But Still The Question Nags At You: Am I Pregnant
We hear you, mama! Although we cant be 100% sure whether or not youve conceived, were going to give it our best shot. From implantation cramping and implantation bleeding to sore breasts in pregnancy and pregnancy insomnia, there are lots of pregnancy symptoms our bodies give us when we are, in fact, truly pregnant.
So what do you think? Are you pregnant?
Pregnancy Term & Due Date
Pregnancy is a term used to describe a woman’s state over a time period during which one or more offspring develops inside of a woman. Childbirth usually occurs approximately 38 weeks after conception, or about 40 weeks after the last menstrual period. The World Health Organization defines a normal pregnancy term to last between 37 and 42 weeks. During a person’s first OB-GYN visit, the doctor will usually provide an estimated date at which the child will be born, or due date. Alternatively, the due date can also be estimated based on a person’s last menstrual period.
While the due date can be estimated, the actual length of pregnancy depends on various factors, including age, length of previous pregnancies, and weight of the mother at birth.1 However, there are still more factors affecting natural variation in pregnancy terms that are not well understood. Studies have shown that fewer than 4% of births occur on the exact due date, 60% occur within a week of the due date, and almost 90% occur within two weeks of the due date.2 As such, while it is possible to be fairly confident that a person’s child will be born within about two weeks of the due date, it is currently not possible to predict the exact day of birth with certainty.
Am I Pregnant Quiz Says No
We know how tough it is to wait for that BFP, especially if youve been trying for awhile. But our simple pregnancy quiz here doesnt know everything! A surprise may still be in store. Remember that every journey to motherhood is different. If youre having trouble conceiving, check out these natural ways to increase your fertility and be sure to use our ovulation tracker to pinpoint your most fertile days. If you have experienced loss, allow yourself to feel all of the raw emotions and seek help and support if you need it. Have faith that your rainbow baby is coming. ?? ?
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Natural Ways To Check Pregnancy At Home
Becoming a mother is the most joyous thing in a womans life. But, the path leading to it is uncertain and strenuous and so is taking a pregnancy test at the beginning of this long journey. At the time of taking a pregnancy test, anxiety about the results can get you worked up. Naturally, you would want your pregnancy test to be more of a private affair than a public one in a doctors lab.
When you are looking for ways of doing home pregnancy tests, you will come across many pregnancy test kits available in a drugstore these days. Studies claim that they are not as accurate as they are portrayed.
So, women either go for a blood test in a doctors lab or natural tests at home. In the olden days, our grandmothers would check pregnancy at home using traditional medical practices and natural ingredients. It was not only efficient but also safe in many ways.
Keeping this in mind, we have listed some DIY pregnancy tests that will prove to be useful when you want to check your pregnancy status privately.
Home Diy Pregnancy Tests Are Not Medically Viable Why
DIY pregnancy test results are not medically accepted as they lack a scientific basis or research-driven proof of accurate test results. There are many major drawbacks of these tests.
In most cases, the exact amount of urine and the other ingredients to be used for the test are not known exactly, which can always impact the result, giving a negative sign even if there is a viable pregnancy or vice versa.
There are also no exact guidelines regarding how long one should wait before reading the results and if the test is kept for long in the open, the ingredients might react with moisture in the air or other gases, giving wrong results.
There is no scientific proof that urine with HCG reacts differently with the household ingredients used for the DIY pregnancy tests. Also, the changes in color or texture of the ingredients as mentioned are always subject to interpretation.
Irrespective of the results of a homemade pregnancy test, you always have to take a test with a kit or a blood test before announcing a pregnancy because homemade tests are not a reliable method.
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How Does A Pregnancy Test Work
All pregnancy tests detect the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin , which starts to be produced around 6 days after fertilisation.
Most pregnancy tests come in a box that contains 1 or 2 long sticks. You pee on the stick and the result appears on the stick after a few minutes. All tests are slightly different, so always check the instructions.
Am I Pregnant Quiz Says Yes
Are congratulations in order, mama? We hope so! Of course, youll want to confirm the results of our just-for-fun quiz with an at-home pregnancy test and an initial visit to your midwife or OB/GYN. In the meantime, you may want to take a look at our due date calculator and sign up for week-to-week pregnancy updates. Its also a good idea to start taking prenatal vitamins, if you havent already.
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What Does The Test Result Mean
A negative hCG result means that it is unlikely that a woman is pregnant. However, tests performed too early in a pregnancy, before there is a significant hCG level, may give false-negative results. The test may be repeated in one week if there is a strong possibility of pregnancy.
