With your period late you ask yourself the million dollar question:“Will I be pregnant?”How “two simple lines” can change your world, right? In this indescribable way, your new life begins full of uncertainty, some fear and a lot, a lot of excitement.
Throughout the following lines we talk aboutpregnancy test. Keep reading!
I am pregnant?
The symptom par excellence that makes one wonder about the possibility or not of pregnancy isabsence of menstruation or amenorrhea. However, it is not the only one that can make you doubt. Other symptoms you may notice are:
- Physical changes of pregnancy as breasts with a larger volume and/or more sensitive.
- Nausea and even disgust towards certain smells or flavors, which can have an impact on your nutrition in pregnancy.
- Abdominal swelling and pain similar to that of menstruation or ovulation.
- Unexplained mood swings that influence emotional health.
- Dizziness and fainting due to lowering blood pressure.
- Constipation derived from hormonal changes.
- Increased tiredness and disturbances during sleep during pregnancy.
Your body is wise and is sending you signals. At this point, maybe it’s time to take a pregnancy test, right?
In ancient times our grandmothers and great-grandmothers asked themselves this question. As we know, there were not as many advances as we currently have, so they implemented their own home pregnancy tests that consisted of mix urine with all kinds of substances: vinegar, bleach, oil, natural soap, toothpaste,… It has even been experimented with frogs! Nevertheless these tests they have no scientific evidence.With current pregnancy tests, the aim is to find out whether or not you are pregnant “simply” urinating on a test strip easily, quickly and accurately. You can get it at any pharmacy or supermarket and it is usually around a more or less affordable price.
When do I take the pregnancy test?
After ovulation in the middle of the cycle and subsequent fertilization of the egg, the implantation of the embryo occurs in the walls of the uterus between 6 and 10 days later. It is at this moment when the hormone chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), known as the pregnancy hormone, begins to appear in your urine. This hormone is responsible for protect the embryo and stop the menstrual cycle.Despite what many people think,choose the day correctlytaking a pregnancy test matters. Because? Until some time after conception, hCG is practically imperceptible. The hormone levels will increase significantly as the days go by. Here you can read more about fertility.
If you have a regular cycle…
If your menstrual cycles are regular, the calculation of the possibility of an imminent pregnancy will be easier. For the results of a pregnancy test to be reliable we must wait at least3-4 days late of the estimated date of the period or do it 14-15 days after having had unprotected sexual relations.
If you don’t have the regular cycle…
What pregnancy test do I choose?
There are different types of pregnancy tests. There are even those that determine the weeks of gestation.“Which one do I choose?”-you will think.
At SingularMom teaWe recommend that you purchase a test that is as sensitive as possibleso that it can detect the slightest concentration of hCG. In general, all tests are usually 97-99% accurate as long as they are used correctly.
How do I do it?
It is true that almost all pregnancy tests can be performed at practically any time of the day. Nevertheless We recommend doing it with thefirst urine in the morning since in this way we ensure that the degree of hormone concentration be elderly and is better detected.Whichever test you choose, it is essential that follow the instructions printed: dip the strip in urine, urinate directly on the strip,… and even repeat the test days later to make sure of the result.
Possible results when performing the test
There are women who “get confused” about the color and intensity of the stripes on the pregnancy test. If it hasn’t happened to you, you may know a friend who has been worried about the intensity of the color of the lines or the amount of urine she used.It may be difficult to interpret the result due to the nerves of the moment.. In addition, it must be taken into account that hCG levels vary from one woman to another and that there may not be enough of the hormone to be detected.
False positives or false negatives
“I am pregnant?”Affirmative or negative. Yes or no. There is no more. However, things get complicated with false negatives or false positives. Let me explain. When the test is positive there is no turning back. It will not test positive today and negative in 3 days. Virtually impossible or very unlikely. In fact As the days go by, cHG will become more and more visiblewhich will further indicate your status. Except in the case of ectopic embryos (produced outside the uterus) or pregnancies without an embryo. However, this is not very common. However, a false negative. That is, if only one line appears on the test (indicating that you are not pregnant) and your menstruation still does not appear… you should take a test again.
Congratulations! You are pregnant!
“What do I do now? How much am I? Do I announce it? When will it be born?”
You have confirmed the positive after the pregnancy test. You feel a whirlwind of emotions, questions and nerves take over you. Peaceful! everything is going to be fine .
The first thing you should do is Go to your GP to refer you togynecologistwho will be the one to confirm the pregnancy after a ultrasound transvaginal. He or she will take your medical history (history, illnesses, habits, etc.), monitor your weight, blood pressure, and perform blood and urine tests to make sure everything is under control. Here you can read more about the development of the fetus in the first trimester.
Remember that it is vitally important that you take care of your dietat the same time that you stay active and do physical exercise in the first trimester.
From SingularMomwe want to help you from the first moment with this vital change. We offer you our online childbirth preparation classes so that you have all the answers to your questions and enjoy your pregnancy to the fullest. We are fully aware of the physical, physiological and psychological changes you are facing.
