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It’s a big deal. When you check to see if you’re going to be a mom, you’ll want a pregnancy test that will give you the news early, is accurate and is easy to read. Depending on your preferences, it may help if it affords you more than one test type, has many test strips and is eco-friendly. The bottom line is you want at-home pregnancy tests that work and provide the answer to an essential question.
Using at-home pregnancy tests have benefits compared to initially visiting a doctor. The most obvious one is that you can find out whether you’re pregnant in your own time — quickly, easily and in more relaxed surroundings. They’re also inexpensive and doing a home test means you can relieve unnecessary pressure when trying to get pregnant. You can implement any necessary lifestyle changes early to enhance your chances and test without additional stress. You also don’t have to share your ecstasy or disappointment after testing publicly.
With these factors in mind, here are the five best at-home pregnancy tests to help you take those first potential steps to motherhood in ways that’ll assist you most:
Your human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is vital in determining potential pregnancy. The First Response test detects lower hCG hormone levels than most other at-home pregnancy tests, meaning you can use it up to five days before the day of your anticipated period. Remember that the earlier you take a pregnancy test before your period date, the more room for inaccuracy. Unless you’re super-eager to know and can invest in another test, tempering your enthusiasm for a few days is sometimes better.
Taking the First Response pregnancy test is easy. After removing the tip cover, dip the test into a contained urine sample or wave your wand midstream. Lay your test on a flat, hard surface and wait up to three minutes for the result — a single line means “no” and a double one means “yes.” There is around a 1% chance of error within three days of your period — comparable to most pregnancy tests on the market.
Some clarity with some pregnancy test language might help you understand the best time to do an at-home pregnancy test. Some kits advertise “six days before your missed period,” while others might state “five days from your expected period” — these are precisely the same time frame, so don’t be confused. You can take the Clearblue Early Digital test five days before your period date, but within two days, you can expect a 99% accuracy rate.
The Clearblue test includes two tests and has a digital LCD that will tell you if you’re an expectant mom in words. To test, remove the cap from the tip and hold it pointing downward under your urine stream. Alternatively, you can let it absorb your urine out of a container. Then lay the test on a flat surface and watch the smart dots move from one to four. It could take up to five minutes before the words “pregnant” or “not pregnant” appear.
If you’re not a fan of stick tests, the MomMed one is perfect for you. It even comes with 20 disposable urine collection cups to enhance its eco-friendliness, and you’ll have 30 4mm widened pregnancy test strips to use — all hygienically and individually wrapped. You should wait until the day when you expect your period to start before testing. If you’re unsure, a handy MomMed app can help you clarify the perfect date for testing based on your usual menstrual cycle.
To take these at-home pregnancy tests, collect your sample in one of the disposable cups and dip one of the strips into the cup. MomMed tests may take longer than many others, but are likely a smidgen more accurate on the day of an anticipated period. Like most tests, one line means negative, while two lines display a positive outcome.
Key Features
Easy@Home is another brand that may suit you if you’re more of a container than stream test fan. Premom ensures you won’t overdip your strip by clearly marking them with a safety line so you won’t ruin your test, which is often easy with unmarked strips. In your pack, you receive 20 tests and detailed instructions to make taking Easy@Home tests very easy.
A test detects hCG levels of 25 mIU/mL, the minimum standard for determining pregnancy, with a 99% degree of accuracy. However, even this level does not guarantee pregnancy, and you should take another test a day or two later for confirmation. Use the Premom Easy@Home test a day before your expected period. One other benefit of EASY@Home is the free QR code, which takes you to the Premom app and allows you to photograph your strip in case it fades or evaporates.
A Natalist pregnancy test is perfect for you if you plan on having your baby with one eye on the environment. It is the only test from a 100% plastic-neutral provider offering products for ladies throughout their journey into motherhood. Being plastic-neutral means a company tracks its plastic use and then buys credits representing plastic waste removed from the environment.
Natalist test results do take a while to appear — up to five minutes — but they’re easy to interpret using the common one-line-negative, two-line-positive system. They’re also 99% accurate within three days of your anticipated period date. Natalist includes instructions in English and Spanish and the simple stick test can detect pregnancy within five days of a missed period. The test cases are plastic-neutral, as are the tests themselves. Natalist Early Pregnancy Test pricing is affordable compared with many equivalent early-result tests.
Carrying out a test with one of the top at-home pregnancy tests means receiving credible results within minutes if you test within the stipulated parameters. Pregnancy test results are always more accurate closer to the day of your anticipated period, so temper your enthusiasm if you can. It’s always best to confirm a positive result with your doctor shortly afterward. However, with all the tests offering 99% accuracy on your period date, it’s safe to say a positive result will welcome you to expectant motherhood!
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