Your Period: How Late is Uh-Oh (or Whoo Hoo!) Late?

In My Humble Opinion
1

No pregnancy scare here, but my obgyn just switched my pill prescription last month, and since the Rosebod (tee hee) was adjusting accordingly, I got thinking about this.

Teeming Ladies, how late would you have to be before you’d being to hope, or to worry, that you were pregnant? I was always regular, but not like clockwork, before going on the pill. The main reason I never really had a genuine pregnancy scare (aside from various forms of birth control) was that I knew I varied by a couple of days each month anyway. Which is not to say that I didn’t get nervous the time years back when I was two weeks off :eek:

Also, at what point would you let the likely dad in on the possibility? Would you wait until you knew for sure that you were pregnant, or clue him in before you had a test done?

This is an Equal Opportunity Thread, btw-- I’m also wondering when the guys would like to be told. I know, for instance, that my boyfriend would be as freaked out as I’d be if I had good reason to believe I was pregnant, but he’d want to know ASAP.

2

Sigh…

You’d think I’d have caught this in preview. That’d be “begin” to hope, not being.

[sub]stupid rosebud[/sub]

3

Two days - I AM like clockwork.
*Also, at what point would you let the likely dad in on the possibility? Would you wait until you knew for sure that you were pregnant, or clue him in before you had a test done? *

Good question Rosebud - it would depend on the guy and the type of relationship we had…

4

Well, I am extremely irregular. When my husband and I were dating, we had one brief scare. Since I am so irregular, I don’t really keep track (I know I should, but I don’t). One day, it occured to me that it had been almost two months since my last period. That was such a long freaking day, waiting to get off work so I could get a test and find out. Luckily, I wasn’t pregnant, but we were nervous for a while (I had called him during the day to tell him).

We went through a four month span last winter when we were trying to get pregnant (we’re not trying at the moment, for reasons that aren’t horrible, but I’d rather not go into it right now). At that time, I kept very close track, and if I was even a day late, I would get my hopes up. Then I’d take the test, and be disappointed.

In every case, I would get my period the day after taking the test. Go figure. When we try again, I’ll probably be just as anxious as last time, but I’ll try to wait an extra few days before I really get my hopes up.

Oh, and my husband would know immediately that I even had the slightest hint that I might be pregnant.

5

My period is no indication as to whether or not I may be pregnant because I just never get it. It’s great because I don’t have to go through the cramping and such once a month (although I do sometimes have symptoms without actually having my period… probably every three months or so), but it sucks because I either have to freak out because I always “might be pregnant” or I just never worry about it and think “Well, when my water breaks and a baby pops out, I guess I’ll know.”

:shrugs:

6

I’d start hoping at a week late and not test until two weeks late.

I’ve had a few miscarriages, so I no longer tell anyone until I make three months at which point I told Hubby with a plea not to tell friends and family until I made five months. When we we first married I told him as soon as I suspected. Now however, I’d just keep it to myself to save us the disappointment of the shared hope lost again.

Abby

7

At this point in my life, it’s hard to even imagine the disappointment of wanting to be pregnant, and finding out you aren’t. I’d like kids someday, but we just aren’t ready for them yet.

Abby, I’m sorry if this topic is a painful one for you. If you don’t mind a total stranger sending good thoughts your way, please accept mine.

8

Well, after over a year of trying with several false alarms and no luck, I’d have to say I’d have to be at least a couple months late before I’d start to really think. Stress really effects my cycle and my life is nothing but stress from every direction right now so regular periods aren’t part of my life. So far as telling the father…I’d wait until after the first trimester. That may seem like a long time but I’d have to be a little more sure that I wouldn’t miscarry before I could expect to be able to share in that kind of joy with him at this point.

9

Abby wrote:

Speaking as a guy who has been attached to a few pregnancy scares, I’d have to agree with Abby on the one week time frame. Though in my case, “hoping” was replaced with “worrying.” Now that I’m looking to find Ms. Able-to-put-up-with-me, I might go back to hoping.

As to testing, I can’t come up with a good reason for waiting another week. Whether you are or aren’t knocked up, it’s better to know sooner so you can act accordingly.

If the guy is in a serious relationship, he’ll likely want to know as soon as you start worrying, so 1 week. We may suspect something is wrong anyway, and we’ll ask.

On a related topic: One of my ex-GFs claimed that one of her ex-BFs knew she was pregnant by the (ahem) taste. He was right. Of course, one must wonder how he recognized the flavor of gestation …

10

I’d wait maybe a week before seriously getting anxious. I’m not like clockwork, but regular within a 2-4 day time frame. And I’d let my boyfriend know the day of the missed period - I hate worrying on my own.

11

I’m pretty regular but when I’m stressed it messes up my schedule so I get ansy after about ten days.

Of course, by the time I really was ten days pregnant, my body already knew it because the titty fairy would show up. :rolleyes: Like I need her showing up.

