Weird period, concerned?

[bellamandu]

Normally I have my period beginning either the last few days of the month or the first few days of the next month depending on how long the month is, and lasting for about  a week. It usually starts off VERY heavy and gradually decreases until it is completely gone. My period is pretty regular like this.

Well, about a month ago I had my period as normal. Then, about two weeks later I had a strange spotting. It wasn't red like a heavy period but brown like a very very light period. There wasn't enough there to use a tampon, but enough that I needed a panty liner to keep my panties from getting stained. It only lasted about two days.

I haven't had my regular period since then. If I am going by my normal cycle, it should have occurred about a week ago. If I am going by this weird spotting, it wouldn't happen for another two weeks. So, naturally, I am confused.

Along with this, I've had some weird emotional "symptoms" in the past week. I've been sort of "nesting" with my 3 yr old daughter. Meaning that, I'm more emotional with her than usual. I feel very clingy to her all of a sudden, I want to constantly cuddle with her and I'm always feeling guilty about things that I wouldn't normally feel guilty about when it comes to my daughter. If that makes any sense... I've also suddenly become a lot more protective over her than I normally am.

I haven't really thought much of all this until today. Today, I am sitting outside smoking a cigarette, and a "voice" in the back of my head goes: "I need to stop smoking, I'm pregnant ya know." I don't know, maybe some sort of pregnancy instinct? A similar "instinct" happened with the pregnancy of my 3 yr old.

I don't really know what to make of all this. Should I go ahead and take a test? Or should I wait and see if I get a regular period on the 15th (when I had the spotting) as opposed to my regular cycle.

Although I'm not on birth control, we use condoms on a regular basis. We do have "mishaps" every so often with the condom, though. This is also how I got pregnant the first time.

[spade22]

I would take a test now, and one in a few weeks if you dont get your period.  The strange spotting could have been implantation bleeding in which case a HPT should register positive about a week later.

[bellamandu]

spade, or anyone else, what are the chances of this being implantation? Is this pretty much a stereotypical description of a pregnancy or is it still iffy?

I apologize, I'm just sorta freaking about this.

[spade22]

Only 1/4 of pregnant women experience implantation bleeding so its not "common".   Spotting can also be caused by vaginal irritation (amongst other things). Also, all pregnancy-symptoms are very iffy because so many, many things can cause the same symptoms so you cant really go by symptoms alone.

In the best of circumstances, a women who is trying to conceive has a 25% of getting pregnant in a given cycle so that gives you some odds.

I would definitely take a test now though.  You can buy some tests in packs of 2 for less than $10.