Early Pregnancy Symptoms

It’s a surprising idea—but yes, being pregnant with twins can sometimes cause a false negative result on a urine pregnancy test. This rare situation is linked to something called the hook effect, which can happen when hormone levels are extremely high. Pregnancy tests are typically very accurate. However, when hCG levels exceed 500,000 mIU/mL, it can overwhelm the test, preventing it from detecting the hormone properly. This is more likely to happen in multiple pregnancies, especially if each baby has their own placenta, which can compound hormone levels. If you’ve missed multiple periods, have pregnancy symptoms, or underwent fertility treatments like IVF—but your urine test is still negative—it’s a good idea to follow up with a blood test for confirmation. How Do Pregnancy Tests Work? Pregnancy tests detect the presence of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), a hormone that rises rapidly during early pregnancy. A nonpregnant woman typically has about 5 mIU/mL of hCG, while pregnancy tests generally detect levels of 20 mIU/mL or higher. Here’s how it works: the test contains antibodies that bind to hCG. If the hormone is present at a detectable level, the test will show a positive result. However, in rare cases—like very high hCG concentrations—the test becomes overwhelmed and fails to register correctly. This is the hook effect. hCG Levels by Week of Pregnancy Here’s a general guideline of hCG levels during pregnancy: Week 3: 5–50 mIU/mL Week 4: 5–426 mIU/mL Week 5: 18–7,340 mIU/mL Week 6: 1,080–56,500 mIU/mL Weeks 7–8: 7,650–229,000 mIU/mL Weeks 9–12: 25,700–288,000 mIU/mL Hook effect range: >500,000 mIU/mL When Can Pregnancy Tests Be Inaccurate? Urine tests are 99% accurate under normal circumstances. But if your hCG levels are unusually high—often 2,500 times higher than the lowest detectable amount—the hook effect can lead to a false negative result. This is most likely to occur late in the first trimester and especially in pregnancies involving multiples. How Does IVF Affect Pregnancy Testing? IVF (in vitro fertilization) increases the chances of a multiple pregnancy. That’s because more than one embryo is often implanted to improve success rates. A 2006 Canadian study shows that about 30% of IVF pregnancies result in multiples, compared to less than 1% of natural pregnancies. This can lead to elevated hCG levels, making inaccurate test results more likely. If you’ve undergone IVF and suspect you're pregnant but your test is negative, it's wise to request a blood test to confirm. So, Can Twins Cause a False Negative Pregnancy Test? Yes, although it’s rare, being pregnant with twins can cause a urine pregnancy test to show a false negative especially if the pregnancy results from IVF. If you’re experiencing symptoms of pregnancy but your test results are unclear, we recommend scheduling a follow-up appointment. We’re here to help provide accurate medical information and compassionate support, no matter where you are in your pregnancy journey. Contact us today to speak with a professional or schedule a free appointment.

The FDA categorizes Benadryl as a class B drug during pregnancy, meaning animal studies show it does not cause harm to a fetus. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is an antihistamine used to temporarily relieve symptoms due to hay fever, upper respiratory allergies, or the common cold, such as runny nose and sneezing. However, taking higher than recommended doses can lead to serious heart problems. So, the answer to, “Can you take Benadryl while pregnant?” is “Yes.” Benadryl is considered safe to take while pregnant at normal doses.

When facing an unexpected pregnancy, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Life Resources of Northern Michigan understands - because many of us have been in your shoes.

Abortion is legal in Michigan with some restrictions. Know the laws to make informed, confident decisions about reproductive health care.

The discharge of leukorrhea , clear or white, is a normal, healthy part of being a woman. Occasionally, this discharge is tinged with blood. Blood turns brown as it dries, so most of the time brown discharge is blood. Most of the time, this brown discharge is normal and not a cause for concern. The common causes of brown discharge are implantation bleeding, sex, mucus plugs, or blood. In some cases, brown discharge is considered not normal, such as: infection, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or molar pregnancy. Contact your doctor if you have questions about brown discharge while pregnant.  An OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Chicago, Layan Alrahmani , says "The overwhelming majority of pregnant people with brown discharge don't have anything dangerous to be worried about."

Your baby sleeps 90% to 95% of their time in the womb. Examinations of fetal heart rate indicate normal sleep-wake cycles just like those infants experience out of the womb. During REM sleep, their eyes move back and forth just like an adult’s eyes. Adults most often dream during REM cycles . As infants experience REM cycles, many scientists deduce that infants in the womb can dream.

As your baby grows, you may begin to feel a wide range of changes. Shortness of breath and GERD (heartburn), among a long list of other changes, can disrupt your sleep before you have the baby. If you are early in the pregnancy, spikes in the hormone progesterone can cause you to feel drowsy. However, it is known that a lack of sleep is proven to increase the risk of pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and longer labors. Pregnant women absolutely need long, restful sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine claims that, “Good sleep [during pregnancy] is one of the best ways to assure a healthy baby.” The Endocrine Society released a statement claiming that pregnant women who sleep less than seven hours per night may have children with developmental delays. Therefore, it is highly recommended that pregnant women get at least eight hours of sleep every night . However, the other changes your body is going through can impede your sleep cycle. Therefore, if you are battling insomnia, consult a doctor.

So, Can You Eat Mushrooms While Pregnant? The contemporary scientific literature of the time says, “Yes.” If you are pregnant or expecting, we can provide information and support at Life Resources of Northern Michigan.

Many women are reluctant to eat seafood while pregnant. This is due to research which shows that ingesting high mercury levels can have harmful effects on young people and infants in the womb. However, fish contain important nutrients such as omega-3 and omega-6 fats, iodine, choline, protein, iron, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and magnesium. Therefore, there are certain limits of the amount and type of seafood a pregnant woman and small child can consume according to the FDA. The answer to the question, “Can pregnant women eat shrimp?” is “Yes.” Shrimp generally have low levels of mercury and are considered safe to eat while pregnant. If you are eating shrimp caught by a family or friend, use the EPA’s How’s My Waterway tool to learn about the safety of the water in which the shrimp were caught.