The Pregnancy Is Confirmed

Anita has missed her period for two weeks. She and Vikram go to a clinic for a test, and the doctor confirms she is pregnant.

Meanings in Anita (mother-to-be), Vikram (father-to-be), Gynaecologist, Lab technician

Key words and phrases

pregnantexpecting a babyAnita is pregnant with her first child.

pregnancy testa test to check if a woman is pregnantThe pregnancy test came back positive.

gynaecologista doctor who specialises in women's health and pregnancyWe have an appointment with the gynaecologist tomorrow.

due datethe expected date of deliveryOur due date is the 14th of March.

confirmto prove something is trueThe blood test confirmed the pregnancy.

expectingpregnant, waiting for a babyThey are expecting their first child.

morning sicknessnausea common in early pregnancyShe has morning sickness every day this week.

appointmenta fixed time to meet a doctorI booked an appointment for Monday morning.

prenatalrelating to the period before birthThe doctor prescribed prenatal vitamins.

congratulationswords used to express happiness for someone's good newsCongratulations on your pregnancy!

trimesterone of the three three-month periods of pregnancyShe is in her first trimester now.

ultrasounda scan that uses sound waves to see the baby inside the wombThe ultrasound showed a healthy heartbeat.

folic acida vitamin important for early foetal developmentDoctors recommend folic acid before and during pregnancy.

obstetriciana doctor who specialises in pregnancy and childbirthOur obstetrician will monitor the pregnancy closely.

conceiveto become pregnantThey were trying to conceive for a year.

fetusan unborn baby developing in the wombThe fetus is growing well at six weeks.

nauseaa feeling of sickness with an urge to vomitShe felt nausea right after breakfast.

hCG hormonea hormone the body produces during pregnancy that pregnancy tests detectThe test detects the hCG hormone in urine.

blood testa test that examines a sample of bloodThe blood test showed positive results.

urine samplea sample of urine given for testingThe lab technician collected her urine sample.

Useful sentences

Ask Can I get a pregnancy test done here?
Answer Yes, please give a urine sample and wait fifteen minutes.
Ask How many weeks pregnant am I?
Answer You are about five weeks pregnant.
Ask When is my due date?
Answer Your due date is the 14th of March.
Ask Should I start taking any vitamins?
Answer Yes, start taking folic acid and prenatal vitamins daily.
Ask Is it normal to feel nauseous in the morning?
Answer Yes, morning sickness is common in the first trimester.
Ask What is an ultrasound scan for?
Answer It lets the doctor see the baby's growth and heartbeat.
Ask Which trimester am I in right now?
Answer You are in your first trimester, weeks one to twelve.
Ask Why do I need folic acid this early?
Answer It helps prevent birth defects in the fetus's early development.
Ask Do I need to see an obstetrician regularly?
Answer Yes, regular check-ups help track the pregnancy's progress.
Ask How does the lab confirm pregnancy from a urine sample?
Answer It checks for the hCG hormone, which rises early in pregnancy.

Dialogue

AnitaDoctor, I've missed my period for two weeks. I think I might be pregnant.

DoctorLet's do a quick blood test to confirm it.

DoctorCongratulations, Anita — the test is positive. You're pregnant.

VikramThat's wonderful news! When is the due date, doctor?

DoctorBased on your last period, the due date is around the 14th of March.

AnitaIs there anything I should start doing right away?

DoctorStart folic acid tablets, eat well, and book your next appointment in three weeks.

VikramShould we schedule an ultrasound soon, doctor?

DoctorYes, we'll do the first ultrasound around week eight to check the heartbeat.

AnitaThank you, doctor. We can't wait to see our baby.

Common mistakes

Saying "I am pregnant since two weeks" instead of "I have missed my period for two weeks."
Using "delivery date" and "due date" interchangeably in the wrong tense — the due date is expected, delivery is what actually happens.
Saying "I am feeling pregnant" instead of "I am pregnant" or "I think I might be pregnant."
Saying "I conceived a baby" instead of "I conceived" or "I got pregnant" — conceive already implies becoming pregnant.
Saying "take a scan" instead of "get an ultrasound" or "have a scan done."
Saying "I am in my three month" instead of "I am in my third month" or "I am in my first trimester."

Quick quiz

1. What does "due date" mean?

2. A doctor who specialises in women's health and pregnancy is called a ___.

3. Complete: "The pregnancy test came back ___."

4. What does "trimester" mean?

5. What does an ultrasound scan show?

6. Complete: "Doctors recommend ___ before and during pregnancy."

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