Is it actually possible to be 3 weeks pregnant

[stitchandangel]

Not strictly an AIBU but there is noway I'm any further than what I thought. Period was 17th of July for 3 days
Had sex once 2 weeks ago
Got the first positive on Monday, used a digital the next day. Test even darker today (period due) but when I calculated my due date it said I was 3 weeks and 3 days it feels awfully early to have it confirmed

Yep, definitely possible. Just ask anyone who's done fertility treatment - they'll tell you about watching early response tests like a hawk!

We knew DP was pregnant 13 days after insemination; I've known a fair few people who tested early and got faint positives.

There's really interesting research into how we as a society are changing our attitudes towards pregnancy because we've got the technology to confirm a pregnancy earlier and earlier. It seems miraculous to me, when you think that for most of human history the only way to be absolutely certain you were pregnant was to give birth.

There's really interesting research into how we as a society are changing our attitudes towards pregnancy because we've got the technology to confirm a pregnancy earlier and earlier. It seems miraculous to me, when you think that for most of human history the only way to be absolutely certain you were pregnant was to give birth.

How are attitudes changing?

I must be honest, sometimes browsing on MN I have wondered if very early testing is of much benefit to anyone except the test manufacturers.

@MyPersona

There's really interesting research into how we as a society are changing our attitudes towards pregnancy because we've got the technology to confirm a pregnancy earlier and earlier. It seems miraculous to me, when you think that for most of human history the only way to be absolutely certain you were pregnant was to give birth.

How are attitudes changing?

I must be honest, sometimes browsing on MN I have wondered if very early testing is of much benefit to anyone except the test manufacturers.

Knowing early can be great or it can be devastating. I had a chemical pregnancy in January 2019. If I hadn’t taken an early response, I probably wouldn’t have even known. I was devastated about it though because I did know.

Didn’t stop me resting from 9dpo for the following 12 cycles until I got my BFP.

10dpo is about the earliest you'll get a positive IME!

But also, if you ovulate early in your cycle you will still be 3w3d according to last period date, but the gestational age of the foetus will be a little ahead of where it is assumed to be. Because 3w3d is assuming ovulation on day 14.

@Rosebel

With my last pregnancy the test said 2-3 weeks but when I was booked for an early scan later that week where they said 5 weeks so not sure how accurate the tests are.

Those tests estimate gestational age, so 2-3 weeks is exactly right for being 5 weeks pregnant.

Knowing early can be great or it can be devastating. I had a chemical pregnancy in January 2019. If I hadn’t taken an early response, I probably wouldn’t have even known. I was devastated about it though because I did know.

Yes, this is what concerns me. I surmise see that evidence of that happening repeatedly might potentially be relevant to later investigations, but not sure how that weighs against the distress caused by a relatively common occurrence. Glad you got there in the end!

My "period" wasn't a period but still 6 days long... Could you possibly be further along?

I found out I was pregnant at 3 weeks (1 week before due date) with both my pregnancies! That's how I knew I was really pregnant because in the months I got my period I always had negatives at 3 weeks!

Congrats!!!!!

Hcg starts to double after conception and usually is detectable around 9-11 days post ovulation (not always for the people about to jump on me)

@EThreepwood
Noo definitely not, tests were negative on Saturday
And like I say it was just the once, before two weeks ago we last done it end of June so very unlikely!

I found out I was pregnant at 3w3d. Just one baby, currently asleep on me! Congratulations.

I tested at 3+4 with DC1 and it was positive. With my current pregnancy I tested at 3+1 and it was negative, but positive at 3+3. My dating scan put me five days ahead though, even though the earliest I had sex that month was CD10🤷

So yes, it is possible and, no, it doesn't have to mean twins

@MyPersona - sorry, I went out.

Most of the research I've read is looking at attitudes to pregnancy loss (or, sometimes, abortion), so obviously it has that slant. But broadly, it seems people identify with the idea of a baby earlier, which is what you would expect. It seems we're getting a bit better, as a society, at finding rituals and responses that help women to grieve, though, which is quite positive. So whereas a few decades ago a woman who miscarried would often be encouraged (including by doctors) to 'forget about it' or not to see it as a 'real' loss, it's now more possible to access some support.

I agree with you early testing can be a bit of a double-edged sword, though - it's such a rollercoaster - but it can be medically very useful too (I need to be on medication if I get pregnant, so I'd want to know as early as possible, for example).

If the only possible sex that led to conception was 2 weeks ago it's likely you ovulated 15-19 days ago, which is why your test is coming up positive. You'll probably find at the dating scan you're a week or so ahead of what your last period date says you are. Which is fine - they'll just adjust it.

@BertieBotts apparently I was ovulating two weeks ago!
I only had sex on the 31st so two weeks tomorrow

I've got 3 other children and each time I was over 4.5 weeks with them when I found out. I guess it is possible, just seems very early lol

Yes but speem can hang around for a few days so you might have ovulated a bit later. I did my calculation the wrong way around though it could have been 11-15 days ago.

So by actual conception you’re only 2 weeks pregnant.
Congratulations btw