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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Cryptic pregnancy?

38 replies

Weezy98 · 02/12/2022 01:33

A bit of background; I've been pregnant twice, the first time was 6 weeks until I miscarried, the second was 13 weeks, twins, but I lost them.
So I have some experience with pregnancy symptoms.

I'm not on any contraception because I've had a bad experience with it in the past, me and my boyfriend have used the 'pull out method' for 4 years (I know it's not really a method!)

My period has always been regular and consistent; the first day there's no pain, little blood, then the next day it gets very heavy and I can't physically do anything, then it slowly gets better for the next few days.

Since around July it's been irregular, the first month it was over 2 weeks late, the next months it's been over a week late and there's been no signs before hand of it arriving. There's been no cramps, or clots. The first day is light, and then the next day is pretty heavy, then the next day it's more like spotting.
(you can get monthly bleeding during pregnancy, I know quite a few people who had that during their pregnancies, so having a 'period' can be normal)

In July I had a lot of early pregnancy symptoms, like nausea, dizziness, lack of appetite, ect. So I took a test, but it came back negative so I just brushed it off. The symptoms carried on and changed throughout the months.

After the negative test I didn't think it could be a pregnancy until this month (I would be 20 weeks now if I am pregnant), my stomach has started to grow a little, at first I thought I was just bloated, but it hasn't gone down like it usually does.

I've also felt something like slow bubbles in my lower stomach which feels like how people describe quickening.

I've also been getting light cramps, which has never happened to me when I'm not on my period!

I've been getting other mild symptoms like lower back pain, constipation, I've been SO hungry, I'm exhausted all the time and then have trouble sleeping. I've had lots more but listing them probably won't help!

I've done about 10 tests now, but I've read that you can get a negative pregnancy test if the hcg in your body is too low to detect it on a test, or if its too high and causes a hook effect, so that's really no help right now!

I called my gp and told her all of this and her advice was to "wait it out"..

I've heard stories of people who didn't know they were pregnant and one day just gave birth, so waiting it out doesn't sound like the best advice!

In the 3 years I have been with her she hasn't ever given me an in person appointment and has always brushed me off, so going back to her isn't really an option.

I'm not sure what to do from here, I want an ultrasound just to see if I'm actually pregnant or if it's something else more dangerous, but I have no clue where I could get one.
Any advice as to what to do will be amazing!

(I'm also new to this site so I'm sorry if I've said anything wrong!)

OP posts:
Kittylickingplate · 02/12/2022 02:43

Hi OP, do you have your mum, or an Aunt or a sister you could talk too? It must be very concerning for you.
No advice but just want to bump this for you.

AG96 · 02/12/2022 02:49

You could pay for a private scan. I'm sure you'll find a place near you if you Google. If it's a place like meet your miracle or window to the womb (common for private pregnancy scans) then they'll be able to see if you are pregnant but won't be able to diagnose anything else.

Or request to speak to another GP about your concerns and say you want an ultrasound. Though if you aren't in any pain or anything will likely be routine which can be many weeks away.

If I was you and genuinely concerned I was pregnant, I'd pay for a private scan and go from there

MrNook · 02/12/2022 03:02

I'd pay for a private scan, must be really worrying for you

MamaFirst · 02/12/2022 03:10

I'm pretty sure the Gp should offer you a blood test to confirm pregnancy? I would phone back and insist you have your bloods checked. Maternity services are self referral though too, you could call them and see if they'll book you a scan?

IWillBeWaxingAnOwl · 02/12/2022 04:50

If you can afford it, a one off private scan. If you let posters know your approx area, we can give you ideas of where

Original poster
Weezy98 · 02/12/2022 09:36

I'm not sure how to reply individually on this so I'll try to answer all these!

Thank you for replying! I've told my sister about this, but she hasn't had any experience with pregnancy, she's completely supporting me in every way she can though.
I really want to talk to my mum about it all, she's had 5 kids and would know exactly what to do, but right now my gran is going through an extremely tough time, she's in an abusive relationship with her husband of 47 years and my mum is trying to help her out of it. Putting more stress on my mum would be too much for her right now..

I'm on benefits so can't afford a scan right now, and everyone around me (including my boyfriend) is struggling with money, and with a possible baby on the way I'm not sure if it's wise to go into debt to get a scan? But right now I'm desperate enough to do it, I just can't think straight.

I'll see if I can register at another gp surgery, the one I'm at now only has one gp who works 2 days a week and it's so difficult to get a phone appointment!

Again, thank you all for replying! I really appreciate this!

OP posts:
Sadbeigechildren · 02/12/2022 09:49

I think it's really poor that the GP didn't offer you a blood test as you would need monitoring if you were pregnant. I can only conclude they are convinced you aren't. The odds are extremely low!

A different GP who will agree to see you /send you in to see the midwife is all I can think of. You could sit outside the midwife's surgery door and beg her to squeeze you in at the end of her surgery, or at least to speak to the GP for you. She might be available on the phone.

MamaFirst · 02/12/2022 09:49

Look up your local area and maternity services to find out how to contact them, and see if they can help you. You don't need a gp referral for maternity services, they are separate and are much quicker at responding. If they fob you off tell them the Gp instructed you to hang on and wait. If you're 20 weeks pregnant that is an insanely stupid thing to do as it limits the scan info etc that you can have which is time sensitive. Registering with a new GP can take weeks, and they are likely just as busy as the one you're already at.

