Pregnancy Test

The first thing that you should do is carrying out a pregnancy test as soon as you experience the symptom of pregnancy. It measures the level of hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) present in your urine.

So, what's special about hCG? Well, it's a hormone produced when the fertilized egg gets implanted in the uterus. This usually occurs about six days after fertilization. The hCG levels shoot up in your bloodstream. Every two days, the amount gets doubled! Hence, a week after you expect your menstruation to begin, you can detect hCG in the urine through a pregnancy test.

Using A Pregnancy Test Kit

It's easy to use the home pregnancy kit. The best time to carry out the test is early morning. Collect some urine in a clean cup. Dip the test strip into the urine sample and wait for a few minutes. Each test has different ways to display results. Some show a purple or pink line while others may show a (+) or (-) sign.

If the test shows negative result, it doesn't mean you are not pregnant. Check for your menstrual cycle. If it doesn't start within a few days, you should take another test or visit your doctor.

"Chemical Pregnancy"

Sometimes it happens that you get a false positive test result. This happens due to "chemical pregnancy." It is a term used to define a fertilized egg, which starts producing hCG but fail to develop further due to some reason. So, you get the hCG in your urine, but the egg does not continue to develop and, as a result, the pregnancy terminates.

Whether the result is positive or negative, it is always good to carry out a second test after a few days to confirm the pregnancy. Do not rely on one test alone. Besides this, there are also symptoms of pregnancy to be noticed. Tender breasts, fatigue, morning sickness, headaches frequent urination, mood swings, and others are the symptoms that confirm the test results. These are the signs of early stages of pregnancy. If you don't experience any of the symptoms, yet get a positive result, it is better to go for a second test.

On the contrary, if you get a negative pregnancy test result, but are experiencing the symptoms, consult your doctor for confirmation and advice on prenatal care. Discuss with your doctor about your fears and doubts. Do not hesitate to ask questions. The more you ask, the better you will feel. Start your pregnancy with a confident note. It's a unique experience of your life!