Identifying the symptoms of pregnancy is not enough. Of course, you want someone (or something) to prove that you’re really pregnant.

Having the doctor confirmed your pregnancy is the best way to know if you are really pregnant. But if you can’t go to the doctor yet, there are still possible and reliable ways. Either by home pregnancy kits or laboratory urine test, you can definitely get instant results. If you opted for these tests but remain doubtful, you could go to a clinic and have the test done by gynecologist.

Home Pregnancy Test Kit

Home kits are possibly the easiest and quickest way to determine pregnancy. These are sold at drug stores and are basically simplified chemistry tests. They are designed to detect the presence of the pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG, the hormone produced by the developing placenta) in urine.

The hormone hCG is mostly concentrated in the urine that is discharged upon waking up in the morning. This is the best time to use the test. Put a few drops of urine on the device (depending on the instructions provided in the kit) and wait for at least three minutes for the result. Home kits can determine pregnancy two days after your missed period. Depending on the brand, the handle may show one bar (which means negative) or two bars (positive), or may display a change in color. For your convenience, always pick the brand that gives quick, easy-to-follow instructions.

 Urine Tests 

This is similar to the procedure of urinalysis. You put a sample of your first urine in the morning in a clean and tightly closed container and bring it to the laboratory for medical technologist to test for possible pregnancy. A negative result for the first try may not mean that you’re not pregnant. Don’t hesitate to repeat the test in six or seven days. Laboratory urine and home kit tests are usually 90% reliable.

 Blood Test 

These tests check for hCG presence in the blood. This can be done through the positive-negative test and the quantitative type which measures the actual hCG amount in your blood.

Pregnancy is not the time to lose weight. The average weight gain during pregnancy for a woman of normal weight for her height is 25 to 35 lbs. As a general guideline, you should gain a total of 3 to 5 lbs in the first 3 months and about 1 to 2 lbs per week after that.

Total weight gain comes from:

• Fetus – 7 lbs.
• Placenta – 1.5 lbs
• Amniotic fluid – 1.76 lbs.
• Uterus – 2.1 lbs.
• Breast – .9 lbs.
• Blood – 3.2 lbs.
• Extravascular fluid 3.2 lbs.
• Maternal stores (fat) – 7.3 lbs.
• Total 26.96 lbs.

Recommended weight gain during pregnancy is 22 to 35 lbs. The first trimester expected weight gain is 2 to 4 lbs. The 2nd and 3rd trimester is about 1 lb per week or 10 to 12 lbs per trimester.

Note: Weight gain of less than 2 lbs a month on the 2nd and 3rd trimester is a sign of malnutrition. Weight gain of more than 2 lbs a week is a sign of hypertension of pregnancy, this is due to fluid retention.

Your doctor will let you know how much weight gain is appropriate for you at the different stages of pregnancy. If you are gaining weight too fast, limit sweets and high-fat foods such as soda pop, candy, pastry, cakes, cookies and doughnuts. For desserts, choose fruit or an occasional serving of frozen yogurt, sherbet, pudding or gelatin. Choose more low-fat products. Use very little margarine, sour cream, mayonnaise and salad dressing. Try reduced-calorie varieties. Avoid fried foods such as French fries and doughnuts. Do not fry meats, fish and chicken. Bake or boil these foods instead. Remove the skin from chicken. If serving fried foods, remove the coating.

Here are some common discomforts of pregnancy and what you can do to help:

