Is It Morning Sickness or the Flu?
If your vomiting is accompanied by any other pregnancy symptoms and you have recently had sex, it may be morning sickness. If the vomiting is accompanied by cold like symptoms, high fever or aching muscles it is probably the flu.Morning sickness stays with you for weeks on end and comes on suddenly. If you feel significantly better after vomiting and if you vomit often with little warning it may be morning sickness. The best way to tell is to take an at home pregnancy test as soon as you think you have any of the symptoms of pregnancy, including vomiting.
How Accurate Are Home Pregnancy Tests?
Home pregnancy tests are very accurate when done correctly. In fact, many doctors will follow up a positive at home test with a pelvic exam and not bother with a laboratory blood test. To get an accurate result carefully follow the instructions that come with the test.
How Can a Guy Be Sure a Girl Is Pregnant?
You really have to trust the girl on this one. If you absolutely can't trust her, or if she has given you good reason to doubt her in the past, you could ask her to take a home pregnancy test in front of you.All home pregnancy tests require a girl to urinate on a stick and it is not a pretty sight. She may not be willing to do this in front of you and you can't do anything to compel her to comply with your wishes.
You were intimate with this person and that implies a degree of trust between the two of you. At this point you should just take her on her word and be supportive.
If the two of you disagree on what to do about the pregnancy or if she seeks support once the child is born you are within your rights to ask for a test to establish paternity. For now, you need to take her one her word and decide what you are, and are not, prepared to do about the situation.
I'm Pregnant, What Are My Options?
Once you are pregnant your options are as follows:- have the baby and become a full time parent
- have the baby and give full custody to the father
- have the baby and share custody and responsibility with the father
- have the baby and put it up for adoption
- have an abortion
Is It Hard to Get an Abortion?
Depending on where you live, abortion may not be an option or may be of limited availability. Check with your local pregnancy or crisis hotline for specific information about the laws and availability of abortion in your area. The phone number for these hotlines can usually be found in your local Yellow Pages or by calling the operator.Do not think of abortion as a quick fix or an easy way out. It is a complicated and emotional decision and should not be taken lightly. Make sure that you discuss this option with somebody you trust; a family member, a church official, a close friend, a doctor or a counselor.
Do I Have to Tell the Father That I’m Pregnant?
You don't have to, but you should. There are many legal reasons why you must tell him. If you are planning to keep the baby he may be liable for child support. If you want to give the baby up his consent may be needed to secure an adoption. Finally, a birth certificate is a legal document and putting "father unknown" on the certificate when you know the name of the father is a crime.On a moral level, you conceived the pregnancy together and should decide how to best deal with it together. If you have no fear of harm from the father then you should tell him about the pregnancy. It is the right thing to do. He has the right to know he’s a father and the child has the right to a paternal relationship.
With all the advances in medicine these days it is important for children to know as much as possible about the medical history of their mother's and father's families. The importance of an accurate medical history should not be discounted.
What Is it Like to Be Pregnant?
Being pregnant is scary, exciting and confusing all at once. The most obvious changes are physical; weight gain, skin reactions, holding excess water and thicker hair, but there are emotional changes as well.Many pregnant women report mood swings, a sudden concern for the state of the world, and bouts of euphoria during pregnancy. Some women experience a sense of awe at their bodies and feel energized by the experience while others feel sad and frightened. Every pregnancy experience is different.
A normal pregnancy will see you putting on weight, having cravings and feeling new body aches. You will feel both very tired and very energetic at different times throughout the pregnancy. At the end of the pregnancy you will start feeling tired and uncomfortable and ready to get the baby out.
What Is it Like to Give Birth?
Giving birth is frightening, exhilarating, and exhausting. It is an awe-inspiring experience and it hurts a lot.In the late stages of pregnancy the baby will drop moving down into a birthing position. When you first go in to labor it will feel as if you are having very strong menstrual cramps. Your water may break making you feel as if you wet your pants.
As your body gets ready to deliver your cervix will dilate and you will feel an increased urge to push. The urge to push feels very much like the urge to have a bowel movement.
When the pushing begins the pain is intense. You may feel a burning in your vaginal area as the skin stretches to accommodate the baby. If all goes well you will push the baby into the world without complication. If you have a long or difficult labor you may start to feel tired or anxious.
The instant the baby is out of you there is a feeling of intense relief and joy. Afterwards, you will have to push again to expel the placenta. This does not hurt at all. You may need stitches to repair tearing and you will be given a cold compress to keep on your privates. Going to the washroom may be uncomfortable for the next few days.
Some complications that may arise include; breech position birth, emergency c-section, mother fatigue and distressed baby. Trust the professionals to help you through these situations and know that you are not alone. Very few women have a typical birthing experience.
Special thanks to Tina Kells for her help in answering these questions.