• Missed period
• Frequent urination
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Change of appetite
• Breast tenderness
• Fatigue

How does pregnancy testing work?
Both urine and blood pregnancy tests screen for the presence of a hormone called hCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, that is elevated during pregnancy. This hormone is produced by the placenta, which develops to support the growth of a fertilized egg. Urine pregnancy tests are typically positive after your first missed period. A blood pregnancy test can detect pregnancy as early as one week after conception.

If you took a pregnancy test according to the manufacturer’s instructions, it is likely accurate. However, there are some reasons why you may still want to confirm the pregnancy with a doctor:

• Chemical pregnancy: A “chemical pregnancy” is a miscarriage that happens very early in pregnancy. Women will often have multiple positive pregnancy tests followed by a negative result. Many women do not realize they are pregnant because they have bleeding shortly after their missed period.
• False positive/negative result: Many women will have a false result due to testing too early, reading the test incorrectly, or performing the test incorrectly.
• Education: The first few weeks of pregnancy are vital for the baby’s development. Understanding what is safe vs not safe in pregnancy can protect your baby’s health.

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a baby implants and grows outside the uterus. Often this happens in the fallopian tube and is known as a tubal pregnancy. Unfortunately, babies can’t survive outside of the uterus and, if left untreated, an ectopic pregnancy can be life threatening to the mother.

Early ultrasounds are the best way to identify that the baby has implanted in the right spot. The medical professionals at Obria Medical Clinics will assist you in scheduling this ultrasound. If you experience any vaginal bleeding before then, you should let your doctor know right away. If you experience severe abdominal pain, you should go to the emergency room.

If you have an ectopic pregnancy, your doctor may give you medications that will help you pass the pregnancy, or they may need to perform surgery. Many people will go on to have normal pregnancies following an ectopic pregnancy.