After posting on Internet pregnancy message boards for two pregnancies, I have noticed that there are quite a few questions that seem to come up on an almost daily basis. It is understandable that pregnant women have many of the same concerns. Here are the most commonly asked questions during the first trimester of pregnancy and the answers to those questions.
"Could I be pregnant?" - It is common to over analyze every possible symptom once you suspect that you could possibly be pregnant. The only way to answer this question is to simply take a test. Home pregnancy tests are readily available and priced reasonably. Many tests can even detect a pregnancy before a missed period. Be sure to check the instructions on your test and follow them carefully in order to get the most accurate result.
"Could I have gotten a false positive/negative test result?" - Most pregnancy tests are extremely reliable if taken correctly. There is a chance of a false negative due to low levels of hCG, the hormone used to detect pregnancy. If you get a negative test result but still suspect that you may be pregnant, it is a good idea to wait a few days and then retest. The chance of a false positive is very small because the hCG hormone detected by the test only shows up during pregnancy. Some tests use more dye than others and so the results may be faint, but any positive result can usually be considered conclusive.
"I am bleeding. Could I be miscarrying?" - Miscarriage is a very real concern during pregnancy, however bleeding is not necessarily a sign of a miscarriage. According to WebMD, "Up to 25% of pregnant women experience spotting to heavier vaginal bleeding. Of these women, about 50% do not miscarry" Bleeding in the first few weeks of pregnancy can be due to implantation bleeding, which is a natural byproduct for some women of the fertilization process. Some bleeding is also common after engaging in sexual intercourse during pregnancy. Any bleeding should be immediately reported to your doctor or midwife, but unless the bleeding is severe and accompanied by pain, there is usually not cause for immediate concern.
"I don't have morning sickness. Does that mean that there is something wrong?" - Every woman experiences pregnancy symptoms differently and there is no such thing as a "normal" degree of morning sickness. Many women report feeling some degree of nausea during the first trimester of pregnancy due to the increased hormone levels and some have more severe symptoms including vomiting. There is no indication that a lack of morning sickness is a sign that the pregnancy is not progressing normally. If you do not suffer from this particular symptom you should simply consider yourself lucky.
"My doctor says that they do not need to see me until after the first trimester. Is this normal?" - Many doctors feel that there is not much to be done during the first trimester and make the first appointment for the beginning of the second trimester and simply tell the pregnant woman to call if they have concerns. Many of the traditional aspects of prenatal exams, such as measuring the uterus and tracking weight gain and fetal movement are simply not an issue during the first trimester. There are some doctors however, who feel that it is important to do early ultrasounds to check the accuracy of due dates and follow the growth of the baby from the very beginning. After doing an informal poll on several pregnancy message boards, I believe that it is equally common to have your first appointment scheduled around 6-8 weeks of pregnancy as it is to have the first appointment scheduled around 12-14 weeks of pregnancy. Both approaches are considered perfectly acceptable for prenatal care and there is no reason to believe that seeing your doctor sooner will be better for your pregnancy. If you want to see a doctor sooner you can always call your doctor's office and tell them of your concerns and see if they can fit you in. If you do not feel that your doctor or midwife is giving you the best possible care, remember that you have the right to change providers at any point during your pregnancy. It is very important that you trust your doctor or midwife absolutely during such an important time.
I hope that these questions and answers help to alleviate common concerns during your first trimester of pregnancy. This is a very exciting time in a woman's life, but it can be a very nerve wracking time as well. You want everything to be perfect, but with a first pregnancy it is hard to know what to expect. The important thing to remember is that these concerns are perfectly normal and justified. Talking with other women going through pregnancy or recently having given birth may help you to feel more comfortable with the changes in your body at this time. If you ever have a question that you need answered immediately, remember that most doctor's offices have nurses available to answer questions at all times. Do not feel shy about calling them. That is what the doctor's office is there for!
