Archive for the 'pregnancy testing' Category

When an egg implants in the uterus of a female mammal after fertilization, the process of conception is pregnancy. There can be many embryos at the same time. Usually they are the twins and the triplets and the human conception is the most researched of all the mammals.

The gestation term in human is nine months from the last menstrual cycle to the date of delivering the baby. Genetalian is the term used to denote a pregnant woman, Embryo is the term for the prospective baby in the initial stages and later called Fetus till it is born. Primigravida or Gravida 1 refer to a woman is first time pregnant. Gravida 0 means a lady who has never been pregnant. The count of how many times the lady had given birth ot a baby is referred to as para 0, para 1 and so on.

This human pregnancy separated into three equal terms-called the trimesters of pregnancy which denotes the distict stages of fetal development. The first trimester is the period when the woman has to be careful as there are more chances of abortion of the fetus. Screening and analysis of the fetus takes place in the second trimester. The third trimester has a fully formed fetus and can live even if there is a premature delivery.

Fertilization takes place between oocyte (egg) and the spermatozoa. This takes place through sexual intercourse by a man and a woman. When the fertilized egg implants in the uterus the conception is termed pregnancy.

The human gestation period lasts up to 40 weeks from the last menstrual cycle till the baby is born according to Naegeles theory. Calculation of the EDD or the estimated date of delivery is done between the 37th week and the 43 rd week. Premature babies are born before the 37th week and the post mature baby is born after the 43rd week. Studies by Merck says that human pregnancy takes 266 days from the date of fertilization which means 28 weeks or 8 Gregorian months and 22.5 days or 9 lunar months.

Research says taking the above calcu;lation 10% of the baby are born on the due date, 50% of births are between a week from the due date and 90% between two weeks. Although these are the average time a pregnancy lasts the correct length of pregnancy differs from person to person and counts on many aspects. The first pregnancy prolongs than the successive pregnancies.

Every woman differs in their menstrual period so it is important to take the correct date of fertilization which is also used for many medical tests and also to find out the due date of the baby. Again due dates vary depending in the test. 3.6% women deliver on due dates with calculation taken on their last menstrual cycle. 4.7% deliver on the due date calculated on the ultra sound.

Identify pregnancy with a number of home based tests and later confirm it with clinical tests like blood and urine. But both home based and clinical tests can only confirm pregnancy and cannot find out the exact age of the embryo.

A hormone called chorionic gonadotropin secreted by the blastocyst helps the corpus luteum in the ovary produce the hormone progesterone. This helps in the maintenance of the uterus lining and enriching the embryo. The uterus bulge reacting to blastocyst and the motivation helps in the growth of capillaries which carries the essential nutrients from the mother to the baby. Thus pregnancy is determined with the help of the secreted hormone chorionic gonadotropin.

Exercise during pregnancy is a must but dreadful for some pregnant women. They have the excuse of morning sickness and fatigue in the first trimester, the bulge of the stomach in the next thee months and inconvenience in the last trimester.

But there are some women who take exercise seriously and do not let anything stand in their way when it comes to physical fitness. They do not mind taking a class in the gym or even walking in the neighbor hood with bulgy stomachs.

But most of the pregnant women go for the exercise as per their doctors advice. It helps in the control and maintenance of the weight during pregnancy. It also helps the mother to have an easy delivery. Although exercise is good consider a few things for the safeguard of the mother and the baby.

Heart rate is an important factor to note when exercising for the first time. High heart rate level is risky for the baby in the first trimester. You have to maintain a steady heart rate while taking the talk test. If you find it difficult to talk while working out then you need to reduce your pace. But doctors recommend to work at pace and try talking as you can do it easily.

Do not start new exercises when you are pregnant. Maintain the exercises you have been doing and the one your body is comfortable with. You have to alter you exercises as your pregnancy develops. If you have been jogging in your first trimester you need to slow it down to walking in your second trimester. Sit ups, push ups and crunches are ok till your early second trimester. It is best to avoid floor exercises after second trimester.

If you have not been exercising before getting pregnant it is time you started to do them. Doctors advice all pregnant woman to go for long walks as walking is a very good exercise. Walking for half an hour for three days in a week is an excellent exercise for a pregnant woman to keep fit.

