Online Pregnancy Test: Parabens and pregnancy - should you be concerned

Online Pregnancy Test

Parabens have been used as preservatives since the early 1920s, and are utilised in preventing the growth of bacteria. They are used in a wide range of consumer products, especially in cosmetics, including skin care products, shampoos and conditioners, facial and body cosmetics, sun screens, underarm products and soaps.

Just have a look in your bathroom cabinet and see how many products contain ingredients such as methyl-, propyl-, butyl- or ethyl-paraben or ingredients such as p-hydroxynenzoate (PHB) esters. Parabens have been widely accepted and used because they are effective preservatives, are inexpensive and are rapidly excreted from the body.

However, more recent studies, including ones in Japan and the UK have shown that parabens are oestrogenic, meaning they mimic the effects of oestrogen in the body, and may even contribute to problems including male fertility and an increased risk of breast cancer, because they are believed to be acting like hormones and disrupting the body's immune system.

For pregnant women, in particular, this raises issues with the type of make-up or skin lotions that they use because of the long exposure time on the skin, and the fact that anything that you put on your skin will get under the skin and potentially reach the fetus.

However, little scientific information exists on whether the use of products with low levels of parabens over many years results in an accumulation of parabens in body tissues and whether there are or are not any health issues associated with the use of consumer products including parabens.

A study first published in 2004 (Darbre, in the Journal of Applied Toxicology) detected parabens in breast tumours. However, the study was inconclusive failing to answer many of the questions raised. By way of example, this study did not demonstrate that parabens caused cancer, or even that they were harmful. In fact, the study did not review the possible levels of parabens in normal tissue.

But although parabens are not yet proven to be a danger to health, at a time when you are pregnant do you want to take any risk that is avoidable? Would you really be prepared to take that chance unless you were 100% certain that there were no harmful effects?

For many women, the answer is no and so they are changing their skin care regimes and choice of cosmetics to products that do not contain parabens as preservatives. This is often a decision made on the grounds that 'avoidance is the best strategy'. While the scientific jury is still out on the safety or otherwise of parabens, who can argue with that philosophy? The best advice is to be aware of the issue, carefully read the list of ingredients on any product that you put on your skin, look at the alternatives that are available, and then make an informed choice.

There are many now many specialist retailers online who stock a wide range of products for pregnant women that do not contain parabens and you should shop around to find which would be most suitable for you.

Online Pregnancy Test: Ensuring Accuracy

Online Pregnancy Test

Once a woman misses her period, she starts to have the “feeling pregnant” blues. Some start to “feel” dizzy. They begin craving for certain food. If you are indeed pregnant, then you are simply experiencing the early signs of pregnancy. If you are not pregnant, this may be a result of too much excitement or paranoia. Whether or not you're expecting a baby, this stage can bring emotional dilemma to you and even to your partner.

The only way to confirm your pregnancy is by taking a pregnancy test. But how do you ensure that you only get accurate pregnancy results? Are home pregnancy kits reliable enough? What is an online pregnancy test? Home pregnancy tests work by detecting pregnancy hormones, also known as Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine.

Such hormone is secreted by the placenta after a fertilized egg is implanted in the lining of your uterus. And so, once the hormone is found in your urine, your pregnancy test results will indicate a “positive.” But how soon can you conduct a pregnancy test? Most doctors and HPT manufacturers recommend that you take a home pregnancy test on the first day of your missed period which falls around the second week after conception.

There are; however, some kits which were especially designed to be more sensitive than the others and can be taken earlier. Just keep in mind to read the instructions very carefully and interpret the results correctly. Pregnancy test results administered at home are said to be 97% accurate. If you want a more accurate result, you can undergo through a blood test administered by your physician. This test is said to be more sensitive than HPTs and can even detect pregnancy on the second week of conception.

