8 Things You Should and Shouldn't Do During the TWW

The TWW, meaning the two week period after ovulation leading up to your next period, (also known as the two week wait) is an important time.

Waiting to find out if you’re pregnant can be a stressful and nerve-wracking time. It can feel like your life is hanging in the balance while you wait to take a test. The two week wait isn’t just a fertility acronym though, it’s essential for an accurate pregnancy test. You’ve probably heard of the two week wait before (TWW) and know how important it is. In this article, we’ll cover what happens during the two week wait and what you should and shouldn’t do during that time. It can be nerve wracking to wait, but read on for tips on how you can handle it!

What Happens During the TWW?

There’s a reason the best time to take a pregnancy test is after two weeks, since a lot happens during that time. When estrogen peaks, it tells the brain that an egg is ready to be released from the follicle. Once the mature egg is released, it travels down the fallopian tube towards the uterus. During this time, the body is busy preparing for implantation and a possible pregnancy. The corpus luteum (the structure that housed the egg) produces progesterone to help thicken the uterine lining and prepare the uterus for implantation.

If an egg meets sperm along the way, the union leads to fertilization. If the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall, it’s called implantation and is considered the beginning of pregnancy. If fertilization doesn’t take place, progesterone levels go back down, and the uterine lining will shed (together with the unfertilized egg), marking the start of your period.

For most women, implantation occurs between 6 to 12 days after ovulation. As soon as implantation has occurred, the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) rises in the mother’s blood. Pregnancy tests measure the hCG concentration in your body and it takes time for your body to produce this hormone after implantation (typically 7 to 10 days). Testing too early may not result in an accurate reading since your body needs time to produce enough hCG to hit test thresholds.

Keeping track of your cycle can help you know when to take a test. The Mira Hormone monitor is a tool that can track ovulation by monitoring key hormones and their metabolites in urine, such as LH, E3G, FSH, and PdG. By taking daily tests with our Wands, with results clearly and automatically recorded in your Mira App, you can better understand and identify the best time to take a pregnancy test. It can even help you determine the earliest you can take a pregnancy test. 

Common Symptoms During the TWW

Early TWW Symptoms (0-7 DPO)

The symptoms of early pregnancy differ in the first and second weeks of the TWW. In the early days of the two week wait you may experience:

• Breast tenderness

• Bloating

• Food cravings

• Headaches

Later TWW Symptoms (7-14 DPO)

Around days seven to ten of the TWW, a pregnant woman’s body will begin to produce the pregnancy hormone hCG. This hormone is responsible for many of the most noticeable changes of early pregnancy and two week wait symptoms. By the second week of the TWW - eight to fourteen days DPO - you might experience:

• Morning sickness

• Darkened nipples

• Fatigue

• Sensitivity to smells

• More frequent urination 

Around this time, you may also experience light implantation bleeding. Approximately one-third of women who are pregnant see some spotting during implantation when the fertilized egg implants in the uterine lining.

All of these changes owe to slowly rising levels of the hormone hCG during early pregnancy. As hCG levels rise, you may find these symptoms become more noticeable over time. 

Pregnancy vs. PMS

The hormonal changes that occur in your body during the TWW depend on whether or not you are pregnant. Symptoms can give you an inkling if you might be pregnant but cannot confirm pregnancy, especially since many of the symptoms of PMS are similar to those of early pregnancy. 

As you can see, symptoms alone are not a reliable source to confirm pregnancy. One of the best ways to know if you are pregnant is to monitor changes in your hormone levels. The Mira Fertility Tracker can analyze your exact fertility hormone concentrations for a more precise indication of whether or not you are pregnant. 

Disclaimer: The Mira Hormone Monitor and Wands are not intended for use in the detection or monitoring of pregnancy.

What You SHOULD Do During the Two-Week Wait

The TWW may only last 14 days, but it can feel like a lot longer. Keeping yourself busy and focusing on what you can do can help those 14 days pass more quickly and easily.

Take Care of Yourself

If you are pregnant, your life is about to change forever and you’ll need to practice self care now more than ever. Motherhood can be all consuming at times, so it’s important to take care of yourself so you can be the healthiest version of you possible for the task ahead. And if you’re not pregnant (yet), the goal is to live the healthiest lifestyle you can so that you produce healthy eggs and give them the best chance at fertilization. Make sure you’re eating healthy nourishing foods, drinking enough fluids, and getting enough sleep.

Research has shown the importance of b-vitamins and vitamin D in getting and staying pregnant. If you’re not already taking them, it’s a good time to start prenatal supplements to provide your body with a boost of nutrients that support healthy fetal development and can lower the risk of birth defects and complications. Mira’s Prenatal Multi-Vitamins are third-party tested and contain folate and iron, as well as other essential nutrients to promote reproductive wellness whether you’re TTC or already pregnant. 

