Early Pregnancy Tests Explained

 

An early pregnancy test can be conducted in two ways: at home through a home testing kit or at the doctor’s. When you go to the doctor, you may request for a blood or urine test. Both these tests are identical in that they look for traces of the pregnancy hormone. This hormone is unique because it is produced in the body only when the woman becomes pregnant.

Blood tests performed at the healthcare center are of two types. The qualitative hCG test is very much like a urine test, and it can simply give you a confirmation of pregnancy. For greater accuracy, it is important to go for a quantitative blood test which measures the exact amount of hormone in the blood. This test, due to its very nature, can pick up even very small traces of the hormone and is therefore very accurate. Blood tests are performed by taking a tube of blood from the vein, which is sent to the laboratory for examination. The analysis may take anywhere from a few hours to a day max.

Blood tests are generally more accurate than urine tests, and they are also quicker in offering you confirmation of pregnancy because traces of hCG appear about a week earlier in the blood than in the urine. While blood tests can determine pregnancy about a week after ovulation, urine tests take 14-16 days to come out with an accurate result. However, these days there are more sensitive urine tests that can give you a confirmation as early as a week after ovulation.

Now-a-days, many women opt for home pregnancy tests, which also test for the presence of this hormone. In this case, a strip is held to a stream of urine for a prescribed amount of time, after which the strip may develop certain color differences or markings in case the test is positive. It is generally recommended that the first urine of the day be used for the test because this is more concentrated.

Home pregnancy test kits are available in pharmacies and you do not require a doctor’s prescription to buy one. On the positive side, these tests are convenient and they ensure that your privacy is protected. On the negative side, early results may be misleading and you need to wait longer or go for an alternative blood test to be completely sure of the results. Sometimes a false negative test may say that you are not pregnant even though you have conceived. Wrong test results from home pregnancy test kits may have various reasons, including human error. In fact, they leave large room for errors caused by human carelessness. If the strip is not dipped properly or if you have not followed instructions properly, you run the risk of getting a false test result.

So it is advisable to take any negative results from a home pregnancy test with a pinch of salt. To be doubly sure, take the test again after a few days when the amount of hormone in your blood has increased, or better still, opt for a blood test.

Pregnancy Symptoms

Pregnancy is defined as ‘the period from conception to birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus’. Let us see some of the common symptoms of pregnancies among women.

Missing the period is the most common sign and indication of pregnancy. However a variety of other reasons such as stress, illness, and weight fluctuations etc also can cause the late or missed periods. Missing periods normally can also be a symptom of polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition in which periods can occur months apart. Hence one has to observe rather examine the other symptoms to confirm the pregnancy. Another important symptom of pregnancy is the change in the size and feel of the breast immediately after the conception. Breasts begin to enlarge to get ready for breast feeding and women claim that the breasts become sensitive and they experience a very sharp and twinkling sensation.
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Another most common symptom of pregnancy is nausea and vomiting normally seen among women. This is also known as morning sickness. A feeling of sickness is also being experienced by most women from the fifth and sixth week of the pregnancy. The morning sickness can start as early as 2 weeks of pregnancy.. The degree of nausea and vomiting differs from person to person. Mostly this symptom may disappear after period of 3 to 4 months. Most of the pregnant woman experience tiredness and fatigue.

Frequent urination is also a common feature among pregnant women within 2-3 weeks after consumption due to the reduction in the size of the bladder . Drastic change in the taste and smell is also another factor resulting in craving for certain foods and start hating certain other types of food. All the above symptoms though normally confirm the pregnancy a clinical cal test is the ultimate proof.

One can confirm pregnancy by conducting the small home pregnancy test by detecting the level of HCG in the urine and if the result is positive one may need to make an appointment with family doctor to confirm the pregnancy and to start the follow up. Like the home pregnancy test the office urine test also confirms pregnancy by detecting the level of HCG in the urine.

Similarly a blood test can also be made that may give a positive or negative results normally conducted when there are apprehensions of miscarriage or unusual pregnancy. After a period 0f 4 to 6 weeks the obstetrician can confirm the pregnancy by a physical examination. The thickening of the vaginal tissues and softening uterus confirms the pregnancy.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice regarding pregnancy. Prior to beginning any treatment regimen or taking any medication, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor for advice and/or to determine the best course of action for his/her individual situation.

What are the early signs of a twin pregnancy? – Part 1

Each pregnancy is very different. Mother’s of twins are the best source we have for most of the information about what is different than the signs of a singleton birth. There is some controversy because many of the signs are subjective. It’s an educated guess until the ultra sound confirms both individuals.