Apart from home pregnancy kits, an online pregnancy test may also being considered by some women. An online pregnancy test does not necessarily tell you whether you're pregnant or not. They simply compute the odds by asking a variety of questions about your menstrual cycle, how active your sexual life is, your last intercourse and a few other factors. You answer quizzes with these themes and then an automatic online computation which measures the odds and your chance of getting pregnant will give you the result. Online pregnancy tests should never be taken seriously. While, yes they help in determining your chances of getting pregnant, online calculations are never accurate.

The best way and the most accurate pregnancy results are those which are administered by your physician. As mentioned above, blood pregnancy tests are said to be more accurate than home pregnancy tests. However, if you can't wait, you can opt for an HPT once you start feeling the early signs of pregnancy just to give you a temporary confirmation. But then again to avoid false hopes, always check with your doctor and have another pregnancy test, this time using blood test, administered. There are many ways to take pregnancy tests. So stop wallowing in your dilemma now and get a confirmation as soon as you can.

Online Pregnancy Test: Are We Glorifying Teen Pregnancy?

Online Pregnancy Test

We heard about Jamie Lynn Spears and gasped in shock, as we bid adieu to "Zoey 101." We saw the headlines for the new NBC reality show "Baby Borrowers" and wondered who the heck would allow a snot nosed teenager to borrow their baby. We caught wind of some odd teen pregnancy pact and rolled our eyes in disgust. Then, we spotted a new show on ABC called "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and asked ourselves, "Secret? What secret?"

Excuse my French but what the hell is going on here? I know that this topic is nothing new, but don't you agree that all of this media coverage is just callousing our generation of teens to the the possibility of getting pregnant? Yes, some of the new shows are designed to teach teens of the dangers of unprotected sex, but isn't all of the exposure to teen pregnancy just making it a commonplace societal norm? "Hey kids, we know you're gonna screw, so here is what could happen. See Jamie Lynn? Doesn't she look miserable?"

Uh....no. She looks like any other thirty something, glowing mother of a newborn. Except that she's a teenager. Doesn't OK magazine realize what an effing disservice they are doing to the whole teen population by allowing this teenager's "OOOOPSIE" to grace the cover of a magazine, painted as a normal, beautiful new mommy moment? Yes, motherhood is beautiful. Yes, the baby and Ms. Spears are beautiful. Too beautiful. Many teenaged, affection starved, disenchanted girls will look at that picturesque portrayal of premature motherhood and fantasize about it, themselves. No, I do not have statistics.

What ever happened to the days when getting pregnant, before marriage, was a big no no? I've heard tales of parents who shipped their pregnant daughter off to live with distant relatives, out of the sheer fear that she would be looked upon as a whore. My own mother was livid when she found out that I was pregnant out of wedlock. L-I-V-I-D. I was shamed by my traditional Baptist family. Did they encourage me to abort my baby? No way. The told me that "I am now responsible to raise my baby to be a God fearing child...oh, and when was the wedding?" Did the enable me to continue my life as a carefree teenager, by raising the baby? Heck no! Happy fun time ended when I conceived. I had to take responsibility for my actions. Maybe if more parents treated teen pregnancy and premarital sex as the huge mistake it is, there would be less of it. The media might even loosen its capitalistic grip on the issue and stop turning out shows that make it seem like a normal rite of passage and an event worthy of a magazine cover.

Online Pregnancy Test: You Too Can Detect a Sign of Pregnancy

Online Pregnancy Test

There is no one sign of pregnancy, but in fact there are several. As a woman's system accommodates a new life in her fetus, it manifests itself into a series of symptoms which vary from woman to woman. It is necessary to understand each sign of pregnancy, in case it is related to something apart from a woman's pregnancy.

