Am I Pregnant, Despite Negative Hpt's?
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
I am 19 years old and Ive been in a serious relationship for a little over 4 years now.
Here recently I have had a lot of unprotected sex without being on birth control. My partner and I have had sex for 3 years with no unexpected pregnancies.
However now, I have started to feel "different" and its a feeling I've never felt before. My lower abdomen feels full....or bloated. I get dizzy and queasy but not nauseous. Ive also had a few strange cravings and some hot flashes. I have not missed my period but due to the strange feeling I have taken 5 HPTs. 2 were a cheap Walgreens brand that came up with an error both times. the other 3 were Clear Blue...and one was an error and the other 2 were negative...but i still feel strange.
Is it all in my head? I know its VERY possible that I'm pregnant but I don't believe the tests when they say "not pregnant" Its like I trust myself more....
ANSWER
You won't know for sure until you miss a period and then wait two weeks. If you still test negative then, it means you are not pregnant. But something else may be going on, so you may want to get a check-up. Good luck!
-- Cynthia, CNM
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
