Early Pregnancy Symptoms: Are They Real or Just Wishful Thinking?

Question
My fiance and I have decided to try to have a baby, and for the past 2 weeks I have had all the signs of pregnancy, nausea, cramping, sore breasts, sometimes cloudy urine and vaginal discharge.  I am not due for my period for another weeks or so, so I think the test would probably come back negative.  But I have heard of a lot of women who want to become pregnant; their bodies having the signs of pregnancy but not actually being pregnant.  I don't understand how that is possible and I am so afraid that that is what will happen to me and that I'm not pregnant.  I have had really irregular periods since I was 13 but for the past 5 months or so they have been regular!!!  So how is all of that possible?  Could my body be faking pregnancy?

Answer
Dear Madi,

The mind is a very powerful thing - that is how this phenomenon happens. Now, that is not to say that you are not pregnant.  It simply is an explanation of how some women develop actual physical symptoms associated with pregnancy when they want to be pregnant very badly. The even stranger thing is - most women who struggle to conceive will actually conceive much easier once they almost give up and relax about it.

The symptoms of early pregnancy are hormonal in nature and can be related to a pregnancy or simply fluctuating hormones within our cycles. That is why it is so difficult to "diagnose" a pregnancy based on symptoms alone.

You are right in that testing this early would be inconclusive. I usually recommend that women wait until after the full week of a missed or spotty period before testing for pregnancy. This tends to minimize the incidence of false negative results. Make sure when you test that you use 1st morning urine to get a concentrated sample for the most accurate results.

I hope that this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well and the results you're hoping for! :-)

Brenda