Pregnancy Tests

So she’s complaining that she has sore swollen breasts, that her jeans are tight and she has missed her period ………
time for a pregnancy test???

If your partner is showing the above symptoms then the answer is yes!

Other symptoms that your partner may be displaying if she is pregnant include tiredness, vomiting, frequent mood swings and a sudden interest in pickled onions.

So what is a pregnancy test???

Pregnancy tests come in various guises and range from a paper strip to plastic digital device. All pregnancy tests measure for the presence of the Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin hormone, or H.C.G. for short. This hormone starts to be produced shortly after the embryo has implanted in your partner's womb.

In most cases the level of H.C.G. will be tested in your partner's urine, but some doctors may test for it through a blood test.

Most tests are over 99% accurate and can be used on the first day that your partner misses her period.

Most tests will revolve around lines appearing in a window on the stick, indicating whether there is a pregnancy or not. In most cases, two lines mean a positive test and one line indicates a negative test. These tests can, however, be difficult to read because they depend on how much H.C.G. is present in your partner's urine. If you are testing an early pregnancy the lines may be faint and hard to read, the further into
the pregnancy your partner is, the more H.C.G that will be present and so the clearer the test.

There are a range of digital tests available, and they give a no-nonsense display telling you “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant”, so there is no confusion as to whether there is a pregnancy or not. These tests can also be used to detect a pregnancy slightly earlier than a traditional test can.

In all cases ensure that you read the instructions carefully so you know what it is that you are looking for.

What should you do after a positive test?

Your partner needs to book an appointment with her doctor to start the whole ball rolling.

Think about booking antenatal classes, as these can be booked up well in advance.

Click here for information on antenatal classes.

If it is an unexpected pregnancy, make sure you are supportive towards your partner, as it takes two to rumba, and she will probably be as surprised and shocked as you are.

Remember that this should be a joyous time in your life, you
are going to be a dad!