- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preconception articles
- preconception q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Conception Tools of the Trade
3 Things Hopeful Moms Can't Live Without
By Kelly Burgess
has well-verified sources. She also recommends the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (www.asrm.org).
To sum it up ...
Just because Alice in Pittsburgh got pregnant on her 10th IVF cycle doesn't mean it will work for you. Listen to your doctor, and use verified, reliable sources in the course of researching a topic. "Utilizing anecdotal Internet sites, chat rooms and other unverified sources can cause a degree of anxiety over something that may not even apply to you," Dr. Dharia Patel says. "Something very simple can be blown completely out of proportion."
Home pregnancy tests (HPTs) look for a special hormone in the urine or blood that is only there when a woman is pregnant. They can detect pregnancy as early as 10 days after ovulation, several days before a missed period.
What's the cost?
$8 to $20 per kit
What are the pros?
HPTs can confirm pregnancy sooner, allowing for earlier prenatal care. All three of our experts like that trend.
What are the cons? 
They can be wrong, but that's rare. The main issue Dr. Feinberg has with pregnancy tests is that because they are so obtainable, many women start testing too early and may get false negative results, which causes unnecessary anxiety. Smith admits to falling into that trap – one that proved expensive – until she learned to be more patient and to use her chart in conjunction with the test.
To sum it up ...
Pregnancy tests are fine to use as an early indicator of pregnancy. "If it's negative and you still feel pregnant, or feel something isn't right, call your doctor," Dr. Dharia Patel says. "By the same token, if it's positive, call your doctor immediately to begin pregnancy care."
Want to see more?
Comments
There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to 
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||