Why Do I Feel Pregnant When I'm Not?

Feeling pregnant? Maybe you have been trying to get pregnant for a while and have months when you think you're pregnant, only to find out that, nope, you're not.

The experience of feeling pregnant when trying to conceive isn't uncommon. Spend any time on fertility message boards or on social media sites, and you're bound to hear members refer to "imaginary pregnancy symptoms." You probably have experienced imaginary pregnancy symptoms yourself.

Are these feelings all in your head? Maybe not...

Imaginary Pregnancy Symptoms

Imaginary Pregnancy Symptoms (IPS) are exactly what they sound like - symptoms a woman experiences that make her think that she may be pregnant.

Don't expect to hear your doctor use the term IPS; it's not a technical term. The phrase was invented by fertility challenged women around the world as a loving way to refer to those "symptoms" that make us feel pregnant.

The time between ovulation and your expected period is when you're most likely to be anxious about whether or not this month will be the month.

It's natural to assume that you may imagine some early pregnancy symptoms, such as tender breasts, fatigue, bloating, emotional sensitivity, light cramping and even food cravings.

Much like an oasis in the desert, you want to be pregnant so much that you're sure you can feel it.

Your Optimistic Body and Progesterone

What may surprise you is that these feelings aren't all in your head.

They're real reactions to the hormones in your body that are preparing for possible pregnancy.

Our bodies are optimistic when it comes to pregnancy potential. As soon as ovulation occurs, the body prepares itself for new life, even if conception did not take place.

One of the hormones responsible for maintaining a healthy early pregnancy is progesterone. Progesterone increases just after ovulation, in order to support a potential embryo. If you're not pregnant, your progesterone levels will drop after 12 to 16 days, bringing on your period.

High levels of progesterone can make you feel tired and emotional. This hormone is also responsible for tender breasts, constipation, and fluid retention.

Fatigue, moodiness, tender breasts... sounds like early pregnancy symptoms, right?

Also, if you're taking fertility drugs, their side effects can sometimes be mistaken for early pregnancy symptoms. This is especially true if you're taking progesterone injections or suppositories.

The Bottom Line on Feeling Pregnant

It'd be nice if we could just feel whether we're pregnant or not, and it sure would cut down the anxiety of the two week wait.

The symptoms of early pregnancy, though, are practically indistinguishable from any normal two week wait symptoms.

While your "pregnant feelings" aren't 100% imagined, you can feel worse the more you focus on the feelings. It may help to remind yourself that whether you feel pregnant or not, it doesn't mean anything.

Some women are sure they are pregnant, complete with throwing up in the morning, and then find out they're not.

Some women feel absolutely nothing and find out they're pregnant after all.

The only way to know if you're pregnant is to wait out the two week wait and take a pregnancy testwhen your period is overdue.

Copyright: Lightning Tech.