If not pg, then what is this?

[lovemysunshine]

I'm hoping some of you wise professionals could give me your thoughts on something. My DS is almost 19 months old and I got my first postpartum cycle back in July. I've had 2 cycles, the 2nd coming exactly 28 days after the first. So assuming I continued being regular (how normal is that with PPAF?), my period should have come last Saturday (9.22). No sign of AF and today is Tuesday, so going on 4 days "late."

After DD was born, I had 2 cycles, 28 days apart as well, and then got pg with DS. So I don't even know what is normal for my body in regards to being regular right away or not.

DH has been convinced I'm pg for the last week and I've had some sneaking suspicions. I've been really gassy and am having bladder pressure like I remember having while pg both times. I first noticed it when my kids would climb on my stomach and the pressure was strong. Now I feel it off and on during the day, plus I have felt an increased need to pee. I also had a friend say she thought I was pg when she saw me last weekend before I had said anything to her.

I took a pg test yesterday afternoon (when 3 days late) and it was negative. I took another this morning with FMU and it was also negative. I used a test with a sensitivity of 25.

So my questions are: How long do I give testing and it coming up negative (without seeing AF) before giving up on the possibility of being pg? I mean, at how many days past ovulation (I'm not sure when I did since I hadn't started charting yet, but assuming day 14) should it definitely show on a test? And if I'm not pg, then what could this pressure on my bladder be?

[lovemysunshine]

Oh, and I should add that I don't *think* it's a UTI. I've had lots of those and this feels different. No pain while urinating and when I do have to go, there is a lot there (unlike with my UTI's when I feel like there's a ton of pee and there's almost nothing).

[paphia]

I started charting the month I got pg. Even though ppaf had returned to a very regular 28 day cycle for 4 months straight, it turns out I didn't ovulate until about cd20. So if you have a shortened lp (pretty normal hen breast feeding), you might not be as far along as you think. I have read some women don't get a BFP until 18 dpo or so. Try to be patient.

[lovemysunshine]

Thank you for the reply and the reminder to be patient. It's just so hard! I'm trying to decide when to test again; I know I should wait a few days, but I'd really like to know what's going on (of course).