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Friday, September 3, 2010

Pregnancy Tests And Due Date Calculators(pregnancy health)

pregnancy health
When you are anxious to have a baby you are always wondering if you could be pregnant and if you are, when your due date will be. There are simple tests and calculations that can answer both of those questions. First let's look at pregnancy tests and how they work.
If you have been trying to get pregnant for awhile you probably have gone through several at-home pregnancy tests. Those are a real benefit for women today as you can find out much sooner if you are pregnant and you can do it discreetly. Pregnancy tests, both the at-home kind that test your urine and the blood tests in your doctor's office, measure the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG, that is present.
As soon as you get pregnant, HCG levels start to climb. When the fertilized egg attaches to your uterus, it triggers the release of the HCG hormone and enough of it is released that it can be detected by a home pregnancy test as soon as three days after you miss a period. Blood tests done in a doctor's office are more sensitive and can detect elevated HCG levels within a day of your becoming pregnant, well before you even miss your period.
Since many women rely on home test results first, you should be sure to use it properly. Each test is different so you should read the instructions carefully when you try a new brand. Most commonly, you urinate on a test stick and then wait for about five minutes for the results to register.
Home based pregnancy tests are very accurate and seldom give positive readings if you are not pregnant. On the other hand, they can give negative readings when you are pregnant. So if you suspect you are pregnant but get a negative reading, you should repeat the test in a few days.
When you get a positive result on a home pregnancy test you should make an appointment right away for a health exam and prenatal care. Your baby's nervous system and brain begin developing first during the critical time when you may not even know you are pregnant so you want to start eating properly and taking prenatal vitamins with folic acid as soon as possible.
Once you know you are in fact pregnant, you'll want to know when your baby is due. Your doctor can help you calculate the due date. He may use a due date calculator or an ultrasound if he needs to be more precise. Remember that babies are born according to their own schedules and it isn't possible to determine the exact date with certainty unless you have a C-section planned.
A due date calculator can give you a general idea of when you can expect your baby though. It works like this: Add seven days to the date of your last period and then subtract three months. If your last period was on June 7, add seven days to equal June 14. Now subtract three months, and you get your due date of March 14th.

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pregnancy health: Pregnancy Tests And Due Date Calculators(pregnancy health)