What You Might Not Know about Pregnancy Tests

This is a very important post (obviously), but first... Congratulations to Meredith from The White Pages.  You are the winner of the custom birth announcement artwork from Boy Oh Boy Boutique!  Please email me (e@emyselfandi.com) to claim your prize!  *Side Note: She has a cute post up today about dog-hair... Story of my life.

And now...

1. The Dollar Store (or any variety of that) is a great place to buy tests.  Yes, they are accurate. How accurate? I can't say for sure.  BUT, if you are like me and need to take fifteen tests to believe anything, this is definitely the more economical way to go.  If you take six and still need confirmation, then invest in a high dollar drug store test.

2. Pregnancy tests are "high theft items." Why is this important? Because it means they aren't stocked on the shelves like other items; instead, you usually have to specifically ask for them at the pharmacy or front register.  (Is there no privacy in the world?!?) I just learned this recently when I went to several stores to buy tests (for a friend - no, seriously) and the shelves were all empty where they should have been.  By the third store, I was frustrated and thought that either there was some sort of major 'baby boom' going on in the world or someone was playing a mean trick on me.  I sucked it up and asked one of the clerks who taught me this valuable fact.

3. They inspire awkward, personal comments/questions. I've bought quite a few pregnancy tests in my life (mostly because I'm crazy rather than out of actual need), and so far I have yet to encounter a pharmacist or sales clerk who is able to resist the temptation to comment.  "Oh... How exciting, good luck!" "Were you trying?" "What are you hoping for?" All these seem innocent enough until the actual moment when you think you might be pregnant at which point you want everyone to leave.you.alone so you can sneak out of there as soon as possible and get to the nearest bathroom.  Consider yourself warned - the drugstore staff will NEVER be more helpful or informative than when you buying pregnancy tests. :)

4. They are best taken in the morning.  Ironically, I actually learned this from the pharmacist when I was first pregnant with Sam.  It has something to do with pee-concentration or whatever. I, of course, promptly ignored the advice and the result was a false-negative at 7PM on Tuesday night and a positive-positive on Saturday morning.  I've heard that if you are pregnant enough it will work anytime; but, who has that kind of patience? My advice is to buy two tests - take one as soon as the urge hits you (to keep yourself from going crazy before morning) and another in the morning (to validate the response you receive at night).  Problem solved. :)

5. A faint line IS a positive line. Google this, or just read my story.  It's true that any kind of positive is positive; but, you can have a false negative.  Sam is living proof. :)  *On that note. this is also why I actually prefer the cheapy "double line" tests over the more expensive digital kinds.  The line tests will show a very faint line if you are very newly pregnant when I digital test might not pick up quite enough to trigger the "Pregnant" reading.

6. Lines last forever, but batteries die. If you take a digital test, be warned that in about 24 - 48 hours they will "die" and you will no longer have proof of your pregnancy in stick form.  (This is especially important if you are trying to use your stick for a cute announcement or something.) The line tests, on the other hand, last forever; so, you can forever memorialize the moment you "first found out" AND use them for fun April Fool's pranks in the future. ;)

7. They make great gifts. Seriously, if you have a friend who is OPENLY (don't just assume) trying to get pregnant; pregnancy tests are a great gift.  It is much less awkward to handle #2 & #3 if you don't actually think you are pregnant.  I recommend four or five to help with #4, #5, & #6.  FYI.  I also think this could make a fun gift for Bachelorette parties if you want to be the Debbie Downer. :)

Ok, I think that's enough pregnancy test information for one day. Hope you learned something! Haha!

*No, I'm not pregnant or trying.  I'm also not a pregnancy-test or medical expert. I just have a lot of (currently) useless information. Promise.  You can, however, read about my personal pregnancy test experience here - many of the above lessons were learned "the hard way." :)

Hope you are staying safe in the winds of Sandy!

Until tomorrow,