Extreme Morning Sickness

Here is where the debate may begin. Ask any pregnant woman leaning over a bucket if she has extreme morning sickness and I’ll bet the answer is yes. Apparently with twins cause 24 hour extreme morning sickness. They are often more sick and for longer than the first trimester.

Abnormally high results from an AFP test.

The alpha fetoprotein test measures a protein secreted by the fetal liver. More than one child increases this protein in the mother’s bloodstream. This is often what alerts a physician that they may be having a multiple birth situation. This is some thing that can be measured.

Listening for heart beats

This one is a little tricky as well. The heartbeat of a singe fetus may be heard at several locations. It is only a signal if the hearts are beating at different rates that a diagnosis of multiple pregnancy is made. This is a clear indication, but not one you can make at home.

Extreme Fatigue

Every woman will tell you about how tiring it is to grow a baby. But twins need twice the energy and you are not just tired, you are dead tired. Literally you are finding yourself falling asleep at your desk and the dinner table. It makes sense that it would take more energy to support two babies.

Elevated HcG Levels

HcG is a hormone that is detectable in a woman’s blood or urine as early as 10 days post conception. Very elevated rates of HcG may be an indication that you are pregnant with twins.

Faster Weight Gain

By the end of the second trimester mothers of twins have normally gained fifteen to twenty-five pounds, while mothers of singleton pregnancies usually have gains of ten to twenty pounds.

Fetal Movement

This is another one of those controversial suggestions. However, mother of twins claim that there are more early flips and flutters that gave them a clue twins were on their way.

Larger Measurements

On of the things that your physician checks is the measurement of the height of the uterine fundus. This is from the top of the pubic bone to the top of the uterus. This is the measurement that indicates the gestational age and development of the child. With twins this obviously is larger.

Hyper-speed Mood Swings

This one is hard to measure as well. Mood swings vary greatly with pregnancies, but fathers of twins say it’s much worse and lasts longer with two. Maybe they would know best.

So one baby or two enjoy the time you have building your family. These are times you will never forget, even if you want to!

www.multiples.about.com

www.pregnancy-info.net

www.tummywear.org

Morning Sickness Causes What Makes you Throw Up in the Morning

You may throw up in the morning, in the afternoon or anytime of the day, likewise, the morning sickness causes also tend to vary extremely like its occurrences. Not just the time of the day and the factors of morning sickness, the symptoms of morning sickness vary from one woman to another! A feeling of nausea, queasiness and vomiting are all together referred to as the symptoms of morning sickness.

Although this particular symptom is potent to last for an entire day, however it is termed as ‘morning sickness’. The expecting mothers should not be deceived by what this symptom literally means; they should be prepared with a bag to throw up now and then, without making mess. Whatever discomforts this symptom entails, but it is, no doubt, a positive alert of conceiving. Women who are planning their pregnancy are suggested to look for this morning sickness symptom at the every early stage to detect their pregnancy. Therefore, despite being a source of thrown up feelings and discomforts, it is a source of joys too. Now let us discover why your body tends to react this way at the early trimester of pregnancy.

Causes Of Morning Sickness

Women who suffer from this sign of pregnancy can hardly keep themselves at much distance from the loo. Moreover, women also report to feel apathy for their favorite foods and find hard to consume them. Taking meals become such a difficult task for them. If you are nodding yes to all these symptoms of morning sickness, without any delay, you must find out the morning sickness causes to find the remedies, accordingly. Following are the most probable causes of morning sickness –

Progesterone hormone tops the list of possible morning sickness causes. Arousal of this hormone affect in the digestive system of pregnant women. This hormone retards all the metabolic functions and digestion is one of those. As a result, digesting food takes longer while as compared to the period when the sufferer was not pregnant. In the end, this sloth digestion process makes women feel morning sickness.

Another pregnancy hormone named, hCG or HCG is also considered one of the effective morning sickness causes. Release of this hormone in the blood stream leaves women feeling nauseous.

Eating greasy and spicy foods are also regarded as morning sickness causes. As the digestion deteriorates under the influence of hormone levels, consumption of these foods aggravates the situation and makes pregnant women more susceptible to morning sickness.

Increased sensitivity to smell and taste is amongst the major morning sickness causes. It is very common to feel an increase sense of craving and apathy towards certain tastes and smells of food and other substances. Some smells and flavors may attract you while others may make you gag.

According to medical experts, morning sickness is quite harmless for pregnant women, no matter, how difficult they feel to cope up with this symptom. Drastic hormonal changes indicate production of suitable ambience in your body to support your baby’s growth. Therefore, there is little or rather, nothing to worry about the pregnancy morning sickness.

