How can I tell I am pregnant?

• Even before a missed period you may experience breast tenderness, due to the high pregnancy hormone levels.
• Food cravings (not fully understood but evident nonetheless).
• Tiredness is very common and is due to all the changes the body has to make to accept a developing pregnancy.
• Frequent urination. This is very common and is caused by the growing uterus pressing on the bladder.
• Darkening of the areola (area immediately around the nipples). This is due to a change in skin pigmentation during pregnancy and can also affect the line between the tummy button and the pubic bone.
• Morning sickness. This is not always in the morning and does not always cause sickness. Nausea or just a strange taste may be noted. It may continue throughout the whole pregnancy or may not occur. Normally, it settles in the fourth month when the placenta takes over the work of producing pregnancy hormones.
• Basal body temperature (BBT). This will remain high following fertilization and can be a sign that pregnancy has occurred if associated with other signs.
• Missed period. If your period is late and you have had unprotected sex then there is a chance you could be pregnant.
• Implantation bleed or crampy pains. Even if you have cramps and spotting of blood when your period is due, you could still be pregnant. Sometimes, when the embryo is becoming implanted into the uterine wall, a small amount of bleeding is experienced and is quite normal.*

How can I check if I am pregnant or not?

First Response® Early Result Pregnancy Test is over 99% accurate (in laboratory testing). It can tell you 6 days earlier than the day of your missed period whether you are pregnant or not. It is easy, clear and quick.

Why is it beneficial to know early?

Couples who are keen to conceive will wish to know as soon as possible so they can take steps to make sure the woman is in optimum health and in the best possible state to carry a pregnancy to term. An early result could help to reduce any stress which can occur in the days leading up to finding out if the pregnancy is ongoing or not. This in itself should produce a more conducive environment for a potential pregnancy to proceed.

With continued advances in infertility treatment many women are having assisted conception which, in itself, can be highly stressful. An early test would be beneficial if only to give them the pleasure of knowing they are pregnant before anyone else finds out (an early window of knowledge).

I’ve just learned I am pregnant now what?

You should make an appointment to see your Midwife who will refer you to your local maternity unit for a booking visit.
See our section Pregnancy test result

How can I increase my chances of a healthy pregnancy?

Now that you are pregnant, it is essential that you have a healthy lifestyle. You should stop smoking, avoid alcohol as much as possible and eat a healthy diet. You can find information provided by Food for Life on our eat right page

I used a First Response® Early Result Pregnancy Test and it was positive but I am not pregnant, why is that?

A positive answer means you had enough hCG hormone at the time of testing to be detected by First Response®. It proved that the egg had been fertilized and that the blastocyst was implanted. It may lead to a successful pregnancy but there can be complications and up to 25% of embryos do not survive and are shed a few days later (this is known as a miscarriage). *