A positive hCG means that a woman is likely pregnant. However, false-positive tests can occur if a woman is post-menopausal or taking hormone supplements.
The blood level of hcG in a woman with an ectopic pregnancy usually rises at a slower rate than normal. Typically, hCG levels double every 48 to 72 hours for the first four weeks of a normal pregnancy, then slow to every 96 hours by six weeks. Those with failing pregnancies will also frequently have a longer doubling time early on or may even show falling hCG concentrations during the doubling period. hCG concentrations will drop rapidly following a miscarriage. If hCG does not fall to undetectable levels, it may indicate remaining hCG-producing tissue that will need to be removed .
A high hCG level may indicate that the pregnancy dating has been miscalculated, that there is a molar pregnancy, or that it is a multiple pregnancy.
How Do You Know If Youre Pregnant
While the only way to find out for sure is to visit your GP, this quiz will let you know the likelihood of pregnancy based on your current symptoms.
Can’t see the quiz?
If you are trying for a baby or think you might have conceived, you’ll probably be on the watch for pregnancy signs. Small changes in the way you feel both physically and emotionally can be detected as early as a week after conception and some women report ‘feeling pregnant’ long before their changing hormone levels are picked up on a test.
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When Is It Ordered
For confirming pregnancy, the timing of testing depends on how accurate a woman is about the day she expects her menstrual period as well as the method used for testing. In general, blood tests are more sensitive than urine tests and can be done two days before a woman would expect her period to start. A urine or blood hCG test can be done reliably by 10 days after a missed menstrual period. Even using a urine test, a woman may be able to determine whether she is pregnant the day she misses her period, but the result could be falsely negative. Testing may be repeated at a later date if the first test is negative but pregnancy is still suspected.
Quantitative blood hCG tests may be ordered repeatedly over several days when a healthcare practitioner wants to identify or rule out an ectopic pregnancy or to monitor a woman after a miscarriage. In these cases, a woman may experience the normal signs and symptoms of pregnancy at first but then may develop others that indicate that the pregnancy is not progressing as expected.
Some signs and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy include:
- Abnormal vaginal bleedingbecause a woman is pregnant, she may not have a regular period but then may have light bleeding or spotting with an ectopic pregnancy
- Low back pain
- Pain or cramping in the lower abdomen or on one side of the pelvis
If untreated, signs and symptoms may get worse and may include:
How To Make Homemade Pregnancy Tests More Accurate
You can test pregnancy secretly, at home with the help of the above DIY pregnancy tests which might be important in case of an unplanned pregnancy but they will never provide as accurate results as the test performed in the doctors lab.
However, there are some ways to improve the accuracy of these tests. Read on to find out,
First, you should take the test at least a day after missing your period. Taking it after a few days or a week is even better. The HCG levels can be undetectable during very early pregnancy. The right time of doing a pregnancy test is imperative to increase the accuracy of the result.
Second, always use the first urine of the morning for the test. If you are pregnant, the morning urine will have concentrated HCG levels, and every urine-based pregnancy test, be it a homemade one or a test kit, measures the HCG. So, take the test early in the morning.
Third, use a transparent, white and clean, glass bowl for performing the test. A colored bowl or a plastic container is not recommended for use. The colored bowl can make it difficult to read any color changes of the solution. On the other hand, a plastic container is not suitable for taking highly reactive tests like the bleaching powder test.
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When Should You Take The Salt Pregnancy Test
Fans of the salt pregnancy test say that you should take it first thing in the morning, when the hCG is most concentrated in your urine. But because salt cant reliably predict the presence of pregnancy hormones, that’s just a theory.
In fact, theres no good reason to take the test at all, mainly because you cant rely on the results.
And an inaccurate result might impact your potential pregnancy in the future. For example, if the test gives you a false negative, you might get a late start in taking prenatal vitamins or seeking regular prenatal care.
If you want to know whether youre truly pregnant, your best bet is to take an over-the-counter pregnancy test on or after the day your period is supposed to start.
And remember: You dont have to splurge on expensive brands to get an accurate result. There are plenty of cheap pregnancy tests on the market, and all of them are up to 99 percent accurate if you wait until the day your period is expected and follow the instructions.
/13homemade Pregnancy Test To Try
For many women, becoming a mother is the most desirable feeling. Missing your period is the first sign that can indicate pregnancy. While one can always find test kits available in the market, homemade pregnancy kits have been used by women for decades. A lot of them are based on folk remedies and can deliver good results, as they work by detecting the level of HCG , pregnancy hormones in the urine.
With the advancement of medicine, we have a plenty of options in the form of readily available pregnancy kits, there are a lot of simple, safe and super cheap options available right in the comfort of our homes.
