urinate.
- She has pregnancy symptoms, but attributes them to some other health problem or simply dismisses them.
- She got a false-negative pregnancy test. A false-negative result means the test indicates she is not pregnant when she actually is. This result could be because she took a home pregnancy test incorrectly, the test had expired, or she took the wrong type of test.
How To Find Out If You Are Pregnant
When a woman becomes pregnant, she produces a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). As this hormone builds, it eventually becomes detectable in her urine and bloodstream. A urine pregnancy test gives faster results, but a blood test is more accurate.
Start by taking a urine pregnancy test. Most over-the-counter pregnancy tests are reliable, but you need to take the test correctly. Here are the steps to follow:
- Check the expiration date.
- Wait until the first day after your missed period to take the test. The longer you wait, the more accurate the results.
- Test in the morning when your urine is the most concentrated.
- Check the results after the recommended amount of time.
- Retest in 3 to 5 days to ensure you get the same result.
Just like every woman, every pregnancy is unique. Most women realize they’re pregnant by 20 weeks gestation.
If you are sexually active, it’s critical to understand the symptoms of pregnancy and your body’s changes.
Talk With a Caring, Supportive Team Member
Come to Pee Dee PRC if you think you might be pregnant. Our trained client advocates can assist you and answer your questions. We provide educational classes on pregnancy, prenatal care, childbirth, and more.
No matter what, we are here for you. You can schedule an appointment online or call (910) 997-3040. You are perfectly different, and we care about you.