1. Feel faint while lying on back – Lie on your left side.
2. Swelling of hands and feet – Lie on your left side for 30 minutes, three to four times a day. Exercise often. Drink more fluid. Eat three servings of protein each day. If you wake up in the morning with swelling, tell your health care provider.
3. Bleeding gums – Use a soft toothbrush and brush gently. Drink more orange juice and eat more foods high in vitamin C.
4. Increased secretions (mucus – nose, mouth, throat) – Take care of these problems as best you can without using drugs. Do not use over-the-counter medicine without first checking with your health care provider.
5. Lower leg cramp – Elevate legs often during the day. Point toes upward and press down on kneecap. Apply heating pad or hot-water bottle for relief. Avoid heavy meals at bedtime.
6. Shooting pains down legs – Change positions; if you are sitting, stand up; if you are standing, sit down.
7. Varicose veins – Avoid stockings or girdles with elastic bands. You may use support hose. Put support hose while lying down. Take short rests with legs raised. Raise your legs when you sit down; do not cross your legs.
8. Dizziness – Change your position slowly. Get up slowly after you have been lying down. Eat regular meals and drink plenty of fluids. Do not stay in the sun. Report any dizziness to your health care provider. If these hints do not help, talk with your health care provider.
9. Vaginal discharge, itching, odor – Bathe the outer vaginal area often. Use soap without perfume. Do not use vaginal sprays, powders or feminine hygiene products. Do not use colored or perfumed toilet paper. Wear cotton panties. Avoid pantyhose, girdles and tight pants.
10.  Low backache – Rest often. Use good posture. Move around. Do not stand on one place too long. Use a footstool for your feet when sitting. Keep your knees higher than your hips. Wear low-heeled shoes. Use the pelvic rock exercise.
11.  Fatigue – is common early and late pregnancy. If advised, try pregnancy exercises each day to help keep your energy level up. Lie down at least once a day.
12.  Frequent urination – Limit fluids before bedtime.
13.  Leaking breast milk – Wear nursing pads or tissues in your bra.
14.  Tender breast – Wear a support bra. It may help to wear a bra 24 hours a day.

There are 4 major blood types A, B, AB, or O. Blood types are determined by the types of antigens on the blood cells. Antigens are proteins on the surfaces of blood cells that can cause a response from the immune system. Type A blood has only A antigens, type B has only B antigens, type AB has both A and B antigens, and types O has neither A nor B antigens. There are other antigens that can make blood types even more specific: one of the most common is the Rh factor.

As part of your prenatal care, you will have blood tests to find out your blood type. If your blood lacks the Rh antigen, it is called Rh negative. If it has the antigen, it is called Rh positive. More than 85% of people in the world are Rh positive. When the mother is Rh negative and the father is Rh positive, the fetus can inherit the Rh factor from the father, which makes the fetus Rh positive, too. Problems can arise when the fetus’s blood has the Rh factor and the mother’s does not.

If a small amount of the fetus’s blood mixes with the mother’s blood, which often happens, the mother’s body may respond as if it were allergic to the fetus by making antibodies to the Rh antigens in the fetus’s blood. This means the mother has become sensitized. Her antibodies can then cross the placenta and attack the fetus’s blood, breaking down its red blood cells and causing anemia. This can lead to serious illness or even death in the fetus or newborn.

The first pregnancy poses little risk because it takes time for the mother’s antibodies to build up after being exposed to the antigens. But once they are formed, antibodies do not go away. The best course is to keep the mother from being sensitized and forming antibodies in the first place. If you are Rh negative and blood tests show that you have not become sensitized, your doctor will prescribe Rh immune globulin (RhIg) injections. This blood product prevents the mother from forming antibodies. It is usually injected right after the birth of your first baby to prevent harm to your next one. It may also be given during pregnancy, usually at about 28 weeks of pregnancy.

If you have already become sensitized, your fetus is at risk. As your pregnancy progresses, your doctor will check the levels of antibodies in your blood. If they become high, special tests may be done to check your fetus’s health.

If the fetus is anemic, it will need a blood transfusion. After 18 weeks of pregnancy, these transfusions can be given while the fetus is still in the uterus. If the fetus is old enough, early delivery may be an option. The baby can be treated in a special-care nursery. If you have become sensitized, other babies you have after your first may be at risk. They will to be monitored carefully throughout pregnancy.

Although pregnancy can be detected soon after you conceive, you might not suspect you are pregnant or test for pregnancy until you have missed a menstrual period. Not all women have regular periods, though. Menstrual periods can be affected by stress or illness, so it is best to watch for a number of other signs and symptoms of early pregnancy.

Most of the following are caused by changes in hormone production that begin almost immediately after conception and help ensure optimal development of your baby.

1. Breast changes ( a heavy and full feeling, tenderness, tingling in the nipple area, and a darkened areola
2. Fullness, bloating, or ache in the lower abdomen.
3. Fatigue and drowsiness; faintness
4. Nausea, vomiting or both
5. Frequent urination
6. Increased vaginal secretions
7. Positive pregnancy test.

Note: If you suspect you are pregnant, whether or not you have used a home pregnancy test, have your pregnancy confirmed by a medical professional, begin prenatal care, avoid environmental hazards and pay special attention to your nutritional needs.

