Can I guess how far along I am?

z's playa · Mar 12, 2005

I'm a Lpn, and I work at a convent for sick and retired nuns. i am pregnant, and cannot get into the doctor for two more weeks. I was just wondering if there was any way I could guess how far along I am besides LMP. I am definately showing, and according to my calculations, I am only 5-6 weeks pregnant. My LMP was only like two days long, and very light. I did not get a tummy this fast with my daughter. Any suggestions?

An ultrasound and exam are the only determinants I know of besides LMP.

5 to 6 weeks and already definately showing? I doubt it. Your last period was lighter than normal so maybe you're further along than you think? It's possible to have a period albeit slightly abnormal, when you're pregnant. Let us know what happens. :) Good luck.

eflynnlpn · Mar 12, 2005

An ultrasound and exam are the only determinants I know of besides LMP.
5 to 6 weeks and already definately showing? I doubt it. Your last period was lighter than normal so maybe you're further along than you think? It's possible to have a period albeit slightly abnormal, when you're pregnant. Let us know what happens. :) Good luck.[/quote
It was lighter than normal! I will let you know what happens! Thanks :)

sweetyjen · Mar 12, 2005

Just to add that lots of women do start showing a lot earlier with their 2nd, 3rd,etc. pregnancy!!

Good luck!!

eflynnlpn · Mar 12, 2005

Thank you for that bit of information! I am just anxious, I guess. And lots of people are saying "you're having twins" They said this last time I was pregnant also because I'm a fraternal twin, and there are several sets on my mothers side of the family. Guess I was just thinking about that. Thank you again!

z's playa · Mar 12, 2005

Just to add that lots of women do start showing a lot earlier with their 2nd, 3rd,etc. pregnancy!!
Good luck!!

They start showing at 5 weeks?

smk1, LPN · Mar 12, 2005

by showing do you mean actually showing or jeans and pants are already too tight? I am not a nurse yet but thought i would agree with those that are suspicious of the light 2 day period. I had some spotting light bleeding early on that would last a day or two and it was usually around the time that i would have had a period. Good luck.

Fiona59 · Mar 13, 2005

The light two day period could be a missed period, so you could be 9 weeks or more.

I was in maternity clothes by nine weeks. It was just way more comfortable and definitely showed by 12. Every woman is different and big babies ran in both my parents family.

So, see about the amnio, figure out when the "light period" was and aim from that date...

CA CoCoRN, RN · Mar 13, 2005

Depending on how fast you gain weight period, and how hormonal shifts affect you, you could be showing. What you'd be "showing" though is rapid weight gain, extra fluid, etc. If you're only 5-6 weeks, your actually uterus is still probably not palpable (at least not very easily). You may have gained pounds and it's gone to your belly right away.

After I've have my children, I've noticed that with hormone fluctuations, such as ovulation, etc, I tended to gain "water weight" and be very bloated. Many women go through the same thing.

Otherwise, as the others have said, you're further along than you think, and you might want to start thinking about your last NORMAL period, and when it was. When women have breakthrough bleeding during a pregnancy, we usually (at least at first) ask about the last normal menstrual cycle. Then we use Ultrasound, etc to determine dates from there.

BETSRN · Mar 13, 2005

I'm a Lpn, and I work at a convent for sick and retired nuns. i am pregnant, and cannot get into the doctor for two more weeks. I was just wondering if there was any way I could guess how far along I am besides LMP. I am definately showing, and according to my calculations, I am only 5-6 weeks pregnant. My LMP was only like two days long, and very light. I did not get a tummy this fast with my daughter. Any suggestions?

Take first day of last period, go forward a year, back three months and add a week. That's Nagel's rule. This of course is only an approximation depending on your cycles, etc.

If your last period was very short, you may be farther along than you are figuring. That is not an unusual occurance.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 13, 2005

I think you may be further along than you thought. If you last period was "light" I bet it was implantation bleeding. You may be as far along as 12 or 13 weeks, and yes, at that point "definately showing" ........ An u/s will give you a more definitive answer than a bunch of us guessing on a bulletin board can. I wish you well, and congratulations to you.

BabyRN2Be · Nov 6, 2005

Can I play, too?? Just kidding...

If you are diligent about your cycles, how long they actually last (not everyone is an exact 28 days which those little calendar wheels in doctor's offices are based upon), you might be able to figure it out yourself. But this is only possible if you know what your basal temps are and if you know when yours will rise. I know I'm being a little complicated. I just read "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" -- what an eye opener! Every woman should read that one!