QuestionHi, I am 23 years old and have been trying to get pregnant since I was 20. The first day of my last period was June 2, 2007. I noticed that I hadn't had a period on July 2, 2007 and took a pregnancy test a few days later and it was a very faint positive so I went and bought another test and it was again a very very very faint positive. So we were pretty sure I was pregnant. I didn't have any kind of spotting or anything until late in July. Like around the 25. So I wasn't sure if that meant I was pregnant still or not so I took another pregnancy test and it was a strong negative. So I figured if I had been pregnant that I lost it so I figured I would get my period soon. Well I didn't spot or anything again until Aug 24. And its not regular period bleeding. It is a light pink to a blood but it is not strong. It doesn't even get on my panties or a pad when I wipe is the only time I notice it. There is no clotting. I don't cramp or anything. I can not go to the Dr because I don't have health care. I am so scared that if I was pregnant that I lost it. Do you think I could still be pregnant or that I lost it? I know you cant tell me fore sure but I just need some reassurance.
AnswerDear Jenniffer,
I will try not to rant about the fact that this country has people who cannot simply go to a doctor because they have no health care plan available to them.... believe me, it is difficult. But be aware - if you are planning to become pregnant, you and your baby will need prenatal care throughout the pregnancy. In fact, the new recommendations suggest that women should see their doctors BEFORE conceiving for the following:
1. Folic acid - The U.S. Public Health Service recommends that women of childbearing age get at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, through food and/or supplements. Many health care providers recommend supplementing the diet with folic acid for 3 months before getting pregnant and at least the first 3 months of pregnancy. (Many women begin taking prenatal vitamins prior to ever conceiving.)
2. Proper immunizations for the mother - Women who are thinking about getting pregnant should make sure they have been properly vaccinated for certain diseases that could harm a developing fetus (such as chicken pox or rubella). It is important to get these vaccinations before becoming pregnant because they can harm a developing fetus.
3. Healthy behaviors - Having a healthy weight and diet and getting regular physical activity can help both the mother and fetus during pregnancy. Avoiding smoking, alcohol, or drug use is also important. In addition, certain medications and exposures in the environment can be harmful to the fetus and it is important to avoid them during pregnancy.
Prenatal care is just too important. Babies born to mothers who received no prenatal care are three times more likely to be born at low birth weight, and five times more likely to die, than those whose mothers received prenatal care. I could not answer your question without passing this information on to you for the future welfare of you and a potential baby.
Now - as to your specific question regarding the bleeding - you are right that I cannot tell you for sure whether this was/is a pregnancy or irregular bleeding due to a hormone imbalance. It actually sounds like you had a delayed period in July and the August bleeding/spotting was on time, even though it was lighter than usual period. Normally I would suggest that you get a quantitative blood pregnancy test done at your doctor's office to absolutely confirm or rule out a pregnancy, but I understand your hesitation in doing that. Those tests tend to be expensive without insurance coverage.
If you are not having any other symptoms which would lead you to believe you have conceived (swollen/tender breasts, nausea, headaches, backaches, etc,..), then I would suspect you are not pregnant. If you do begin to experience any of those symptoms and/or do not have a regular period for the next cycle, re-test. Make sure to use 1st morning urine to get a concentrated sample for the most accurate results when you are testing. Also look at the labels of the HPTs - look for the lowest threshold for positive that you can find (typically 20-25 mIU/ml).
If you do find that you are pregnant or you'd like more information on prenatal services in your community, call 1-800-311-BABY (1-800-311-2229). Programs in your State can help you have a healthy baby.
I hope all of this information has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.
Brenda