Miscarriage – a Devastating Time for Both Parents

Pregnancy is a very exciting and busy time for most mums and dads but sometimes things can go wrong. Miscarriages happen, some people believe its natures way of making sure you have a healthy baby.

As devastating as it may be sometimes a miscarriage can occur in what is seen to be a normal pregnancy. Pregnancy can be a tricky time for some people, no matter what they do. They can give up drinking alcohol and cut down or stop smoking , eat healthily and look after their bodies but still miscarriages can happen for many reasons. Miscarriages are just recently beginning to be recognized as a valid grief issue. Having a miscarriage is very painful and doubting that fact makes it even more painful. A miscarriage is often a traumatic event for both partners, and can cause feelings similar to the loss of a child or other member of the family or close friend.. Although one cannot generalise, a miscarriage is a bereavement and with it comes a sense of loss

A miscarriage is classified as an involuntary abortion, it is actually termed “spontaneous abortion” by health care professionals. It is the loss of a baby usually before the 20th week of pregnancy, with most miscarriages occurring in the first trimester. I.e. the first 12 weeks, that’s why parents breath a sigh of relief and feel its safe to tell people about the pregnancy after that time. Miscarriage rates for true first time pregnancies are very high, fair higher than most people would believe and could be related to the fact that a women’s immune system has not yet learned how to help her carry a baby.

Miscarriage symptoms usually start with back and abdominal pain and bleeding sometimes with cramping. It is safe to say though that not everyone who bleeds has a miscarriage. If you do miscarry, or know for certain a miscarriage is occurring, you may need to go into hospital to ensure all the pregnancy has come away, as this can cause health problems if it hasn’t.

The reasons why a miscarriage occurs can range from anything between uterine abnormalities to psychological upheavals, and more often than not during the grieving process the woman will find it difficult to obtain peace within herself, often asking the questions “Why me? What did I do wrong. A miscarriage can also occur when the level of HCG is rising too slowly, and when the HCG level in your blood is decreasing over time, a miscarriage is almost certain. ( HCG is a hormone that is produced by the placenta during pregnancy. It should rise steadly throughout a normal pregnancy). If when you go for your checkups a heartbeat is not heard or your cervix is dilated, or widened, or if your membranes have ruptured, then most likely a miscarriage is in progress, or has already happened.

The thing that stands out most about miscarriage is that the loss of an unborn baby early on in pregnancy is very easy for others to dismiss because there is often no physical evidence of the loss.

Really the only healer for this, both in the case of physical and emotional scars is time, and only when family and friends view the miscarriage as a “real” bereavement can a mother and father begin the long and painful journey of healing from such a lonely, misunderstood loss.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Part 3

A more aggressive regime to stimulate ovarian function is to administer exogenous human gonadotrophin combined with the use of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) to induce ovulation. This therapy may be used in conjunction with intra-uterine insemination of with IVF treatment. Both forms of treatment will require ultra-sound monitoring in order to assess follicular growth as ovarian hyper stimulation, and thus multiple ovulation, can occur. Treatment protocols for IVF vary from unit to unit but generally a period of ‘down regulation’ using gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists are administered to prevent any release of LH from the pituitary. Endogenous FSH production is largely prevented by down regulation, so exogenous FSH is given to stimulate follicular growth and HCG, a protein similar to LH, is given to induce ovulation. Luteal support is essential as GnRH agonist therapy interferes with LH production and the corpus luteum will not function effectively.

Once a diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome has been made and treatment options discussed, the couple may choose not to have any further treatment and either seek advice from health professionals regarding adoption or fostering or remain childless. In Monarch’s study (1993), eight couples (27%) withdrew from investigations and treatment. All these couples had very close contact with their families and therefore had a good source of social support. For many couples this support would be crucial at a time when they may be abandoning all hope of having a child.

Due to the complex nature of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, women are at risk from the condition in a number of ways which may require further long term planning and management. Firstly there is an association with increased insulin resistance, which may lead to a disturbance of glucose metabolism and therefore the development of diabetes.

Persistent anovulation and amenorrhoea can cause endometrial hyperplasia, and as Helmerhorst and Helmerhorst (1991) indicate, various studies have linked Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome to endometrial carcinoma. High levels of oestrogen in women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome arise from the conversion of androgens to oestradiol in peripheral adipose tissue. Obesity in women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome further enhances this conversion, and hyperoestrogenaemia may lead to a higher prevalence of breast disease (Coulam C.B et al., 1983). It has also been reported that women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome are at risk of cardio-vascular disease due to an unfavourable lipo-protein (Wild et. al., 1985).

