Pseudocyesis, or false pregnancy, is when a person believes they are pregnant. Physical symptoms like weight gain and morning sickness may trick the body into believing conception occurred. Despite feeling pregnant, there's no fetus. Don't be afraid to ask for help and don't feel ashamed or embarrassed.
In rare cases, women (or even men) believe they are pregnant, only to find out that their symptoms were caused not by pregnancy, but by something else entirely. False pregnancy, clinically termed pseudocyesis, is the belief that you are expecting a baby when you are not really carrying a child.
The only way to know whether or not you're pregnant is through a pregnancy test. Wondering whether or not you're pregnant can be an anxiety provoking experience, especially if you feel it may not be the right time for a pregnancy. Many women worry whether or not they're pregnant and prolong taking a test.
Although it is rare, pseudocyesis (“false pregnancy” or “phantom pregnancy”) is a serious emotional and psychological condition. Psychological factors trick the body into believing that it's pregnant.
As rewarding as pregnancy can be, it's normal to feel some fear or anxiety about becoming or being pregnant.
It's normal to feel some anxiety during pregnancy. The most common fears relate to childbirth, the baby's health, and the ability to take good care of the baby. If your anxiety is causing you significant distress or preventing you from functioning, see a doctor.
HIGHLIGHTS: High levels of stress or anxiety can cause irregular menstrual periods, which can sometimes be mistaken as a symptom of pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting, heightened sensitivity to smells, breast soreness, fatigue, frequent urination, constipation—these may be signs that you are “pregnant”.
You feel really tired and possibly nauseous. You gain 1 or 2 kilograms, or maybe less if you have morning sickness. Most of this weight is in the placenta (which feeds your baby), your breasts, your uterus and extra blood. Your heartbeat and breathing rate are faster.
The first sign of pregnancy is usually missing a period, about 2 weeks after you've conceived. This isn't always reliable and if your periods aren't regular you might not notice you've missed one. Some women have a bit of bleeding as the egg embeds. Many women also experience tender breasts.
Early pregnancy bloating and normal bloating feel exactly the same. Your pregnancy bloating may feel slightly more uncomfortable due to the additional symptoms and increased amounts of gas which can worsen gas pains.
An elevated β-hCG in the absence of viable pregnancy can occur for multiple reasons and has a broad differential diagnosis including miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, pituitary hCG production, trophoblastic disease and phantom hCG.
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, most women (59 percent) experienced an onset of pregnancy symptoms by their fifth or sixth week, while 71 percent reported symptoms by the end of week six and 89 percent by week eight.
Your growing uterus is pulling and straining the muscles that support it. You may feel sharp pains or just a mild pulling sensation. It often occurs when you cough, sneeze, stand up, sit down, roll over, or during sex.
Cryptic pregnancy is rare. Studies estimate that 1 in 400 or 500 women are 20 weeks (about 5 months) into pregnancy before realizing it. One in 2,500 women go all the way to delivery before realizing they're having a baby.
There's only one way to find out for sure if you're pregnant: take a pregnancy test.
A borderline result is generated by some assays when the hCG level is between 5 and 25 mIU/mL. Samples reported as borderline are considered indeterminate, and clinicians should request a repeat test within 48 to 72 hours or obtain a quantitative serum hCG.
Normal levels are found in: Non-pregnant women: less than 5 mIU/mL. Healthy men: less than 2 mIU/mL.
Symptoms of rising hCG levels can include fatigue, nausea/vomiting (aka morning sickness), dizziness or light-headedness, breast tenderness, and feeling emotionally sensitive.
It might be as simple as eating too much too fast, or you could have a food intolerance or other condition that causes gas and digestive contents to build up. Your menstrual cycle is another common cause of temporary bloating. Sometimes a bloated stomach can indicate a more serious medical condition.
Depending on your stage of pregnancy, your body type, and even the time of day, sometimes your belly will feel soft and other times it will feel tight and hard. The reality is, there's no normal to compare yourself with. Pregnant bellies come in all shapes, sizes, and firmness.
You may notice that your skin looks more rosy and shiny. Some people call this a “pregnancy glow.” It is caused by increased blood circulation. Pregnancy hormones can cause extra oil on your skin. It may cause you to have flares of acne.