How did you first know you were pregnant?  Were you regularly checking several home pregnancy tests?  Was it a missed period that first tipped you off?  Or something different?

For our cheerful Wiser Pregnancy mom-to-be blogger, surging hormones in the early stages of pregnancy meant lots of uncharacteristic burping.  A home pregnancy test confirmed that a new baby was indeed on the way.

However, for many women, physical pregnancy symptoms aren’t the first clue.  According to a Wiser Pregnancy survey of more than 1,500 women, almost half (48.3%) of women first know they’re pregnant when they miss a period.  Another 28.9% of women first know they are pregnant when they take a home pregnancy test. Interestingly, a doctor’s visit alerts only about 5% of women that they are pregnant.

On the other hand, nearly 20% of women first know they’re pregnant based on physical pregnancy symptoms.  Potential clues include:

• Morning sickness (6.8%)
• Other pregnancy symptoms, such as burping (5.2%)
• Swollen, tender breasts (4.2%)
• Weight gain (1.3%)
• Frequent urination (0.7%)

How did you first know you were pregnant?  Did you experience any tell-tale physical symptoms?

Can money buy happiness?  For couples who successfully conceive using in vitro fertilization (IVF) and give birth to a healthy baby, it can.

According to a Wiser Pregnancy survey of more than 1,500 women in the U.S., nearly 6% of women are using fertility drugs.  About 3.5% of polled women conceived using IVF. 

Infertility can be devastating for a couple, but if you’re struggling to get pregnant, you’re not alone.  Approximately 10% of the U.S. population is affected by infertility.  However, since the late 1970s when IVF was first successfully performed in the U.S., thousands of couples with fertility problems have used the procedure – often combined with the use of fertility drugs – to have a child.

The success of IVF depends on a woman’s age and causes of the infertility.  Not every couple who uses IVF has success, and the older a woman is, the lower her chances of becoming pregnant. 

The CDC tracks data related to artificial reproductive technology (ART). In 2007, couples using IVF successfully got pregnant in more than 32% of all cycles.  Of all cycles (successful and unsuccessful), the live birth rate was 25.6% on average.  As ART methods advance and doctors become more experienced, these rates are increasing. 

However, IVF is not without its drawbacks, which can include: 

• High cost – Few states require insurance to cover IVF and there are many loopholes and limitations, such as a limit on the number of attempts that insurance will pay for.  Many couples end up paying thousands out of pocket.
• Increased risk of complications posed by the usage of fertility medication and invasive procedures used to retrieve and implant eggs
• Increased risk of conceiving multiples
• Increased risk of preterm birth or ectopic pregnancy

Have you conceived using IVF?  Would you do it over again?

Our site is getting bigger and better! Thanks to your feedback, we’re making WiserPregnancy even more useful.  New content, data and features are coming your way, plus some parts have been redesigned.

Stand-out additions include: 

• Doctor data – Ever wonder what your doctor did in her pregnancy? Now you can find out. More than 225 doctors – who are also moms – took our pregnancy survey.  About 50% of the docs are OB/GYNs; the other half are internal medicine and general practitioner doctors. Get access to these doctor-moms’ decisions about their pregnancies, and compare them to your own decisions.
• More peer data – WiserPregnancy currently has data from more than 530 women. In the last few weeks, an additional 1,510 expectant or new moms completed the survey.  That’s even more relevant information about the important decisions they made in their pregnancies.
• More info about pregnancy topics – We currently cover just over 40 pregnancy-related health issues. You wanted more? You got it! We’ve gathered data and research on an additional 26 pregnancy topics. Coming in February, you’ll have access to data, descriptions and questions to ask your doctor about nearly 70 different pregnancy issues. New topics include: bed rest, diet, financial planning during pregnancy, eco-friendly pregnancy, parenting while pregnant, miscarriage and multiples, among others.
• New and improved community – Connect with others on our forums, in our blogs and on our Twitter page.
• Customized newsletters – Each week you can get an email newsletter that tracks your pregnancy and shares some of the health issues you may be experiencing that week. Just sign up – it’s free! 

Do you have any other suggestions for us? What do you think about the improvements?

While gathering the best pregnancy data (our specialty) is essential, sometimes you just want more – someone to relate to and ask questions. And maybe have a few laughs.

That’s why we are happy to welcome our new pregnancy blogger, Jenny, and her blog Jenny’s Craving Pickles!

Jenny, a married mother of a 20-month-old boy, is 19  weeks’ pregnant with her second child. So is it easier the second time around? Not so much!

Follow Jenny’s experience as she manages the ups and downs of pregnancy, her physical and emotional changes, and the decisions she and her husband are making. And feel free to ask her questions! You can also follow Jenny on Twitter.

Welcome Jenny!