Walking is best and done throughout your pregnancy although it may be a bit slow in the last three months. Walking brings about easy labor. So even doctors advice the mothers to be to walk their maximum to have an easy labor. Women who keep walking throughout their pregnancy have quick and easy delivery and also fast recovery.

Gone are those days when women were like couch potatoes for the entire nine months with no exercise. Avoid exercises that strain but keep physically fit throughout your pregnancy and also have an easy delivery through exercise and walking.

On your pregnancy getting confirmed clinical tests of blood and urine done for regular check ups by your heath care giver. The urine given as sample shows the amount of sugar in your urine.

In case of excess glucose in the urine you are in for trouble as you may be having gestational diabetics. The next step is to check the blood sugar level. This blood test done with the help of a glucose meter, a small instrument with an electronic display, lancets and testing strips shows the glucose level in your body. A small prick made on your finger and the blood collected on the strips and then placed on the reader shows the level of the blood sugar. The displayed count of blood sugar says whether the patient needs a clinical blood test.

The doctor also goes for a clinical test of the blood sugar irrespective of the reading to be on the safe side. This test needs fasting and the person need to take the test early in the morning without eating anything both at night and also in the morning. There should a minimum fasting for ten hours.

Once the collection of blood in the morning is over, the person drinks a high sugar drink and asked to wait for another hour to have the blood tested again. These tests reveal how the sugar works in your body. On getting a positive result the person has to go to a specialist for further diagnosis and treatment.

Research says that it is possible to get pregnant even when one is on birth control pills. Till date there have been no definite full proof birth control pills unless you refrain from it. Despite taking birth control pills as prescribed by the doctor there are chances of one out of 1000 woman getting pregnant. Just by missing a few doses there are chances of getting pregnant and when one does not follow the dosage properly there are chances of one out of 20 women getting pregnant.

Now the question arises of how to control pregnancy. Many women take birth control pills in combination with other contraceptives like condom, the sponge, birth control patches or the diaphragm. Moreover these birth control pills cannot protect a woman from sexually transmitted diseases so they have to use the other types of contraceptives. So the more types of birth control preventive measures taken in combination, gives a greater chance of not getting pregnant.

The next problem with the birth control pills that they should not harm the fetus in case the woman gets pregnant. But the pills of today do not have any harmful affects that can either harm the mother or the baby. Moreover the new birth control pills do not have high levels of hormones like the one used in yesteryears so there are no chances of any physical damage caused to the baby in case of the woman getting pregnant.

The next worry woman has is about birth control pills and its affect on pregnancy test. High level estrogen and progesterone is present in the birth control pills which give less chances of fertilization. Pregnancy tests assess HCG or human chorionic gonadotrophin and this not hampered in any way by birth control pills. But to be on the safe side it is better to consult the gynecologist regarding these doubts

Finally if you become pregnant while taking birth control pills then it is advisable to stop it right away and consult your physician or the health care provider. If the couple is very serious about averting pregnancy then it is better to opt for a combination of birth control methods or completely refrain from it.

The moment you doubt pregnancy visit you local store to get a home based pregnancy test done. This is the easiest and fastest way to find out if you are pregnant. The result given by home based tests are 97% accurate and correct.

How it works?

The home based pregnancy test determines the amount of HCG a hormone secreted on getting pregnant in your urine. There are different types available so when you buy read the pack see the sensitivity level and use it.

When to take the test?

When to take the test depends on the type of pregnancy test you buy. Some are able to identify pregnancy within six days after ovulation whereas some identify it only after 14 days after ovulation. But it is always better to take the test after a week of you missed period. This will give an accurate result in home based pregnancy test.

Rate of Accuracy of Home-based Tests

As per studies home based pregnancy tests are 97% correct. As long as you follow the instructions given in the pack you will get an accurate result. Always take the test a week later after your missed menstrual cycle. Sometimes tests which are negative turn out to be positive later when done again but this is not the fault of the test but it is due the reason that the test done too early. The best way to confirm your pregnancy is to consult health provider.

Taking Pregnancy Test at Home

When you have the symptoms of pregnancy like morning sickness, tender breasts, or a missed period, before rushing to a doctor buy a home based test from the local store and confirm your pregnancy. For accurate result always take the test after a week of your missed period. Although the home based test is dependable it is usual to go to the doctor to confirm pregnancy after clinical tests and reveal the good news after three months.

