Hoping for a positive pregnancy test? Learn when and how to test to ensure an accurate result. Plus, see what positive pregnancy tests look like. Show
When you’re waiting for a positive pregnancy test time seems to slow to a standstill. Maybe you’re experiencing early signs of pregnancy, but you just have to know for sure. But where to begin? You probably have a lot of questions about pregnancy tests, including: If you’re asking these questions, read on… Positive Pregnancy Test Video:How to Take an At-Home Pregnancy TestTaking a home pregnancy test is easy and painless, but you need to follow the directions exactly. The overall process is the same:
If the HCG is not detected, you will get a negative pregnancy test. If HCG is detected, you’ll get a positive pregnancy test.
But these are just general guidelines. HCG doubles every 48-72 hours in 85% of normal pregnancies, but some women don’t produce much of the hormone and still go on to have a healthy pregnancy. Other women produce very large amounts of the hormone. For this reason, the “normal” range of HCG levels in early pregnancy varies greatly. Is Your Positive Pregnancy Test for Real? – HCG Chart (image source)
The world’s first natural pregnancy week-by-week. #1 bestseller. Over 125,000 copies sold! – Book Promo [In-article]Learn More Types of At-Home Pregnancy TestsDepending on the type of pregnancy test you purchased, there are slightly different methods for taking a pregnancy test:
Regardless of which test you purchased, read the directions thoroughly before beginning and grab a stopwatch before you begin. Positive Pregnancy Test PicturesPositive pregnant tests can range from very obvious, solid lines to so faint you wonder if you’re imagining things. Take a peek at my positive pregnancy tests: Is Your Positive Pregnancy Test For Real Find Out Now – Mama Natural – Genevieve When to Take a Pregnancy TestHome pregnancy tests give the most accurate results about a week after your missed period, but WHO CAN WAIT THAT LONG? When you’re hoping for a positive pregnancy test, waiting one full week after your missed period seems downright cruel. The good news? You can get a positive pregnancy test earlier. Many women post pictures of positive pregnancy tests as early as 10 days past ovulation (DPO).
But every woman’s body is different, and some women produce more HCG than others. Because of this, you can definitely get a false negative if you test too early. If you have the self discipline to wait till at least the day of your missed period, it may help avoid the emotional ups and downs of seeing a negative and wondering if it’s just too early.
What if I Get a Faint Positive Pregnancy Test? Can a Faint Line Be Negative?The only thing harder than waiting long enough to take a pregnancy test is trying to interpret the pregnancy test. Unless you are using a digital test, which displays the words “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant,” you may have to whip out a magnifying glass to assess your test. ? Many pregnancy tests show pink or blue lines to indicate whether a test is positive or not, and sometimes those pink and blue lines are so faint that it can be hard to tell if they are even there in the first place! But to make matters even more confusing, faint lines can also be negative. Ahh, what gives!? Here’s the scoop on faint tests:
Positive faint lines are more common when testing before your missed period. However, if you do test well past your expected period date and you still see a super faint line, there are a few other considerations:
How Accurate Are Pregnancy Tests?When you’re hoping for a positive pregnancy test and you finally see one, you probably want to know how accurate that result is before you celebrate. When all directions are followed properly, today’s pregnancy tests are up to 99% accurate when used after your missed period. These tests are just as accurate as the urine tests used at doctor’s offices.
The closer you take the test to your missed period, the more accurate it will be. Using expired tests can also affect a test, so always check the expiration dates before using a test. Which Pregnancy Tests Are the Most Accurate?You’re ready to buy a pregnancy test, but which one should you get? You’ll have a lot of options to choose from, and they vary quite a bit in price. Are the expensive ones really that much better than the cheap ones? Do you need a two-pack? A three-pack? Consumer Reports tested 18 brands of pregnancy tests and discovered not all tests are created equally. The two best were:
Can You Get a Positive Pregnancy Test and Not Be Pregnant?Although false negatives are far more common than false positives, it is possible to receive a positive pregnant test result and not be pregnant. However, a false positive is usually not a random result; often an underlying condition causes incorrect results. False positives can be caused by:
Can You Get a Negative Pregnancy Test and Still Be Pregnant?One negative pregnancy test doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out of the game. There are a few reasons why you may be receiving negative results, but still be pregnant:
If your period is more than two weeks late and you still aren’t getting a positive pregnancy test, it’s time to visit your doctor or midwife. Should Pregnancy Tests Get Darker Each Day You Test?If you tested early and got a faint line, don’t worry! As HCG increases, a positive pregnancy test will look darker. Many mamas who take daily tests to make sure the line darkens, swear by the First Response Early Result. Do realize that it won’t be a perfect science so don’t expect a perfect unfolding of darker lines. As you can see from the tests above, some days you won’t notice a darkening as much as other days. It can also depend on the room’s lighting and how much pee made it on the stick! If, at any point, you’re worried about continued faint lines, speak to your doctor or midwife. She’ll be able to check your HCG levels (blood test) and check your progesterone level as well. So You Got a Positive Pregnancy Test, Now What?First off, congrats! ? Now that you know there’s a baby on board, you’ve got a few things to do:
OK, I Want to Know: How Many Pregnancy Tests Did You Take?I took about 3-4 each pregnancy, but I know some mamas who took 8 or 9! Why so many? Sometimes it’s hard to believe that the thing you’ve wanted for so long is actually happening, and you just want validation (many, many times)! What about you? When did you first receive a positive pregnancy test? Were you able to wait until after your missed period? How many tests did you take? Comment below!
Can a pregnancy test turn positive the longer it sits?If you let the test sit too long the the test may show a false positive result. A false positive is when the tests shows you are pregnant when you actually are not. Pregnancy tests work by detecting a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, HCG.
What happens if a line shows up on a pregnancy test after 10 minutes?If you check your results within the recommended time frame and see a faint positive line, you're most likely pregnant. On the other hand, if you miss the window for checking the results and you don't check the test until 10 minutes later, a faint line may be an evaporation line, which means you're not pregnant.
Can you get a false positive on a dollar store pregnancy test?Because of this, even cheap tests are extremely accurate when used properly, and false positives are almost unheard of. “If your dollar store pregnancy test gives you a positive result, you're pregnant,” says Taylor.
How soon will a dollar store pregnancy test read positive?HCG is detected in urine about 12 to 15 days after ovulation if you have a 28-day menstrual cycle, per the FDA. Home pregnancy tests vary in how early they detect this hormone, and some kits may even pick up HCG a few days earlier, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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