Pregnancy Diary: 4 Weeks Pregnant & Taking the Test – My Story

I’m writing this on Saturday, 14th March 2020, and I’m around 4 weeks pregnant. I knew I wanted to document this pregnancy journey from the very beginning, but obviously didn’t want to post about it straight away. There’s always that worry that something will go wrong, and then you have to go around telling everyone your terrible news.

Anyway, yesterday, Friday the 13th March, I found out I was pregnant. Yes, Friday the 13th! Some people might see that as unlucky, but I think it’s quite memorable.

Our Decision to Try for a Baby Before the Wedding

And yes, our baby was planned.

We’d booked our wedding for next year, but as I was almost 34, I didn’t want to leave trying for a baby too late. If I had a child after the wedding, I’d be 35 or 36 when the baby was born, which is fine. But if I wanted another child after that, I’d be approaching 40. It’s not the age that bothers me – it’s the possible decline in fertility, or the worry that if I had issues getting pregnant, I’d be limited on time to address them.

So we decided to try and have a baby before we got married. Which didn’t leave a massive window!

I have done loads of research, read others experiences and I kept reading a lot about how women were trying to get pregnant for months and years, so I honestly wasn’t feeling that hopeful that it would work. I had three months before we would have to call it quits unless I wanted to walk down the aisle ready to drop or with a newborn.

Taking the Pregnancy Test at 4 Weeks

So, I did the usual app tracking. Did the deed around 5 days in a row around the time of ovulation and then spent the next couple of weeks going out of my mind over analysing the signs.

I swear I felt cramps a week before my period was due, which I read could be implantation or could just be a normal period pain. I started feeling a bit sick here and there.

Then on the Friday, I felt so nauseous. I almost had to pull over in the car on the way to work – it was that intense. When I got home, I decided to take one of the cheap £1 strip tests I’d bought. I didn’t want to waste the expensive ones in case it was negative. I’d been planning to wait a few more days, but the wait felt endless! Once you think you might be pregnant, every day feels like a week.

Anyway, I took the test and a very faint line appeared.

Multiple Tests: From Disbelief to Acceptance

I knew from my research that even a faint line means pregnancy. I’d rolled my eyes at other women on forums asking if their test was positive, then going on to take 10 more tests. But when I was looking at my own test – a faint positive – I felt exactly the same: is this real? Am I really pregnant? Is this a false positive? Is it just a cheap test, so possibly faulty?

So I took the other one. Same, a faint line.

Two positives.

I spoke to my boyfriend over Facetime as he was at work and he was excited but I still wasn’t sure.

So I took a ClearBlue test. The blue + showed up straight away. A third positive. I was still sure it was real. There is no way.

I bought two more tests to test the next day.

On Saturday (the day of writing this) I got a positive too.

I still can’t quite believe it. Today I keep getting waves of nausea, some cramping, and I’m hoping the sickness will ease off soon. I was due to have started my period today, and I’m still afraid it will arrive, and this will turn out to have been a chemical pregnancy or something. Part of me is still convinced my period is going to come.

I can’t believe I conceived in my first month of trying. I know I’m incredibly lucky, and I just want to give others hope that it does happen. Please don’t get disheartened by other people’s stories where it takes a long time – everyone’s journey is different, and quick conception is possible, even though it doesn’t always feel likely when you’re reading fertility forums at 2 am!

It would be amazing if every woman could get pregnant this quickly, as waiting those two weeks between trying and the test was so painful. The whole idea of having to wait for another cycle if I wasn’t pregnant was killing me, so I can’t even comprehend how terrible it must feel to get your period time and time again. I understand I am so lucky, and I have never once taken that for granted. I’ve even felt a bit guilty about it at times when I read of other people’s struggles.

How I Conceived in the First Month of Trying

Here are a few things that I think could have helped me conceive after only one month of trying:

• I came off birth control around 9 months ago so there was no ‘waiting’ to get the pill out of my system
• I don’t smoke/do drugs
• I haven’t had a drink since New Years Eve
• I exercise 4-5 times a week
• I am a healthy weight
• I eat well
• I limited caffeine intake to 1 cup a day

Obviously, I’m no medical professional, and I know that sometimes conception comes down to timing and luck. But I do think these lifestyle factors helped create the best possible conditions for conception. Every person’s fertility journey is different, and what worked for me might not work for everyone – but it’s certainly worth giving yourself the best possible chance.

It could be a total fluke that things were in the right place at the right time (wheyyy), but I like to think the points above did help increase my chances.

So yes, that is how I found out I am pregnant!

See: Pregnancy announcement

Final Thoughts

Finding out I was pregnant at 4 weeks was surreal. Despite taking 8 positive tests, part of me still couldn’t quite believe it was real. The mix of excitement, fear, and disbelief is something I’ll never forget. If you’ve just found out you’re pregnant, know that all those contradictory emotions are completely normal.

I’m so grateful that I conceived quickly, but I’m also very aware that not everyone’s journey is this straightforward. Whatever stage you’re at in your fertility journey, I’m sending you lots of positive thoughts.

Follow along with the rest of my pregnancy diary to see how the journey unfolds!

Frequently Asked Questions: 4 Weeks Pregnant

How accurate are pregnancy tests at 4 weeks?

Pregnancy tests are very accurate at 4 weeks pregnant (which is typically around the time of your missed period). Even a faint line is a positive result. I took multiple tests because I couldn’t believe it, but the first cheap test was just as accurate as the expensive ClearBlue one.

Why do women take multiple pregnancy tests?

I used to roll my eyes at women taking loads of tests, but then I did exactly the same thing! When you see that positive line, especially if it’s faint, it’s hard to believe it’s real. Taking multiple tests is a way of confirming to yourself that it’s actually happening. I took 8 tests in total over two days.

What are the earliest signs of pregnancy at 4 weeks?

At 4 weeks, the earliest signs I experienced were intense nausea (I almost had to pull over whilst driving), cramping that felt like period pains, and feeling very aware of every twinge in my body. Some women don’t have any symptoms this early, though.

Can you get pregnant in the first month of trying?

Yes, absolutely! I conceived in my first month of trying, though I’d prepared myself for it to take much longer based on other people’s experiences. I think coming off birth control 9 months earlier, being at a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and timing intercourse around ovulation all helped.

How soon can you take a pregnancy test?

Most tests are accurate from the first day of your missed period. I took mine the day I was due to start my period. Some early detection tests claim to work a few days before your period is due, but waiting until your period is actually late gives the most reliable results.

Is it normal to worry about miscarriage at 4 weeks?

Yes, completely normal. Even with a positive test, I was convinced my period would arrive and it would turn out to be a chemical pregnancy. The fear of miscarriage is something many women experience in early pregnancy, especially in the first trimester before you’ve had scans.

Read More from My Pregnancy Journey

Pregnancy Diary Week 4

Pregnancy Diary Week 5

Pregnancy Diary – 6 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary – 7 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary – 8 Weeks Pregnant

Pregnancy Diary – 9 Weeks Pregnant

Pregnancy Diary – 10 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary – 11 & 12 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary: 13 & 14 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary: 15 & 16 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary: 17 & 18 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary: 19 & 20 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary: 21 & 22 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary: 23 & 24 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary: 25 & 26 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary: 27 & 28 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary: 29 & 30 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary: 31 & 32 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary: 33 & 34 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary: 35 & 36 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy Diary: 37 & 38 weeks pregnant

Birth Story