The Common Signs and Symptoms During First Trimester in Pregnancy

The moment you knew that you were pregnant after a home based test you informed your husband about it unexpectedly and both were so happy that you hugged each other with tears of happiness in your eyes.

You could just not explain your feeling. It was a mixture of emotions. You felt happy, amazed, and also a bit of fear.

The fear was because you should prepare yourself mentally and physically for the next nine months and for the delivery day and also for the changes in the body. Youi will be thrilled with the trimesters to come.

Pregnancy has nine months of gestation period divided into three trimesters each having its own symptoms

Given below are the usual signs and symptoms of the first trimester of pregnancy. One has to be very careful during the first trimester and any carelessness can endanger the life of the fetus.

1. Morning sickness – The first trimester has most of the women with nausea and vomiting. Only a few lucky ones escape from this. Fresh fruits, hot drinks and crackers can relieve one from this morning sickness.

2. Recurrent urination – The bulging uterus causes pressure on the bladder making you visit restroom frequently.

3. Sensitive breasts – The high hormone levels due to pregnancy makes the breast fuller, heavier and also tender. It is time you changed your brassiere to one which gives ease and comfort.

4. Unusual Fatigue – This exhaustion also due to pregnancy. Take as much rest as possible and never exert yourself.

5. Longing for food – Eat as much nutritious food as possible. Never eat for two instead eat food which will keep you and your baby healthy throughout pregnancy.

6. Mood swings – The hormonal changes cause mood swings. This phase is temporary and will be over once the baby is born. Light exercises can help you keep good mood.

Some women find out that hey are pregnant only after five to six weeks from their last menstrual cycle. Once it is confirmed with home based tests go for a clinical check with you health provider or gyn.
The ob/gyn can guide you about your pregnancy condition after routine check ups. An USG test can reveal congenital defects by the end of the first trimester. Consult your doctor the moment you feel something unusual.

Read books and learn a lot about pregnancy. Information is also available in the internet. Awareness will make you feel comfortable during the gestation period which is very important for the growing baby. To become a mother is a joyful experience for any woman. Enjoy you pregnancy and stay healthy and happy till you get the bundle of joy in your hands.

I recollect the day I had been to CVS many years back to get my pregnancy confirmed. After staring a lot of tests I finally decided on the EPT which could diagnose and affirm pregnancy before all tests could do. Thus EPT changed my life and affirmed my motherhood.

The next step I took after I got the home test confirmed was to consult a physician for a second opinion like any other women. The nurse did the same test like the one i did to confirm my pregnancy. One may think why the tests again after the home tests confirmed my pregnancy. But this is natural that everyone would like to take a second opinion so as to clear their doubt and get it confirmed by a doctor.

When you walk into a drug store to buy a home based test to affirm your pregnancy you are not the only one every woman does it. Many companies have come up with many home based tests in the market that prices range from normal to a costlier one. The entire tests have the same features and chemicals. All the tests ask the woman to dip a stick in the cup of urine or ask to urinate on a stick.

As science improves there may be more and more home based tests in the drug store and you can choose one according to your convenience. Some women think the more costly test they buy the better the result will be but it is not so. The result is always the same whether it is costlier or cheaper. Finally whatever may be the cost of the test the fact revealed depends on the woman and if she is pregnant through one test that remains unaffected and she need not test it again and again.

When a fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus of a woman she becomes pregnant. The entire period of nine months when the woman carries the fetus is the pregnancy or the gestation period. There are usual signs and symptoms which determine pregnancy.

The first sign of pregnancy is missing the regular menstrual cycle although a missed period need not always be pregnancy. It could be the cause of hormonal imbalances, stress, and illness. I could be also due to polycystic ovary syndrome where the periods occur after many months. So the other signs of pregnancy taken into account are the tenderness and the size of the breasts.

The next indication of pregnancy is morning sickness seen in most of the women which comes nausea and vomiting. This starts from the fourth or fifth week of pregnancy and sometimes starts from 2 weeks of pregnancy. The level of nausea and vomiting varies from woman to woman. Although this sign fade away by the second trimester some woman experience it throughout pregnancy. Tiredness and exhaustion also follows after this during pregnancy.