12

Tee hee… titty fairy…

Same here, though… I’m in no further need of the titty fairy’s blessings.

Kayeby, I agree, I also hate worrying on my own! On the one hand, I wouldn’t want to make my bf worry needlessly. But on the other, possible pregnancy is a Big Damn Deal so no way would I want to keep something like that to myself, or from him.

I’ve heard the three-month rule tossed around as the point at which it’s “safe” to tell friends & family, but I suspect (if it was a wanted pregnancy) that I’d be unable to keep my mouth shut that long.

Thanks for the impregnator input :D, Cap’n Crude

13

You have to remember when you change the perscription of the pill they sometimes change the strength of the pill also. That will cause you to be late or even early on your period.

If you are that worried you can take the home pregnancy test. They can even be taken at your work place. Then if it is positive then tell him their is a chance and that you have made an app. to have it checked by the doctor.

That way he has the choice of being with you when the doctor does his test. They use the same tests as you get from the store.

14

Three months for friends and family is all fine and good, but if my girlfriend didn’t tell me until she was already in her second trimester, then I’d feel very betrayed. If I’m going to have to fit a baby into my budget, then I’d like to know as far in advance as I can.

15

And I just realized that that sounded pretty callous, as if a child is really nothing more than another factor in a budget. I just meant that if I’m responsible, I would want to be involved from the start with the hopes, worries, fears, and dreams.

16

I get my period twice, maybe 3 times a year and never think of pregnancy. My husband was the one who made me go the the gyn-ob. He knew I was pregnant. I don’t know how he knew, he just did.
I’ve been preggers 3 times in my life. The first 2 times it was Houseman who brought it to my attention. The third time I found out in the ER.

17

I’m irregular, which I didn’t really realize until I went off the pill. I was freaked out for the first year, until I got used to it. Of course, as a result, I was nearly 20 weeks pregnant before I realized I was pregnant with my fourth child. Thank god I don’t do drugs or drink more than a couple of times a year, so I hadn’t ingested anything that would be harmful to the baby during the 20 weeks. And did it ever feel like a short pregnancy!

18

I’m wicked irregular-as in, I’ve been at this job just over a year and had mine 3 times during that time-so it would be difficult to know I was late.

Back when I was on the pill, I could give a 2-4 hour time span that I should start in. WIth that, I got started getting nervous at a day, but I only took a test the time I was a week late. I definately shared it with my then SO though-if I was going to stress, he was going to as well.

19

I have a history of being irregular at times (it is very likely that I have polycystic ovarian syndrome), but I exercise regularly, and that has brought my weight down, and given me pretty regular periods.

About 5 months after I got married, my period was about 2 weeks late. I wasn’t too terribly surprised, because I had been sick as a dog with bronchitis. I noticed a little bit of pink spotting, and assuming that my period was starting, told my husband that it would be OK for us to skip the condom that night. (Keep in mind that my history of PCOS also left me with a deeply ingrained feeling that I would probably be infertile.) Well, although I had never had it happen to me before, a slight bit of spotting is also occasionally a sign of ovulation.

When the slight spotting didn’t turn into a full-blown period the next day, I started to get a little nervous, since I knew that the spotting could have been a sign that I was ovulating. I held my breath for the next two weeks, and when my period didn’t show, I took a home pregnancy test. I wasn’t totally convinced by the result (was that really an extra line in there? It wasn’t all THAT pink…), so I did one again two days later. The big blue plus sign on that one convinced me.

It was quite a shock, actually. We sort of wanted to have kids, but this was definitely earlier than we had planned on. And, like I said, I had it in my head that I would lucky to be able to conceive at all. I certainly didn’t expect to have a “one-shot wonder.” But without a doubt, this was the best mistake I ever made in my life. He’s a truly incredible kid.

Since kpm and I are horrible procrastinators, it’s probably a good thing that something (nature? God? coincidence? my subconscious?) intervened and got us started. I was 30 at the time, and not what you would call a real “baby” person. It’s entirely different when it’s your own, though.

BTW, I clued my husband in on the possiblility before I took the test. I took the first test on Christmas morning at my parent’s home, while we were visiting them for the holidays. The holiday was part of why we had a two day delay before I could go out and get another test kit.

20

Rosebud thank you, but an apology is so not necessary. It has been difficult for us. That said, if it were too painful to discus I would not have posted. :slight_smile: I appreciate the opportunity to share my experiences.
Cap’n Crude I wait another week after I realize I am ‘late’ before I do a test because of my history of miscarriages. When we and our relationship was young I did tell him as soon as I suspected I was pregnant. Letting him know so he can be prepared to provide for the child is a moot point in our relationship of sixteen years. I really can’t explain why without illiciting sympathy, so I won’t. I know he wants more children and I know he is prepared and able to provide for them. :slight_smile: I do however see your point, if you are young and in a new relationship.

Abby