It seems clear therefore that once a diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome has been made, adequate advice should be given and information made available regarding all these long term health issues.

Studies have shown that most men and women expect to have children and become parents at some point in their lives. (Michaels, 1988 and Phoenix, Woolett and Lloyd, 1991) and as Monarch (1993) points out, our society is pronatalist. Motherhood is seen as providing an identity for women and this gives them status. Parenthood is assumed and encouraged within society and both the media and the advertising industry consider it to be the norm. As discussed previously, women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome are often obese and media images of slim, attractive and fertile women may serve to heighten any feelings of guilt and loss of self esteem they may have.

Every woman reacts differently to a diagnosis of infertility but as Wills (1996) highlighted, many feel that their is “something wrong with them” and they may therefore feel stigmatised and socially isolated. More women are delaying becoming parents as they choose to develop career opportunities and difficulties may develop within their relationship when infertility is diagnosed due to feelings of guilt associated with this delay. When confronted with infertility either partner may also fear rejection. Equally couples may improve their levels of communication and understanding and their relationship may become strengthened. Sexual problems are commonly reported whilst undergoing investigations and may be caused by feelings of pressure to perform. This need to perform may be more essential than the need for closeness and affection, and feelings of resentment and shame may develop.

What to expect at your first prenatal appointment

First off, expect to be at the appointment for at least one hour. It takes this long to get an accurate history, have a head to toe exam ( yes this includes a pap smear) and to get the needed blood work done.

I work with a nurse mid-wife, so I can explain the First OB process in great detail. First of all I will get a height and weight from my patient. I also will collect a urine sample to check for glucose and protein. These are flags that allow us to catch early onset gestational diabetes and pre-eclapsia symptoms. I will also check your temp, blood pressure and pulse.

Then the questions begin, it is important to be as complete and honest as possible. I will ask you about your last period, your menstrual history, drug and alcohol use, and get an idea of your current living situation. I will ask about your past medical history and the medical history of those in your family. If you know about the the histories of the fathers family that too is very helpful.

Then the Medical provider will review your answers and ask many questions of there own. They will also do a head to toe exam, including a pelvic exam (to see that your uterus is long thick and closed) and to feel for any abnormalities. They will also collect a pap smear from you.

Sometimes ( on thinner patients) a fetal hear beat can be heard as early as nine weeks, however, don’t worry about hearing one before your thirtieth week. You may also have an ultra sound to determine a more accurate due date, and to ensure that your pregnancy is in the uterus. However not all providers will do an ultra sound this early unless you are having pain and or spotting.

Before you leave your blood will be drawn. We will determine your blood type and check your beta hcg level ( this provides us a better understanding of how far along you are) also with your permission we will check for HIV and other ST-D’s. We will also check your complete blood count and check many other levels.

We will also lay out a visit schedule and go over further testing. Most providers will also provide a list of things to avoid during pregnancy, such as certain foods and medications. We will also provide you with a list of things that are safe to take during your pregnancy. If you are not provided with reading materials, I suggest “What to expect, when your expecting, its a great book with lots of valuable information.

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How accurate are at home tests – Part 3

The accuracy of home pregnancy tests can vary. Some people will say this depends on the cost of the test. The higher the price the more accurate the test. Sounds logical right? You would think that the higher the cost the better the materials that are used right? Well actually that’s not quite true. Each pregnancy test on the market nowadays are pretty much made with the same materials. The boxes say that most have at least a 96% accuracy. I have taken many pregnancy tests in my time. Some were expensive and some cost only $1.00, I noticed no difference of accuracy of the tests. I asked the doctor about the accuracy of the home tests one day and they said that the home tests are the exact same kind as they have in the office. So that would mean that while not infallible they are very accurate. For the best results and the most accurate result it is best to do the test first thing in the morning when your HCG levels are highest. There is a chance you will get an invalid result this has nothing to do with the accuracy of the test but means there was some kind of problem with the test when it was made. Perhaps the components were contaminated during assembly. Precautions are taken but human error does happen in the assembly of goods. So when you go to buy a pregnancy test remember price is no guarantee of quality or accuracy, And most tests are very accurate. The wait can be so very nerve wracking when you are waiting to find out if you are going to have an addition to your family. You can feel secure in the knowledge that no matter what home pregnancy test you use your results will be very accurate.