The best part of these do-it-yourself pregnancy tests is the privacy that they provide. So, if you are fretting over an unplanned pregnancy or want to retain the secrecy, we are listing down 8 DIY natural pregnancy tests.
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/13are There Any Benefits To The Tests
Homemade tests do have some benefits to them. If you have an unplanned pregnancy and want to hide it from your close ones, homemade supplies won’t doubt suspicions. Plus, since most of these ingredients are easy to find, you can take it in the comfort of your home without having to step out. Many of the supplies do not even have an expiry date so can be used safely.
How Does The Test That I Do At Home Myself Compare With The Results Of A Test Done In A Lab
Home pregnancy testing is very similar to qualitative urine hCG testing performed in the laboratory, but there are factors surrounding its use that are important to note.
- Home tests come with very specific directions that must be followed explicitly. If you are using a home test, follow the directions extremely carefully . There can be variability in sensitivity to detecting the presence of hCG with different brands of home pregnancy kits.
- Home tests are sometimes done too soon after the missed menstrual cycle to result in a positive test. It typically takes 10 days after a missed menstrual period before the presence of hCG can be detected by the urine test.
- All urine hCG tests should be done on a first morning urine sample, if possible. Urine becomes more dilute after ingestion of liquids and urine hCG concentrations may become too low to register as positive.
Generally, when used correctly, the home test should produce the same result as the urine hCG test done by your healthcare practitioner. Blood testing for hCG is more sensitive than urine hCG testing, so sometimes a blood test will indicate pregnancy when the urine test is negative.
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Light Bleeding Or Spotting
Implantation bleeding is the light vaginal bleeding that typically occurs about 10 to 14 days after conception. It shouldnt cause anything more than mild spotting, which you may notice in your underwear. Implantation bleeding can also be accompanied by mild cramps that resemble the cramps of menstruation.
If the bleeding is heavy or if the cramping is severe, contact a health care provider for advice.
Along with light bleeding, some women notice white, milky vaginal discharge. This is completely normal and is the result of increased development in the lining of the vagina. The discharge may continue throughout pregnancy and does not usually have any other symptoms. Seek a health care providers opinion if the discharge smells bad or is accompanied by itching. You may need to be treated for a bacterial or yeast infection.
Early Pregnancy Symptoms Check
Is your period more than two days late?
A late period is usually one of the earliest signs of pregnancy.
Have you felt any changes in your breasts? Soreness, heavier, nipple changes?
Some women say that was the first physical change they noticed. Breasts often get larger and some describe it as a fever in their bra. Yow-za!
Do any smells bother you?
As in you can smell the neighbor’s fish from inside your own house. Its kind of a pregnancy superpower for the good or bad.
Are you really tired but dont have an explanation for it?
If your body is creating a tiny human, tiredness is definitely normal.
Do you have a metallic taste in your mouth?
This is one of the strangest symptoms for sure.
Are you bloated?
Bloating is also common during your period, so if this is your only symptom, we wouldnt worry.
Do you have any other symptoms in combination?
Nausea and vomiting can be tell-tale signs and are probably some of the most well- known. Food aversions or the opposite, cravings, are also common.
Hows your emotional health?
Emotional roller coasters are normal! Dont worry, it gets better.
Have you experienced spotting that went away after a day or two?
Spotting can be a sign of implantation bleeding. Implantation is when the embryo attaches itself to the uterine wall. Some people dont bleed at all, while others do a small amount for a short period of time. Cramping can also occur at this time.
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Can You Use Non
Non-medical ways have been used to determine pregnancy, long before pregnancy test kits were not in use. However, they may not be accurate and do not have any scientific backing.
The signs and symptoms we talked about earlier may not be related to pregnancy alone. They may also indicate the start of your menstrual period or may suggest other medical conditions. An easy and effective way to know if you are pregnant is to take a home-based pregnancy test if you notice these signs. Or, you can schedule a doctorâs visit and get a blood test done to determine the pregnancy.
Have you observed any of these symptoms when you were pregnant? Let us know about your experience in the comments section below.
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Can I Plan My Due Date
Whether you’re trying to avoid being very pregnant in the middle of summer or are a teacher who wants to maximize time off with your little one, you can try to time when you conceive in order to “plan” your due date. But even if you’re one of the lucky ones who’s able to get pregnant when she really wants to, just remember that you probably won’t be able to map out exactly when you’ll give birth to the day .
Still, you can try our Ovulation Calculator, which uses the date of your last menstrual period and your typical cycle length to discover the days you’re most likely to be fertile and increase your chances of conceiving.
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