PREGNANCY TESTS

What are pregnancy tests and  how do they work?

Pregnancy tests look for a special hormone in the urine or blood that is only   there when a woman is pregnant. This hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), can also be called the pregnancy hormone. The pregnancy hormone, hCG, is made in your body when a fertilized egg gets attached to  the uterus. This usually happens about 6 days after conception

What are Home Pregnancy tests (HPTs)?

Home Pregnancy tests are do-it-yourself tests which can be conveniently done at home.  They are easily available over the counter and cost approximately between 45-50 rupees. A woman is supposed to collect just about 5 ml of her urine in a clean container and perform the test using put  one to two drops of the urine into a special container provided in the kit. Then the woman needs to wait a few minutes. Different brands instruct the woman to wait different amounts of time. Once the time has passed, the user should inspect the "result window." If a line or plus symbol appears, you are pregnant. It does not matter how faint the line is. A line, whether bold or faint, means the result is positive.

How soon after a missed period can I take a home pregnancy test and get accurate results?

Many home pregnancy tests (HPTs) claim to be 99% accurate on the day you miss your period.

If one gets a  negative result on a home pregnancy test can she  still be pregnant?

Yes. So, most HPTs suggest women take the test again in a few days or a week

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EARLY PREGNANCY:FIRST TRIMESTER

What are the early symptoms of pregnancy?

Most women equate a missed  menstrual period with the possibility of being pregnant, but other symptoms and signs are experienced by most women in the early stages of pregnancy. These include: (i) Feelings of breast swelling, tenderness, or pain (ii) Nausea and vomiting traditionally associated with morning sickness (iii) Frequent urination. (iv)   Fatigue and tiredness  (vi) Food aversions or cravings (vii) mood swings (viii) deepening of the colour of the area around the nipple (ix) Pigmentation of the face

Is a missed menstrual period  always the first sign of pregnancy?

A missed menstrual period is most often the first sign of pregnancy, although a woman may still experience some bleeding or spotting around the time of the expected period. However, if a woman does not have regular menstrual cycles, she may notice some of the other symptoms of early pregnancy before it is apparent that the menstrual period has been missed.

How can one determine the  due date of delivery ?

A pregnancy generally lasts for 40 weeks from first day of your last menstrual period, If you know the date of your last menstrual period, and your cycles are regular, you should be able to determine your due date sitting at home.  Based on LMP :  If your cycles are regular and 28 days long, then you can determine your due date by adding 9 months and 7 days to the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP).  For example, if your LMP began on September 5, then your expected due date (EDD) would be June 12 of the following year.

Does nausea and vomiting always occur in the morning during early pregnancy?

The nausea and vomiting associated with early pregnancy can occur at any time of the day or night.

How could one cope with the nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy?

Try some of these tips to help prevent and soothe nausea: (i) Eat frequent, small meals (6 to 8 small meals a day) rather than 3 large meals. (ii) Avoid fatty, fried, or spicy foods. (iii) Try eating starchy snacks like rusk/toast when you feel nauseated. Keep some by your bed and eat them before you get out of bed in the morning. If you feel nauseous in the middle of the night, reach for these starchy foods. (iv) Get out of bed slowly. (v) Try to suck a lemon when in case you  have nausea.

Should a doctor be consulted for nausea and vomiting?

A doctor should be consulted if you think that you are vomiting too much. Excessive vomiting can lead to dehydration for which hospitalization may be required.

Why does frequent urination occur in pregnancy?

Early in pregnancy, the growing uterus  presses on your bladder. This causes frequent urination.

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SECOND TRIMESTER

What are the signs and symptoms of the second trimester of pregnancy?

During the second trimester: (i)Nausea/vomiting and fatigue become less (ii) Abdominal expansion (iii) Weight gain (iv) Backache (v) Stretch marks on the abdomen (vi) Skin pigmentation on the face.

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THIRD TRIMESTER

What are the signs and symptoms of the second trimester of pregnancy ?

During the third trimester, the following signs and symptoms are manifested (i) Breathing becomes more difficult due to pressure by the growing baby (ii) Frequent urination (iii) Burning pain in the chest (iv) constipation (v) Swollen tender breasts (vi) Trouble sleeping. (vii)Abdominal contractions

What is premature labour?

Pre mature labour is  referred to as onset of delivery before the 37th week.

What are the symptoms of premature labour ?

The symptoms of pre mature labour include: (i) Pain or pressure in the lower back  (ii) Pressure in the  thighs  (iii) A vaginal discharge that is watery, pinkish and brownish (iv) Menstrual-like cramps, nausea, diarrhoea or indigestion (v) A rupture of membranes in your vagina.

Why do abdominal contractions occur?

Abdominal contractions are painless which start as early as the 10th week but are clearly appreciated in the last trimester. When these contractions become more frequent & intense , they could even be mistaken for the beginning of real labour.

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ALARMING SIGNS

Which are the symptoms which can indicate danger in pregnancy?

The following symptoms may be signs of a serious  condition : (i) Vaginal bleeding or spotting.(ii) Sudden weight gain (iii) persistent headache (iv) blurred vision (v) sudden swelling of hands/ feet. (vi) Prolonged vomiting (vii) High fever  with chills (viii) Sudden intense abdominal pain in early pregnancy (ix) Inability to appreciate foetal movements.

What does vaginal bleeding or spotting indicate?

Vaginal bleeding or spotting in the early months accompanied by abdominal pain may be a warning sign of a possible abortion. Vaginal bleeding in the later months may indicate a low lying placenta or separation of placenta from the uterine wall.

What do sudden weight gain,  persistent headache , blurred vision , sudden swelling of hands/ feet indicate?

These symptoms may indicate high blood pressure in pregnancy, a condition also known as toxemia. A woman with these symptoms may need to be hospitalized to bring down her blood pressure or for fetal testing. Toxemia could result in complications like inadequate fetal growth, premature labour or fetal distress during labour.