Persistent Pregnancy Symptoms with Negative Tests: What Could It Be?

Question
I have 3 beautiful boys, but that was all my husband and I have planned for, however, I have been having signs of another pregnancy. I have swollen breasts, leaking milk, cramping, nausea,vomiting, and I am late for my period (about 6 weeks since my last). I have taken a few pregnancy tests and all came back negative. My doctor is out of town and I am in a panic, do you have any ideas? Thanks for your help.

Answer
Dear Kimberly,

The symptoms you describe are hormonal in nature and can be related to early pregnancy or can be related simply to hormone fluctuations within our cycles. This is why it is so difficult to "diagnose" a pregnancy based on symptoms alone.

Some women have a heck of a time getting a positive from a HPT early on. I would suggest a few things:
1. Ask your doctor's office to run a quantitative blood pregnancy test (serum beta hCG). That test will give an actual amount of hCG in your bloodstream rather than a positive/negative result. The office/covering MD should be able to draw that and have it run at the lab before your regular doc gets back. (Sometimes it helps if you think you might have seen a faint positive on the HPT) ;-)
2. You can re-test in 5-7 days with a HPT. Sometimes those levels just come up slowly or you have ovulated/conceived late in the cycle and it takes awhile for the home tests to read positive.
3. If you re-test at home, make sure that you are using 1st morning urine to get a concentrated sample for the most accurate results.

Regardless, do make sure to make the appointment with your doctor as soon as he/she returns. Anytime there is breast leaking and no confirmed pregnancy, I urge women to see their doctors for an exam.

I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.

Brenda