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Different Types Of Pregnancy Tests

If you believe yourself to be pregnant and are interested in using a test to determine the results factually, know that the tests sold over the counter that use urine to detect the pregnancy hormone are incredibly effective. Unlike in days gone by when the only reliable way to determine whether you are indeed pregnant was to visit your primary health care provider’s office, these home tests allow you to determine whether or not you need to see a provider. Keep in mind that if you test positive for any type of home pregnancy test, you should be sure to immediately schedule an appointment with your primary health care provider. This is essential due to complications like an ectopic tubal pregnancies, where the egg lodges in the Fallopian tube and can cause a great deal of pain and medical issues if left untreated. A test will still determine that you are pregnant, although the pregnancy may not be normal or necessarily healthy.

There are two main types of pregnancy tests, those that use urine and those that use blood. Both tests are designed to detect the hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin. Commonly known as hCG, this hormone is produced when the placenta begins to develop once the embryo successfully attaches to the uterine lining. Although blood tests tend to have less false readings, the presence of this hCG hormone can easily be found in a urine based test. Generally, doctors will perform a blood test in order to determine whether or not you are pregnant. In addition to testing for the presence of hCG, a doctor may wish to run another panel to determine your overall health and levels of vitamins or nutrients. This will provide your physician with a base line for which to prescribe prenatal vitamins and medications that will ensure both mother and child are kept healthy.

If you purchase a urine based pregnancy test, there are two main options available. The first option sees the woman urinating in a cup and then inserting a special stick into the cup for a given period of time. This test generally has more accurate results since the instructions are more likely to be followed. Usually, if you visit a clinic and they issues you a urine based test, this is the type of test that you will receive. However, the most popular method of pregnancy tests available over the counter are those that require the woman to hold a special stick in a stream of urine for a certain amount of time. These tests tend to be the most popular since there is less mess and clean up required in this method. There are even versions of this test that can detect the hCG pregnancy hormone almost immediately after the embryo has implanted in the uterine wall.

For those individuals who are far too anxious to receive the news than the necessary waiting period required for even the earliest versions of the urine tests, a blood test should be used. Blood tests can be administered up to seven days after a possible conception, so they are a favorite among couples that are experiencing infertility problems. Furthermore, a blood test can more accurately measure the level of hCG found in a woman’s body so that potential problems or complications with the pregnancy can be immediately identified. However, keep in mind that you must visit a doctor’s office in order to have a blood test to determine whether or not you are pregnant. This will often cause you to incur costs associated with the visit and the testing fees. If money is a concern, many women’s clinics provide pregnancy testing for a minimal cost.

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Guide to the first stages of pregnancy – Part 2

Pregnancy is a special time in a woman’s life, but it also brings a whole host of ailments, emotions and worries to contend with. The early weeks are perhaps the most challenging, below is a guide to the first stages of pregnancy.

Common early pregnancy symptoms

- Menstrual period is late or missed – if you are more than a week or two late on your menstrual period, then this is a strong indicator of pregnancy

- Feeling nauseous/vomiting – also known as morning sickness, the increase of hormones in your body, in particular progesterone, makes you feel this way

- More frequent urination – also caused by an increase in hormones

- Tiredness – your body is using all its energy to make a baby!

- Tender breasts/nipples – once again the surge of hormones.

Pregnancy tests

There are many reliable pregnancy test kits available from most pharmacies/drugstores. These tests detect the pregnancy hormone hCG in your urine, and is carried out by urinating on a stick on the test kit; after a minute or two, the result will show up as ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ in the form of line/s (depending on the brand); some digital kits actually state ‘pregnant’ or ‘not pregnant’.

Below are some tips for optimum use:

- Not too early – make sure that you wait until after your menstrual period would have been due to conduct the test, some tests do not work earlier than this

- Test in the morning – it is best to use early-morning urine as hCG hormone levels are higher at this time

- Don’t drink too many fluids – this can increase the volume of urine and dilute the pregnancy hormone

- Always read the instructions carefully.

Early pregnancy: what to expect

During early pregnancy, a miracle occurs: your body develops a fertilized egg into a human baby at a phenomenal rate so, as well as the symptoms listed previously, it is normal to feel more emotional and exhausted – take this time to relax and let the surging hormones do their work! Not only this but it will take some time to adjust to the idea of becoming a parent and all the responsibilities that go with it.

Once you have confirmed your pregnancy, it is a good idea to make an appointment to see your doctor; you can discuss your estimated due date and arrange appointments with the health professionals you will need to see throughout your pregnancy. Your doctor will also organize an appointment for your first dating scan, which is usually at around 12-14 weeks of pregnancy. Pregnancy is split into three trimesters

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