Below are some important symptoms of pregnancy:

• Delayed or irregular menstrual cycle: In such a case, a woman should take a home pregnancy test
• Sore breasts: Darkened areolas around the nipples, heavier or sensitive breasts are tell-tale signs
• Vomiting or morning sickness: This is common during the first few weeks of pregnancy, accompanied by weakness. Of course, nausea can also occur in the afternoon or night too.
• Food cravings: Women experience food cravings which increase their appetite. Conversely, they could also develop an aversion for certain foods.
• Spotting: In the first few weeks of pregnancy, women experience light bleeding or spotting. It is light pink in color. A pregnant woman might also have discharge, which should not normally be accompanied by itchiness, odor or a burning sensation.
• Fatigue
• Constipation and stomach ache
• Heartburn, increase in basal body temperature and heavy urination
• Increased sensitivity to smell and crying

Testing for Pregnancy

If you subscribe to any or some of the symptoms, it's a sure sign of pregnancy. Now, determining the duration of your pregnancy is the next step. This is calculated by taking the first day of your last period, though you might conceive two weeks before or after the due date.

Detecting Pregnancy

You could either ask your doctor to test for a sign of pregnancy or do it yourself. You can use home pregnancy tests on Day 1 of your missed period. If you try taking this test any earlier than this, you won't get accurate results.

However, check for 'false negatives' or the tests that prove you aren't pregnant, though you are. A home pregnancy test might also test correctly in your first pregnancy, but not the second. If your home test does throw up a pregnancy symptom, you don't need to have it confirmed by your doctor. But you do need to tell him, particularly if you aren't sure of your dates. In this case, he might advise a 'dating' scan or an ultrasound scan which determines the size of the uterus and embryo. From this, your doctor will know how many weeks pregnant you are.

Online Pregnancy Test: Signs of Pregnancy - The Cry From Below

Online Pregnancy Test

Of course, there are many different signs of pregnancy and different symptoms that you may or may not experience. These signs, are literally that. Signs from our body that we need to be made aware of something, guess what we're having a baby is the cry from below.

At the first signs of pregnancy, most women make a beeline to the pharmacy and purchase a home pregnancy test kit. This is most often the best way to establish whether you are pregnant or not. Many women are nervous or shy about buying a pregnancy test kit, it really should not be anything to worry about. However, it is understandable in some cases where you do not want other people to find out you may be pregnant.

If you live in a small town or one prone to gossip, try purchasing a pregnancy test kit online. Or if you are in a rush, you could visit your local mother's group or doctor for a confidential test. Most importantly, do not put off taking the pregnancy test kit, especially if you are showing different signs of pregnancy.

Using a pregnancy test kit is reasonably straight forward. Upon the first signs of pregnancy, they are used to determine pregnancy by testing for a hormone called "Human Chorionic Gonadotropin" which is found in women's urine. The hormone is also well known as the "pregnancy hormone", this is because when it is found, it means that a women is pregnant. Most tests work on a simple basis, one signal for pregnant and another signal for not pregnant. If you’re unsure you should read the instructions provided.

If one of the signs of pregnancy you are experiencing is a missed period, the optimum time to use a home pregnancy test kit is as soon as you’re aware that the period has been missed. You may experience other signs of pregnancy such as morning sickness, swollen breasts or tiredness, however in our opinion taking the test following a missed period is good timing.

If your test is positive, it is then important to get this confirmed by a medical professional. They will take a blood test and talk to you about what to expect during your pregnancy. If it is your first baby, they will discuss the different signs of pregnancy, hereditary illnesses and whether you are on any medication that may harm the baby. It is important to use this time to ask about anything you are not sure of.

After the first signs of pregnancy and the confirmation, you maybe feeling a little strange emotionally. In the grand scheme of things, being told that you are expecting a baby is a massive life changing moment. So whether the pregnancy was planned or a wonderful accident, it is often best to spend a day or two getting used to the idea of being pregnant, before telling anyone else.

Remember, the signs of pregnancy are just that. Signs from our body that it is time for change, start to look after yourself better, eat more healthily and drink lots of water.

Online Pregnancy Test: Pregnancy Tests - How To Verify Pregnancy

Online Pregnancy Test

Pregnancy Tests are conducted to verify one’s pregnancy. A large number of women can tell that they are pregnant by recognizing the various symptoms that accompany a pregnancy. However, to be sure, specific pregnancy tests need to be conducted. Some of these can be conducted at home itself while there are others for which you need to approach a doctor. Large varieties of home pregnancy tests kits are available in the market at chemist shops.

