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I Thought I Was Pregnant
drop-in centre: false pregnancy canada
(Nov.28.11)
SweetHome editor Jes Watson thought she knew her body. Until a little stick told her otherwise.
I know my body, and I know myself — and I knew I was pregnant.
For one thing, I was hungry all the time. And not just the "Oh, I skipped breakfast" hungry. I was hungry in that ravenous "I'm going to eat a whole pizza just because I can" kind of way that I was with my first pregnancy. You know, that "hands off the last slice or I am actually going to kill you" kind of way.
I was also kind of nauseous, just like my first pregnancy. My dreams were more vivid and I woke up every morning remembering them in minute detail. Other telltale signs: my usually fragile nails were growing at an alarming rate and I was moodier than a Cure-loving teen circa 1986.
I started to pat my belly and look at my daughter with a secret meaningful glance that I intended to impart "You're going to be a big sister soon," — but probably just weirded her out. I scoped the internet for onesies and jumpers and little tiny booties for my projected due-date of July 24th (a Leo!). I had to bite my tongue from telling my husband/mom/best friend the big news.
But here's the thing. I wasn't pregnant. I wasn't even a little bit pregnant. I took a pregnancy test on the first day of my "missed" period, and it was negative. I took a second test on the second day of my missed period, and it was negative. On the third day, I took a pregnancy test in the morning (because that's when the hormone levels are the strongest and I had obviously been messing up by taking it in the evenings) and it was (wait for it) negative.
I freaked out. How could my body clearly be saying one thing, but this quiet, stubborn little stick be telling me something that just wasn't true?
My head was swimming with visions of ectopic pregnancy and/or low progesterone levels. I scanned message boards and medical sites that managed to comfort and scare me at the same time.
The next day, I got my period. The $80 dollars I spent on a bunch of BFNs (or big fat negatives) seemed to be laughing at me from my Visa statement. I was glad I hadn't told anyone about my all-but-certain pregnancy, but I couldn't help but feel a little peeved that this body — the one I've known for over 30 years — had given me all those false symptoms, and all that false hope.
Has your body ever tricked you into thinking you were pregnant? Or thinking you weren't pregnant until you were farther along?
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