[J_9]

For those of you who wonder if you are pregnant, here are a few signs and symptoms as well as other possible causes for their occurrence

TIME OF OCCURRENCE (GESTATIONAL AGE)

SIGN

OTHER POSSIBLE CAUSES

Presumptive Signs (you may be pregnant)

3 – 4 wk
Breast changes
Premenstrual changes, oral contraceptives

4 wk
Amenorrhea (lack of period)
Stress, vigorous exercise, early menopause, endocrine problems, malnutrition

4 – 14 wk
Nausea, vomiting
GI upset (flu), food poisoning

6 – 12 wk
Urinary frequency
Infection, pelvic tumors

12 wk
Fatigue
Stress, illness

16 – 20 wk
Quickening (feeling “baby” move)
Gas, peristalsis (normal movement of food through intestines)


Probable signs (you probably are pregnant)

5 wk
Softening of cervix (Goodell's sign)
Pelvic congestion

6 – 8 wk
Bluish tinge of vulva/vagina (Chadwick's sign)
Pelvic congestion

6 – 12 wk
Softening of cervical isthmus (Hegar's sign)
Pelvic congestion

4 – 12 wk
Positive pregnancy test (blood)
Hydatidiform mole, choriocarcinoma

6 – 12 wk
Positive pregnancy test (urine)
Pelvic infection, tumor

16 wk
Braxton Hicks contractions (false labor)
Myomas, other tumors

POSITIVE SIGNS

5 – 6 wk
Visualization of fetus by real-time ultrasound examination
No other causes

6 wk
Fetal heart tones detected by ultrasound examination

8 – 17 wk
Fetal heart tones detected by Doppler ultrasound stethoscope

16 wk
Visualization of fetus by x-ray study

17 – 19 wk
Fetal heart tones detected by fetal stethescope

19 – 22 wk
Fetal movements felt with hand

Late pregnancy
Fetal movements visible



SOURCE
MOSBY'S NURSING PDQ