Pregnancy tests confirm one’s pregnancy by revealing the presence of a hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HcG) which is found only in pregnant women. It is produced by the cells in the uterus. Several types of pregnancy test kits are available in the market, many of which can be used at home. These tests measure the level of the HCG in our body through a urine sample. These tests need to be followed by some other pregnancy ultrasound tests that are recommended by the doctors.

The Accuracy Factor

Generally, these pregnancy tests can confirm pregnancy the day after one misses her period. However, to get accurate and 100% results, it is always better to conduct these tests a week after missing the monthly periods. Most of the times, these pregnancy tests are accurate and quite cheap too. The home pregnancy tests are generally followed by several blood tests and ultrasounds, which are done to find the possible date of the delivery and the health of the baby.

In some cases, however, the pregnancy tests may give a wrong result. These include cases when the amount of HCG in a woman’s body is inadequate to show her pregnancy. In addition, it is important to remember the exact date of one’s periods. These tests are effective and can give accurate results only if conducted after a woman misses her periods. A type of pregnancy test known as EPT pregnancy test claims to give 99% accurate results. However, this is possible only if a woman remembers her period date correctly. Several other early pregnancy test kits are also available in the market and can even be purchased online.

Pregnancy tests are the definitive way to know if you are pregnant. You can even take home pregnancy tests within the comforts of your home.

Pregnancy ultrasounds and early pregnancy test such as EPT early pregnancy tests are another way of knowing that the most beautiful period of your life is just around the corner.

Pregnancy Period provides more information on issues related to pregnancy, early pregnancy symptoms and pregnancy tests.

Online Pregnancy Test: Useful Information About Pregnancy Tests

Online Pregnancy Test

Though you may be experiencing very clear indications that you are pregnant, it is always desirable to test your pregnancy medically, before deciding all by yourself that you are pregnant! There are several types of pregnancy tests available to you today, many which can be performed in the privacy of your own home! So if you think you might be pregnant right now, do make it a point to confirm your happy condition before shouting it out from the rooftops!

Listed below are some of the commonest types of pregnancy tests you could take:

Urine pregnancy tests

Urine pregnancy tests can accurately confirm your pregnancy as early as 10 days after conception. You provide a sample of urine to the pathology laboratory and they will be able to confirm it soon enough. The urine pregnancy test detects the levels of the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin or the HCG hormone in your body. If the level of the hormone is much higher than normal, it confirms pregnancy. This hormone is produced by the placenta and almost doubles everyday, till the first two months of your pregnancy.

Blood tests

A sample smear of your blood can also accurately confirm your pregnancy. The blood collected by your physician is analyzed before she can come to a conclusion about the same.

Home pregnancy test kits

Today, there are a lot of home pregnancy kits available over the counter at any drug store. All that you need to do is to purchase one of them and then conduct the test at home itself. You can perform this test on yourself - you do not need any special qualifications for this. You collect a sample of urine and then analyze it using the instructions mentioned on the leaflet that comes with the home pregnancy kit. These simple at-home tests are reasonably priced, are easy to use and also are over 97% accurate. Of course, it is desirable to reconfirm the same by repeating the test some 2-3 days later, so that you can be doubly sure about the results. The best thing about a home pregnancy test kit is that you can perform it in complete privacy, without anyone having to know about it.

Once your pregnancy is confirmed, though, it is always in your own interest to visit your physician and consult with her on how you should proceed ahead in the ensuing months of pregnancy.

Online pregnancy test

Thanks to the advent of information technology and the Internet, several sites in existence today, are offering what are termed as 'online pregnancy tests'. Here, you are asked to answer a detailed questionnaire, after which you are told if you are or are not pregnant. While this might seem interesting, you can never depend on these alone. It is always better to get any of the other above-mentioned tests performed, so that you can confirm one way or the other.

You have many types of pregnancy tests available to you today. But finally, do make it a point to visit your physician, who will confirm your pregnancy and also advice you about the do's and the don'ts of the same.