Have you missed your period and felt like your heart is racing? Or are you suddenly taken over by weird food cravings? If you’re saying yes to any of these symptoms, then it might just be time for a pregnancy test!
These handy tests can be your first step toward confirming a pregnancy and taking charge of your journey ahead. From planning your diet to exploring ways to safeguard your baby’s health, it all begins here.
In this blog, let’s break down how pregnancy tests work and what you should do next once you’re in on the good news!
What Is A Pregnancy Test & When To Take One?
A pregnancy test helps to check whether or not you’re pregnant. The test assesses the level of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) hormones in your body, the hormone your body produces during pregnancy. This hormone can be detected in your blood as well as your urine.
That explains the two different types of pregnancy tests out there: one where you need to pee on a stick and wait for the pink lines, and the other in which your blood is tested for hCG levels. This blood test is a bit more sensitive and hence more accurate than the urine test. That said, the urine test is simpler and gives (almost) immediate results.
You can take these pregnancy tests as soon as you realise that you’ve missed your period. Taking them too early may give you a false negative result, as the hCG hormone takes time to build up in your blood and urine.
How To Take A Pregnancy Test?
Depending on the type of pregnancy test, here’s how you can take each one:
- At-Home Urine Test:
For this, you can either pee directly on the strip or take a few drops of urine (collected in a cup) and put them on the test strip. Ideally, you should take this test with your first morning pee and follow the test package instructions very carefully throughout the process.
- Blood-Based Pregnancy Test:
For a blood test, the phlebotomist will draw a small sample of blood from your arm and send it to a lab for results. These tests are rare and mostly done when the woman is undergoing treatments for pregnancy.
What Should You Do After A Positive Pregnancy Test
Here are a few things to consider after you discover that you are pregnant:
- Schedule A Doctor Appointment
As soon as you find out that you’re pregnant, you must make an appointment with your gynaecologist. If you don’t have one, it’s the best time to start looking for one. They can guide you about the right medications and supplements you need for your pregnancy and also help you plan the road ahead.
- Tweak Your Lifestyle
Knowing that you’re pregnant is your cue to give up on unhealthy habits such as drinking or smoking. It’s also time you start taking your health seriously because that’s going to determine your baby’s health and prevent potential complications.
- Plan Ahead For Your Baby’s Future
Just as you start living a healthy lifestyle to ensure your baby’s good health, don’t miss out on securing it for the future too. We are talking about cord blood banking, a vital step in today’s time. This simple procedure, planned during pregnancy, can safeguard your baby’s future health against the impact of 90+ potential diseases. For this, you can check out LifeCell—India’s largest & most trusted stem cell bank, and a popular choice of half a million parents. To learn more about them, visit their website www.lifecell.in.
It’s A Wrap
A positive pregnancy test rings bells of joy in the family. But it also means more responsibilities and thoughtful planning for a healthy pregnancy and your little one’s future. So remember to be mindful of your own health, meet up with your doctor regularly and consider steps like cord blood banking to safeguard your baby’s future health.