PointyMcguire · 02/12/2022 09:58

Whilst I appreciate 20wks wouldn’t necessarily be an early pregnancy, in your shoes I’d find the number for your local hospital’s EPU (early pregnancy unit) and give them a call and explain the situation and see if they can either give you a scan or point you in the right direction. Maternity services should also be able to help, but I found there was less gatekeeping to get access to EPU in the early stages of my pregnancy.

SalviaOfficinalis · 02/12/2022 10:02

The quickest way will probably be to call your hospital’s maternity unit/ maternity triage/ whatever they call it and explain.

If you wait for a booking appointment from maternity etc it will take a lot longer.

Eixample · 02/12/2022 10:11

You could dilute your urine with water and try a pregnancy test. The dilution avoids the hook effect. You can find full instructions online

alittleadvicepls · 02/12/2022 10:13

I’d tell the gp you got a positive test and then they’ll have to book you for bloods.

Original poster
Weezy98 · 02/12/2022 16:42

I called the EPU, they said I should wait for a positive result on a home test..
I honestly feel like I'm going crazy, I think all I can do now is wait it out!

OP posts:
MrNook · 02/12/2022 21:24

Weezy98 · 02/12/2022 16:42

I called the EPU, they said I should wait for a positive result on a home test..
I honestly feel like I'm going crazy, I think all I can do now is wait it out!

Waiting it out isn't a good idea, especially if you think you're around 20 weeks. What are you going to do, wait until you're in labour?

There's lots of tests and checks that need doing in pregnancy and you will have already missed the cut off for a few of them.

If you're not getting a positive test now but you're feeling movement then you're not going to suddenly get a positive test, what rubbish advice from EPU.

Have you looked at how much private scans are near you? They can be around £60-70 and you can usually get in the next day or within the next few days (at least in the chain ones near me)

Have you tried different types of tests like FRER, a clear blue digital etc? I wouldn't think it likely that several brands of test would all give a false negative so might be worth trying out a few tests?

Sadbeigechildren · 02/12/2022 22:16

You could present in a and e and just wait it out. They will eventually do a blood test I think.

Sadbeigechildren · 02/12/2022 22:16

I would not wait it out because if you're not pregnant you should be checked.

AliceinSlumberland · 02/12/2022 22:24

Have you tried taking a test diluting your urine? If it’s the hook effect then this would normal ‘fix’ it to at least get some sort of positive.

Honestly and I say this gently, I think it’s unlikely you’re pregnant. I do think you should get checked out though, irregular periods and weight gain could be a sign of something like PCOS.

Fedupmum21 · 03/12/2022 01:11

So sorry your going through this op. Definitely look at the hook effect online, you dilute your urine with water 50:50 and then test. I never really believed in Cryptic pregnancies until after an episode of car sickness in august my partner asked me to do a test, and it was positive, I went for a private scan and I was over 16 weeks gone. So it can happen. No symptoms, my other two pregnancies were plagued by all day sickness, didn’t even have a sore boob once. I’d definitely try a test with diluted urine, and then if not and it’s really causing you distress I’d probably go to A and E in all honesty (I know it’s not what it is for but equally if you can’t afford a scan and you are pregnant you need proper care and you need to know as a matter of urgency). They might not scan you but do bloods to check for HcG levels.

Prisonpocket · 03/12/2022 01:17

My first experienced the same. Eventually they sent her for an internal scan to check her ovaries. She was six months pregnant.

We had been out drinking every weekend none the wiser! Luckily baby was healthy and well when born.

When I was pregnant I went to the abortion clinic. I had told my go I had a positive test on the phone and they referred me right away. The clinic did a scan to check how far gone I was and then I changed my mind and kept the baby. Could be worth telling them you've had a positive to get the referral and back out once they have done the scan and confirmed. It's dead cheeky but sometimes you've got to play the system.

Original poster
Weezy98 · 04/12/2022 18:50

Thank you again for your replies!

I just called up a private scan place and they told me that they can't scan me without a positive pregnancy test.
I'll try doing the diluted test in a minute.

I'm going to call the doctors again tomorrow and try to convince her to give me a blood test, if that doesn't work then I think I'll have to try sitting in A&E and see if they can help

OP posts:
TerryOrange · 04/12/2022 18:55

A private scan place if you pay, why do you need a test? Surely anyone willing to pay for an ultrasound should get one?
How odd

Lapin387 · 04/12/2022 19:06

Please don’t sit in a and e for this. You’ll wait many hours and they won’t do more than a urine pregnancy test that is probably less sensitive than you’re doing at home yourself.

I appreciate it sounds really tough and don’t want to sound harsh in the slightest.

SalviaOfficinalis · 04/12/2022 19:48

TerryOrange · 04/12/2022 18:55

A private scan place if you pay, why do you need a test? Surely anyone willing to pay for an ultrasound should get one?
How odd

I guess they’re worried because they’re not qualified to diagnose anything. Maybe they get people trying to book scans who are worried about other gynae issues but can’t get a hospital appointment.

OP - if you really think you could be pregnant I would book a private scan online - don’t mention that you haven’t had a positive test.

Sadbeigechildren · 04/12/2022 20:05

Lapin387 · 04/12/2022 19:06

Please don’t sit in a and e for this. You’ll wait many hours and they won’t do more than a urine pregnancy test that is probably less sensitive than you’re doing at home yourself.

I appreciate it sounds really tough and don’t want to sound harsh in the slightest.

They gave me a blood test.

MrNook · 07/12/2022 12:22

Hey OP how are you getting on?