This week would have been the normal start to your period – if you weren’t pregnant. For some, you may still have a very light flow (almost spotting) sort of period. For others, you may not experience enough of a difference in your usual flow, especially if you normally experience a light flow. However, it is more common to actually miss this period – which will be your first clue to take a pregnancy test. Depending on the type of pregnancy test you purchase, you really do want to read the instructions completely before you begin. And also know that if there is even the slightest indication (faint line) you should take a second test to be sure. You will really need a blood test to be absolutely certain that you are in fact pregnant, but most medical professionals take the result of an over the counter pee test as accurate – so YAY! 

 You have already made it thorough your first of 10 full months of pregnancy and you didn’t even know it! Yes I did say 10 months; it is a common misconception that pregnancy lasts only 9 months. While you may deliver anywhere between Week 36 and Week 40, you are more likely to go the full 40 weeks (and this is the date that your due date will fall on – 40 weeks from the first day of your previous period). It is not known when or where this misinformation started, other than that back before the science of pregnancy was well known people were completely unaware of the very first month of pregnancy as you most likely were this last month, since there are minimal symptoms. Now is a good time to consider what the coming months will bring for you. When and how will you go about telling your family and friends (although I would still wait until 12 weeks gestation)? When and how will you tell your boss, if you work outside the home (which is also a good time to find out exactly what sort of maternity benefits both your employer and your health insurance provide)? What arrangements will need to made in terms of working or staying home after the child is born? You will also want to look ahead at your social schedule and see what major life events might be happening (weddings, important birthdays, scheduled vacations) that could be affected by this pregnancy, and plan accordingly.

Word of the week:

gestation –noun the development of the embryo of a viviparous mammal, between conception and birth: about 266 days in humans, 624 days in elephants, and 63 days in cats (www.dictionary.com)

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