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The Home Pregnancy Test: A Convenient Option

January 5th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

When a woman suspects that she is pregnant, the first place she will often go to confirm her suspicions is the home pregnancy test. It is much more private and convenient to obtain these results at home before making an appointment with the doctor. These tests come in a variety of packages and price ranges, but nearly all home pregnancy tests work on the same principle.

The key to the home pregnancy test is the detection of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin - more commonly known as HCG. HCG will make an appearance in a woman’s body at the time that an embryo implants into the uterine wall. This process generally occurs anywhere from six to twelve days after ovulation takes place. During the first few days and weeks of pregnancy, HCG levels will multiply in a woman’s body at a rapid rate. The higher the levels of HCG in a woman’s system, the easier it is for the home pregnancy test to detect the hormone in a woman’s urine.

Because of the time frame involved before HCG becomes easy to read, it is usually recommended that a woman waits to take a home pregnancy test until the time that her menstrual period would normally be due. This will ensure the most accurate reading of the test.

Some home pregnancy tests are developed to be even more sensitive to detecting HCG, and can be performed earlier. Some even advertise a detection of HCG as early as seven days after ovulation. Keep in mind that accuracy of results does go down the earlier in the pregnancy that the test is performed.

How to Use a Home Pregnancy Test

In order to ensure the most effective testing process, manufacturers will recommend following the package instructions very carefully. Some will advise a woman to hold the test stick under the urine stream, and others will work better if the stick is held in a cup of urine for a few minutes.

Most will advise a woman to perform the test first thing in the morning, since HCG levels may be higher at this time. A woman using a home pregnancy test can usually have results as quickly as two minutes after the test is done. A test window on most sticks will show the user that the test has been completed properly.

Once a positive result is read on a home pregnancy test, a woman should confirm the results with her doctor. This ensures accuracy as well as allowing the woman to begin prenatal care as soon as possible.

Recognizing the Early Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms

January 4th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

There are certain signs and symptoms that a woman is able to recognize during the early pregnancy stages, and these signs and symptoms should be taken greatly into consideration, as learning about and understanding them will help you to recognize earlier on if you are pregnant.

What are the Early Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms?

In regards to the most common early pregnancy signs and symptoms, this would include such things as nausea, heartburn, fatigue, bloating, weight gain, and breast and nipple soreness, for example. Early pregnancy certainly has its share of discomforts, some of which are almost universal, such as that of mild nausea and fatigue.

Basically what happens is that soon after you conceive, your body begins going through a series of minor and major changes, of which will enable it to sustain your baby through the required amount of growth time. The glands of your endocrine system and placenta, for instance, begin to step up the hormone production and your blood volume increases and your uterus expands as well.

Generally, by about the fourth month of pregnancy you will probably be beginning to feel much more like your old self, as many of the early pregnancy signs and symptoms will have weaned off by now, and because your body has at least somewhat adjusted to these dramatic changes that are taking place both inside and outside of your body.

There are certain methods that you can use in order to help relieve some of these symptoms, such as in regards to morning sickness, which is one of the most commonly reported; in order to manage morning sickness you can: munch on a few crackers before getting up in the morning, eat several small meals a day so that your stomach is never empty, avoid anything that causes nausea, drink plenty of liquids, try wearing a motion sickness band, suck on hard candy, or try ginger as it has proved effective in combating morning sickness.

Constipation is another commonly reported symptom of pregnancy, and there are ways that you can manage this as well, including: try to eat on a regular schedule, drink plenty of liquids, get some exercise every day, eat high-fiber fruits and vegetables, and try fiber supplements such as psyllium powder or Metamucil.

Although some of these methods may not work perfectly for you, at least attempting them will surely help you overall at least a little bit, and the more help you can get the better.

Copyright © 2008 Pregnancy tips for the parents to be and new mother