| ||
| ||
|
Pregnancy Information | |
|
|
How do Pregnancy Tests Work?
Pregnancy tests identify a special hormone in the blood or urine produced during pregnancy. This hormone is called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), often referred to as the pregnancy hormone. There are two basic types of pregnancy tests, blood and urine. Home pregnancy test are primarily urine tests. These are easy to use, private and inexpensive. Most are quick and very accurate, claiming a 99% accuracy rate. Tests can be purchased at drug and discount stores without a prescription. False positives are very rare, but a false negative is possible if the test is done too early for sufficient quantities of HCG in your urine. False negatives can be avoided by waiting until your period is due, or about 2 weeks after you ovulate. Confirming a negative result with a second test a few days or a week later is wise. Always follow a positive result with a trip to your doctor for confirmation and prenatal care. Medicines containing HCG can cause a false positive on your home test, but most over-the-counter and prescription drugs will not affect test results. Blood test results may take a few hours or a day, and usually require a trip to the doctor or lab. There are two types of blood tests for pregnancy. The first, a qualitative HCG blood test, provides simple positive or negative results, similar to a urine test. This test is slightly less accurate than the quantitative blood test (or beta HCG test) which measures the exact amount of HCG in the blood. The beta test's ability to pick up small traces of HCG in the blood increase its accuracy. Whichever type of test you choose, it is important to remember that a follow-up trip to the doctor is important for you and your new baby. Maria writes for Pregnancy Due Date, a site that tries to information for expectant mothers. For more great pregnancy articles, visit our Pregnancy articles archive.
MORE RESOURCES:
Pregnancy Alone Is Not Associated With Increased Risk For Mental ... - Science Daily (press release)
Pregnancy - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Delight in Pregnancy Bedrest My first experience with bedrest was at 30 weeks into my second pregnancy when I was dilated between 2-3 centimeters. I was on strict bedrest which I renamed "pregnancy prison. How To Avoid Swelling When Pregnant Edema, otherwise known as swelling, will affect almost all women at some point during their pregnancy. Swelling or Edema is most often the result of excessive levels of hormones coursing through your body. Pregnancy Preparation: Who is a Baby Whisperer? A baby whisper is a Dr. Mommy who inspires and instructs new Moms on building strong connections with their babies. How Do I Date My Pregnancy? Accurate dating of pregnancy is one of the most important steps in your prenatal care. Every decision you make and many tests that are run are directly related to or interpreted from where you are in your pregnancy. Very Early Symptoms of Pregnancy - Do You Know These Very Early Pregnancy Signs? Very early symptoms of pregnancy -- what are they? If asked, most women remember their very early pregnancy signs if they have been pregnant before. Some women can detect the moment they begin ovulating, while many women cannot tell when or if they have ovulated. Finding Time To Exercise After Pregnancy If exercise is so obviously the answer to losing weight after childbirth, then why aren't more women doing it? The answer isn't as tricky as you may think.One problem most new mothers will report is that they don't feel that they have enough time to exercise after birth. Get Back Your Pre-Pregnancy Abs With Side Planks The foundation of fitness for a mom is her abdominal area. To moms a flat stomach is wonderful; a strong abdominal core is critical. Planned Parenthood Prevents Teen Pregnancy Planned Parenthood is an alternative for teenagers when they do not know where else to turn. They offer education on parenting, sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted teen pregnancy precautions and offer support for individuals who want to terminate their pregnancy. How To Prepare For Natural Childbirth SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT BIRTH IS NATURAL, NORMAL AND HEALTHY.? A doula at the delivery has been proven to shorten labor,improve mother's satisfaction and reduce the need for painmedications. Stress And Pregnancy Stress Relief During PregnancyIf you truly want to ensure a great pregnancy, you should work on keeping a healthy and positive physical, mental and spiritual state. There is substantial evidence which suggests that a mother's physical and mental wellness during pregnancy can affect not only the outcome of their pregnancy but the well being of their child later in life. Pregnancy and Tanning Beds With summer approaching, you would love to wear those cute maternity sun dresses, but you don't want to show off your pale white skin. Now, you need to decide what is the best way to tan without possibly putting your baby in danger. Is Pregnancy Changes You? People say pregnancy is a fun and exciting time. Probably they are right, but don't you think that behind the fun and excitement, you also feel the changes in your body. Five Ways to Read Your Bodys Changes before Pregnancy Test What are the most unforgettable changes happen to your body when pregnant? There are a few things, but mostly women can't forget about their breast which get sore and sensitive and their belly which get bigger and bigger during nine month.Do women know about their changes before checking themselves to doctors? Women who never get pregnant might think they suffer some kind of disease when their body has problems. Coping With an Unplanned Pregnancy Your period is late and you start to think maybe you might be pregnant. Maybe you are afraid to go take a test because you don't want to find out the results. Labor and Delivery This is it - the finish line. You and your partner have been training for this event for the last 40 weeks and there is no turning back. Kegel Exercise for a Healthy Pregnancy With Kegal exercise, your pregnancy can be more comfortable before, during, and after your baby is born. With the proper kegal exercise, you can strengthen the vaginal muscles and allow for smoother pregnancy. Your Role as an Expectant Father Quite often expectant fathers get bent out of shape over what they should be doing during the pregnancy. The pregnant woman is often the focus of all attention. Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Choosing The Right Foods So you need to gain weight but don't want to gain too much weight during your pregnancy right?There are many things that you can do to improve your diet and ensure that you gain a minimal but healthy amount of weight during pregnancy.Choosing the right foods is important because you will be able to loose weight more quickly after delivery if you manage your diet during pregnancy. Can a Woman With PCOS Get Pregnant? One of the most common questions I get from women who are newly diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome is "Will I ever get pregnant?" I have not been able to find specific studies regarding fertility and PCOS-likely because it is so hard to track those who are successful in getting pregnant without medical intervention. One source said that women with PCOS have an 80-90 percent chance of having a baby, but I was unable to find any research studies to back this up. Eating Healthfully When A New Baby Arrives A new baby can be overwhelming for the whole family. The last thing on your mind is cooking for yourself or eating a healthy diet.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
