Pregnancy Tests, Tips for Mother’s Estimate Due Date (EDD)
Pregnancy Test
Nowadays home pregnancy test kits are highly accurate. They are available in different forms like strips, sticks and small plastic cups. It helps a woman confirm her pregnancy conveniently in privacy. But the downside is that there is scope for error too.
The pregnancy test measures the amount of h CG in your system.
Urine will contain h CG only when the embryo is implanted on the uterine wall. Until that happens the results of the pregnancy test may be negative even if you are pregnant. So a home test will not detect pregnancy as early as it claims.
When you go to the doctor for the first time they may conduct urine or blood (serum) test.
Urine tests detect level above twenty five to fifty milli international units per milliliter. The more sensitive serum tests can detect levels as low as five to ten milli international units per milliliter. If urine test is negative but pregnancy is suspected then blood tests maybe performed.
Estimating your Due Date (EDD)
Pregnancy lasts approximately nine months or Two hundred and eighty days. Your EDD is based on a ten lunar month pregnancy (each month comprising four weeks of seven days each). A Twenty eight day menstrual cycle is considered the average cycle length. Most doctors determine gestational age from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). If you have irregular menstrual period, longer or shorter cycle, or if you are not sure of the LMP then it will be difficult to calculate your EDD.
EDD charts are also available with the doctors and health providers. However women with regular menstrual cycle can figure out their own EDD. Note down the first day of your last period. Count three months back and then add seven days. For example if your last period began on January seventh, go back three months that is October. Then add seven days to it. The Expected Due Date is October fourteenth.
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