Keep Yourself Busy

It can be hard to think about anything else while you’re in the two week wait, but keeping busy and distracting yourself can help keep your mind off of the wait. It may be easier said than done, but getting stuck into another activity can really keep your mind from thinking about the results of your two week wait. 

Whether that’s focusing on work, spending more time on your hobbies, or just socializing with friends, anything can be a distraction to help you pass the time and manage your nerves. Suggestions from those who have gone through this include journaling, reading, doing puzzles, or even planning a spa day. 

Practice Stress-Relief Techniques

The TWW can be a stressful time. One of the best ways to relieve stress and anxiety is to practice relaxation techniques. Techniques like meditation and yoga don’t require any equipment or expertise to learn. You can follow along with guided meditations or yoga videos for free on YouTube to reap the benefits of relaxation. There are even videos created especially for women on their fertility journey – check out some of our favorites here and here.

Communicate With Your Partner or a Support System

The two week wait can feel isolating and lonely, but there is at least one other person who understands what you are going through: your partner! Your partner is on this fertility journey with you. Chances are, they have just as many fears, worries, and questions as you do. Stay connected and support each other through the TWW. A strong relationship is the foundation of good parenthood, and you can’t have a strong relationship without taking the time to communicate your emotions to one another. Talk openly about your feelings, hopes, and concerns so you can support each other rather than going through this alone. Plan a fun date to pass the time or you could even plan a self-care activity together for test day. 

What You Should AVOID During the TWW

Don’t Take a Pregnancy Test Too Early

During the TWW, it can be tempting to want to take a pregnancy test. There’s no harm in just taking a little test, right? Wrong! Pregnancy tests rely on detecting the hCG hormone, which is only released after a certain amount of time following conception. Testing too early can lead to false negatives since you won’t have enough hCG in your system for an accurate result. The earliest you can take a pregnancy test is after around 12 days have passed since unprotected sex. The best time to take a pregnancy test is at least one day after the estimated start date of your next period. 

Avoid Obsessing Over Symptoms

It’s difficult not to pay attention to every little twinge in your body during the TWW and wonder if it’s a sign of early pregnancy. Symptoms like bloating, breast tenderness, food cravings, and headaches can occur during PMS or early pregnancy, leaving you confused by your symptoms and eager to take a pregnancy test.

Since symptoms can overlap, try not to overanalyze every cramp or muscle tweak. Worrying about whether or not you are pregnant is likely to make you feel worse instead of better. Instead of obsessing over every little twinge, try keeping track of your symptoms in a journal or an app so you can notice patterns and have a record of your symptoms. 

Skip Alcohol and Smoking

Even if you’re not sure whether you’re 2 weeks pregnant or not pregnant at all, it’s best to act as if you are pregnant. Acting like you’re pregnant already will help set the foundation for decreased stress, healthier eating habits, and exercise.

Addressing preconception factors like stopping smoking and alcohol can set the stage for a healthy pregnancy. Consuming too much caffeine can make it difficult to get pregnant. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends consuming no more than 200mg of caffeine per day. Whereas alcohol can interfere with your hormones, potentially making it difficult to get pregnant in the first place and is dangerous to a fetus in the early stages of pregnancy. It’s best to kick both habits to the curb to ensure your body is a safe environment for a fetus to thrive in. 

Don’t Share Pregnancy Speculations Too Soon

Ultimately, the decision to share information about your fertility journey is a personal one. It’s up to you how many people you want to tell – but it may be a good idea to refrain from announcing your pregnancy too soon. 

Even if a pregnancy test comes out positive, it’s too soon to know for sure whether you are pregnant until the TWW is up. Avoid the awkwardness and disappointment of retracting a pregnancy announcement by refraining from sharing the big news until it’s certain. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t open up to friends and family about what you’re going through, but be selective about who you choose to talk to about your experience. 

When to Take a Pregnancy Test: Timing Matters

The Best Time to Test

Taking a pregnancy test too early could lead to unnecessary disappointment. False-positive and false-negative results are not uncommon if you take a test before the TWW is up. For example, you might get a false-positive from a chemical pregnancy – a type of early miscarriage – or a false-negative because your hCG levels are not high enough to detect yet.

The earliest you can take a pregnancy test is 10-12 DPO, but the result might still be negative if there’s not enough hCG in your system yet. The most accurate time to test is on or after the day your period is due. The best way to ensure the results of your pregnancy test are accurate is to wait the full two weeks. It sucks, but it’s true.

What to Do If You Get a Negative Test but No Period

If you’ve taken a pregnancy test and it was negative, but your period still hasn’t come yet, there may be a number of possible reasons. Menstrual cycles vary from person to person and even cycle to cycle. It’s considered normal to ovulate anytime between days 10 to 21, but if ovulation occurs after cycle day 21, it’s considered late. If you have an irregular cycle, you know that ovulation can be difficult to predict, which in turn can make TTC and pregnancy testing more of a challenge. Your negative result may mean you’ve ovulated late or that your hCG levels haven’t reached the threshold for a pregnancy test yet. Before assuming it’s negative, wait two days and retest. Home tests have limited accuracy, so you’ll want to do everything you can to maximize the efficacy of your pregnancy test. 

