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Symptoms, But a Negative Test?

QUESTION

Dear Midwife,
I am feeling very frustrated and disappointed right now. I have been trying to conceive for about 4 months. I have a 35-day, regular cycle. I was due to start this past Sunday, July 13th. I had cramps and low back pain like normal, but no period. It is Thursday, July 17th and I still have no period. I tested on Monday, July 14th and it was negative (morning urine). I also tested this morning (Thursday) and it was negative.

I feel like I have some other pregnancy symptoms. However, I know it is possible that it is just in my head. I have really sore nipples, with some breast tenderness. My nipples are also erect all the time, making it look like I am cold. I have also been moody (crying, irritable, etc..), feel full (bloated) and tend to use the bathroom more frequently these last few days. I usually sleep straight through the night and have woken up at 3-4 a.m. every night this week to go pee. I also feel more tired during the afternoons around this time 3:00 pm.

So I seem to have the symptoms and I feel that I am, but the test is showing otherwise. Is it possible that my levels of HCG are not high enough yet? I thought that after four days of a missed period, the test would show positive if it was going to. Is this true? I am very hopeful that I am a mom to be. I really want to have a baby soon. Please if there is still any hope for me, let me know.

ANSWER

About 10 percent of women will not test positive until two weeks after they miss a period -- hopefully, this is what's happening for you!

-- Cynthia, CNM. PhD.

Comments

Are you pregnant? I was

Submitted by Lisa_M on Sun, 01/25/2009 - 19:27.

Are you pregnant?

I was having similar symptoms.. I am usually a 33 cycle and was late with the same symptoms you described (and tested negative). However I awoke on what would then be day 39 to have gotten my period and all those symptoms gone.

Results

Submitted by bhslauren02 on Wed, 01/21/2009 - 01:20.

Did you end up being pregnant? I'm having the same symptoms, and if you ended up being pregnant, I'll have a better idea of what to expect.

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.