Pregnancy Test: Waiting On Pins And Needles

It’s the moment of truth; you’ve taken a pregnancy test.  The science behind the answer to one of life’s greatest miracles is really quite simple.  Every pregnancy test is based on the identification of the human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG.

This hormone is produced by pregnant women only, and is created by cells within the uterus. hCG signals the ovaries to manufacture estrogen and progesterone to help a fetus to grow.  This hormone is detected by blood and urine pregnancy tests.  As the pregnancy proceeds, the levels of hCG levels continue to rise.  Therefore, they are easier to detect further into the term of the pregnancy.

A pregnancy test that’s based on a blood sample is performed by a doctor or other health professional in a clinic. This test detects pregnancy by gauging the hCG levels in the blood. Further, there are two types of blood tests to determine pregnancy: quantitative and qualitative blood tests. Read more . . .

Expectations When Testing For Pregnancy

A number of women expect to undergo various physical examinations and tests during their pregnancy. It is beneficial if you have a guide for more of the common tests that you may be asked during pregnancy so that you will be aware of the benefits of each test prior to having the actual test conducted.

Prenatal tests help provide valuable information for the soon-to-be-parents and the physician with regards to the unborn baby’s health. It helps give proper assessment for any health concerns that may need to be addressed in utero to assure a better quality of life after the infant is born.

Pregnant women who are aged 35 or older are more at risk to produce an offspring with chromosomal abnormalities and are offered prenatal tests in addition to the usual general pregnancy tests. Read more . . .