Kegel exercise, or perineal exercises, are use to strengthen the muscles that surround the openings of the urethra, vagina and anus. If you contract these muscles for about 10 seconds, 10-20 times in a row, at least three times a day, in time you will begin to notice some improvement in your ability to hold your urine.

Kegel exercises can help cure or improve stress incontinence. They strengthen the muscles that control the flow of urine. Kegel exercises are simple and effective. You can do them anywhere and anytime. No one will know you are doing them except you.

How to do Kegel Exercises

1. Locate the muscles by repeatedly stopping your urine in mind-stream and starting again. The muscles that you feel squeezing around your urethra and anus are the ones to focus on.
2. Practice squeezing these muscles while you are not urinating. If your stomach or buttocks move, you are not using the right muscles.
3. Hold the squeeze for three seconds—then relax for three seconds.
4. Repeat the exercise 10 to 15 times per session.
5. Do not least three Kegel exercise sessions per day.

Regular exercise during pregnancy can make you look and feel better, help your posture, and lessen discomforts such as backaches and fatigue. The goal of exercise during pregnancy should be to reach or keep a level of fitness that is safe. You should not exercise to lose weight during pregnancy. Some exercises provide aerobic conditioning of the heart and lungs; others relieve stress and tone muscles. For total fitness, an exercise program should include exercises that provide both conditioning and strengthening.

• Note: Always follow the Pregnancy Exercise Guidelines for your own safety.
• To ensure that a fitness program is appropriate for you, check with your doctor or midwife before starting or continuing to exercise during pregnancy.

Exercise

Following are exercises that strengthen and stretch muscles that support the back and legs and promote good posture-muscles of the back, the abdomen, the hips, and the upper body. These exercises not only will help ease back pain but also will help prepare you for labor and delivery.

Upper Body Bends

This exercise strengthens the muscles of your back and torso.

• Stand with your legs apart, knees bent slightly, with your hands on your hips.
• Bend forward slowly, keeping your upper back straight. You should feel a slight pull along your upper thigh.
• Repeat 10 times

Diagonal Curl

This exercise strengthens the muscles of your back, hips, and abdomen. If you have not already been exercising regularly, skip this exercise.

• Sit on the floor with your knees bent, feet on the floor, and hands clasped in front of you.
• Twist your upper torso to the left until your hands touch the floor.
• Do the same movement to the right.
• Repeat on both sides 5 times.

Forward Bend

This exercise stretches and strengthens the muscles of your back.

• Sit in a chair in a comfortable position. Keep your arms relaxed.
• Bend forward slowly, with your arms in front and hanging down.
• If you feel any discomfort or pressure on your abdomen, do not push any further.
• Hold this position for a count of 5, then get up slowly without arching your back.
• Repeat 5 times

Trunk Twist

This exercise stretches the muscles of your back spine, and upper torso.

• Sit on the floor with your legs crossed, with your left hand holding your left foot and your right hand on the floor at your side for support.
• Slowly twist your upper torso to the right.
• Do the same movement to the left, after switching your hands (right hand holding right foot and left hand supporting you).
• Repeat on both sides 5-10 times.

Backward Stretch

This exercise stretches and strengthens the muscles of your back, pelvis, and thighs.

• Kneel on hands and knees, with your knees 8-10 inches apart and arms straight (hands under your shoulders).
• Curl backward slowly, tucking your toward your knees and keeping your arms extended.
• Hold this position for a count of 5, then come back up to all fours slowly.
• Repeat 5 times.

Leg Lift Crawl

This exercise strengthens the muscles of your back and abdomen.

• Kneel on hands and knees, with your weight distributed evenly and your arms straight (hands under your shoulders).
• Lift your knee and bring it toward your elbow.
• Strengthen your leg without locking your knee.
• Extend your leg up and back.
• Do this exercise to a count of 5. Move slowly; don’t filing your leg back or arch your back.
• Repeat on both sides 5-10 times.

Rocking Back Arch

This exercise stretches and strengthens the muscles of your back, hips, and abdomen.

• Kneel on hands and knees, with your weight distributed evenly and your back straight.
• Rock back and forth, to a count of 5.
• Return to the original position and curl your back upward as much as you can.
• Repeat 5-10 times.

Back Press

This exercise strengthens the muscles of your back, torso, and upper body and promotes good posture.

• Stand with your feet 10-12 inches away from a wall and your back against it.
• Press the lower part of your back against the wall.
• Hold this position for a count of 10, then release.
• Repeat 10 times.