How to Handle Anxiety During the TWW

Tips for Managing TWW Anxiety

Excitement and anxiety are closely related – and it’s normal to experience both during the two week wait. Whether you’re eager to take a pregnancy test or nervous that you weren’t successful in conceiving, these emotions are natural so it’s important to make space for them. Using mindfulness or relaxation techniques can be helpful to manage the stress of the two week wait and may even be beneficial for your fertility.

You might feel tempted to obsessively check your body for two weeks pregnant symptoms or spend hours in a spiral of Google searches about early pregnancy. If you’re obsessively searching things like “symptoms after ovulation if pregnant” and “week 2 week pregnancy” it’s time to put down the keyboard. Googling symptoms can fuel stress and leave you feeling worse instead of better. Sometimes it can be helpful to plan daily distractions or small goals to focus on each day to help you pass the time.

Many women, especially if they struggle with infertility, feel like they will not be good enough or will be a failure if they are unable to conceive. It’s important to have someone you can share these worries with on your fertility journey. Joining a support group is a way to talk with others going through the same thing as you. Talking with others can help, but avoid fear-based posts. You can remain anonymous if you want, and it’s a place to discuss and express your fears, struggles, and emotions.

Join Mira’s Trying to Conceive Support Group on Facebook!

When to See a Doctor

If You’ve Been Trying for a While

If you have been actively trying to conceive with regular sex for at least one year (if under the age of 35) or six months (if over the age of 35), it’s a good idea to book an appointment with your doctor for further support. If you are over 40 you may have some unique challenges with your fertility and should see a specialist immediately to understand getting pregnant at an advanced maternal age. 

If you are approaching the high risk pregnancy age and feel that you need a bit of guidance, Mira’s own Hormone Hormone Health Clinic for Fertility can help! All of our specialists have field experience in fertility and they can help assess your symptoms, analyze your hormone tests, and provide practical fertility guidance to help you achieve your goals.

Signs You May Need Fertility Testing

If you’re finding it difficult to conceive, even after diligently trying, you may need fertility testing to determine the underlying cause. The most common signs of infertility for women include irregular or absent periods, painful periods, and hormonal imbalances like PCOS, endometriosis, or other conditions. Your doctor may want to conduct a number of tests and examinations to gain further insight into your fertility. One way you can take matters into your own hands is by leading a healthy lifestyle to support hormonal balance and ovulation. Several vitamins and minerals help regulate hormonal imbalances and promote ovulation, which can be especially helpful if you’re TTC. Mira’s own PCOS supplements work to balance hormones, but can have a range of other health benefits. 

Final Thoughts: What to Remember During the TWW

The two week wait is a rollercoaster of emotions, and that’s perfectly normal. It can be a harrowing time so it’s important to focus on what you can control rather than the results of a pregnancy test. That means having patience, focusing on self-care, and staying positive during the TWW. Even if this cycle isn’t successful, these habits can set you up for success as you keep trying and set a strong foundation for the days to come. 

Remember, you are not alone – many couples take time to conceive and it can take longer than expected. To make the most of this time, consider tracking your cycle so you know exactly when your fertile window is and can maximize your chances of conceiving. There are a number of ways to do this but the most accurate is with hormone testing. Mira’s Hormone Monitor enables you to track up to four key fertility hormones in urine at home. You can see your unique hormone curve from cycle to cycle and it can see exactly when you’re ovulating so that you can plan sex accordingly. If you are still concerned about your fertility, speak to your doctor so you can discuss next steps and where to go from here. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon can you take a pregnancy test?

It is recommended to take a pregnancy test no earlier than 12 days past ovulation or until the first day of your next expected period. If you test too early your results may not be accurate.

What not to do before taking a pregnancy test?

For the most accurate results follow the instructions on the test. Drinking excessive fluids isn’t necessary but do remember to check the expiration date and follow the instructions for reading the results so your results are as accurate as possible.

How many days after ovulation can you get pregnant?

After an egg is released through ovulation, it can only survive for up to 12-24 hours so you only have a day or so where you can get pregnant after ovulation. Technically, your highest chances of conceiving are on the day before ovulation and the day of ovulation, but you can get pregnant during any day of your fertile window (the four to five days leading up to ovulation, the day of ovulation, and one day after ovulation).

Can you get pregnant 3 days after ovulation?

It is extremely unlikely that you will get pregnant 3 days after ovulation since the egg is only viable for 12-24 hours and needs to be fertilized in that time. 

How to know whether you're pregnant?

Even though you may be experiencing signs of an early pregnancy, the best way to know whether you’re pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. See our complete blog post for a full breakdown of when and how to take a pregnancy test.