Frequent visit to restrooms due to the pressure of the uterus on the bladder is another symptom of pregnancy. Sensitivity to odor and taster also begins in the first trimester along with craving for certain foods. Though these are the signs of pregnancy it is better when confirmed by a physician after routine clinical tests.

Confirmation of pregnancy is done with the help of home based test available at eh local store which reveals the presence of HCG in the urine. Once when the test gives a positive result consult your health provider for a second opinion to affirm pregnancy through clinical tests.

Blood tests taken also give a clear history of any abortions and any other problem in the pregnancy. The obstetrician confirms pregnancy through physical examination after 4 – 6 weeks. The soft uterus and the thick vaginal tissues affirm pregnancy. The above mentioned information is just for bringing about awareness in the symptoms of pregnancy. All treatment, medications and affirmations are best when done under medical supervision.

Pregnancy is one of the most joyful moments of womanhood. But this may differ in the case of an unwed mother or a teenager who has had unprotected sex. Married couples rejoice the occasion and wait to hold the bundle of joy in their hands. From the time the fertilized egg implants in the uterus, hormonal changes take place which results in physical and emotional changes in the woman. When the body responds to the hormonal changes the signs and symptoms of pregnancy occur. Here are ten regular symptoms of pregnancy:

1. Recurrent Urination – This is an early sign of pregnancy. The hormone Human chorionic gonadotropin” secreted on the implantation of the embryo results in frequent urination mostly from 7-12 days after ovulation.

2. Mild spotting – This takes place when the fertilized egg implants in the uterus. This is not heavy like that of the menstrual flow.

3. Rise in body temperature – It is normal to have a rise in temperature during ovulation and also during the early stages of pregnancy.

4. Missed Period – A woman with a regular menstrual cycle can determine pregnancy when she misses one although there can be many reasons to have a missed period which could be due to food, medicines, hormonal imbalances, stress or illness.

5. Exhaustion – As the body starts tuning to the new hormonal level the pregnant woman experiences tiredness and fatigue.

6. Cramps – Uterine cramps start during the early stages of pregnancy due to the movement, exercise and orgasm.

7. Morning sickness – Nausea and vomiting takes places in the first trimester of pregnancy. It happens at any time of the day or sometimes early in the morning. Some women experience it throughout pregnancy while some lucky ones do not experience it at all.

8. Sensitive Breasts – Due to the change in the hormonal levels the breasts become heavy and tender.

9. Darker Areolas – The area around the nipples change color and become darker with the bumps becoming more striking which is found in the early stages of pregnancy.

10. Constipation – As the intestines calm down and have less function due to hormonal changes the pregnant woman tend to have constipation.

Doubts about pregnancy and its symptoms are very common the time you feel you have conceived. Although a missed menstrual cycle and morning sickness indicate pregnancy, there are many physical changes a women experience which are pleasant but affect your day to day life activities. Detailed information about pregnancy is available from many sources like family planning centers, doctors chamber and also from the internet. Every woman varies in their pregnancy and so are the signs and symptoms. The same woman experiences different symptoms each time she is pregnant and so morning sickness need not be a real factor. Some woman never experience morning sickness at all in their gestation periods.

Now let us find out how to determine your pregnancy before going for tests. The early signs of pregnancy are soft, tender and enlarged breasts. This is because of the growing level of hormones which disappear after the first three months. The pregnant woman due to the high level of the hormone progesterone feels severe exhaustion. Some have little bleeding caused by the implanted embryo n the uterus. The other signs are morning sickness (sometimes it happens in the afternoon or in the evening) which some lucky woman never experience, recurrent urination due to excessive fluid in the body, aversion to some smell due to high estrogen level and also enlarged abdomen. Finally the missed period if you do not have a irregular menstrual cycle indicates you to have a home tests done for pregnancy.

Sometimes it so happens that you take a home test too early that the result is negative. Never lose heart take another test after a few more weeks. Once you find the result positive get ready for the clinical tests given by the ob/gyn. They will affirm your pregnancy clinically and prescribe the necessary prenatal vitamins and also the future appointments for regular check ups. You can browse the internet for more detailed information about pregnancy which can help you to have a safe, healthy and pleasant experience of pregnancy.