Sports

Pregnancy is not a time to take up vigorous sports that require good balance or sudden jerky movements, such as softball, skating or tennis. Walking and swimming are the best exercise for pregnant women.

The amount and type of exercise that is best for you during pregnancy depends on your general health, the course of your pregnancy, your fitness and your usual activity level.

Regular, moderate exercise during pregnancy maintains muscle tone, strength and endurance; it also protects against back pain, helps prevent excessive accumulation of body fat, and has a positive effect on your energy level, mood and self-image.

To ensure that a fitness program is appropriate for you, check with your doctor or midwife before starting or continuing to exercise during pregnancy.

1. Get regular exercise (at least three times a week). Avoid spurts of heavy exercise followed by long periods of no activity.
2. Avoid brisk exercise in hot, humid weather or when you are sick with a fever (such as the flu).
3. Avoid jerky, bouncy, or high-impact motions. Activities that call for jumping, jarring motion, quick changes in direction may strain your joints and cause pain. Low-impact exercise is best. A wooden floor or a tightly carpeted surface reduces impact and gives you sure footing.
4. Wear a bra that fits well and gives lots of support to help protect your breasts.
5. Wear the proper shoes for the activity to be sure your feet are well cushioned and to give your body good support. There are shoes designed just for walking, running, aerobics, or tennis.
6. Avoid deep knee bends, full sit-ups, double leg raises (in which you raise and lower both legs together), and straight-leg toe touches.
7. After 20 weeks of pregnancy, avoid exercises that require lying with your back on the floor for more than a few minutes.
8. Always begin with 5 minutes of slow walking or stationary cycling with low resistance to warm up your muscles. Intense exercise should not last longer than 15 minutes.
9. Follow intense exercise with 5-10 minutes of gradually slower activity that ends with gentle stretching in place. To reduce the risk of injuring the tissue connecting your joints, do not stretch as far as you possibly can.
10. The extra weight you are carrying will make you work hander as you exercise at a slower pace. Measure your heart rate at peak times of activity.
11. Get up from the floor slowly and gradually to avoid feeling dizzy or fainting. Once you are standing, walk in place briefly.
12. Drink water often before, during, and after exercise to be sure your body gets enough fluids. Take a break in your workout to drink more water if needed.
13. If you did not exercise two or three times a week before getting pregnant, start with physical activity of very low intensity and, bit by bit, move to higher levels.
14. Stop exercising and consult your doctor or nurse if you get any of these symptoms, and they are unusually severe:
    1. Pain
    2. Vaginal bleeding
    3. Dizziness or feeling faint
    4. Shortness of breath
    5. Irregular or rapid heart beat
    6. Difficulty walking
    7. Pain in your back or pubic area

Pregnancy is not a good time to take up a new, strenuous sport. If you were active before your pregnancy, however, you should be able to keep it up, within reason.

Click here to see a list of pregnancy exercises which you can easily follow.

At your first prenatal appointment, your doctor will determine your due date by asking the date of your last menstrual  period (conception takes place about two weeks after your last period). To calculate the your due date, the doctor will have to subtract three months from the first day of your last menstrual period and add seven days.

For example, if the first day of your Last Menstrual Period (LMP) was May 5, count back 3 months then add 7 days – the Estimated Due Date (EDD) is February 12 of the following year.

To illustrate:

	Month	Day	Year
LMP	May	5	2008
	-3	+7	+1
EDD	Feb	12	2009

Pregnancy lasts an average of 280 days or 40 weeks. When your doctor says you are twelve weeks pregnant, then it means that the fetus is ten weeks old.

If you cannot remember the date of your last menstrual period, or if your last period was scant or unusual, the doctor will have to use other methods of calculating your due date. It maybe:

• Throughout pregnancy, but especially early on, the size of the uterus can provide useful information.
• Fetal heart tones can usually be heard at 12 weeks by using a Doppler Device, a form of ultrasound that converts sound waves into signals you can hear, or at 18-20 weeks by using a special stethoscope.
• Yu can usually feel first fetal movements, or quickening, by 16-20 weeks.
• In the first half of pregnancy, ultrasound can be used to estimate the age of a fetus within 7-10 days. Later, this method in not as accurate.

Note: Remember, normal pregnancies vary in length. Think of your due date as approximate, and expect the baby from two weeks before or two weeks after that date. Two thirds of all babies are born within ten days of their due dates, but only 4% are actually born on their due date.