AHPT

At Home Pregnancy Tests.  Ever used one?

Let me offer some words of wisdom, both to those of you who have and those of you who haven't.

There are many different types of AHPTs and each one is different.  There is however one thing they all have in common.  A waiting period.  Whether it's 2, 3, 5 or even 10 minutes, that waiting period is apparently very important.  

I didn't know that.

Tyson and I have been trying for baby #2 since November 2010.  Seven months.  At one AHPT per month, that's 7(+) tests to date.  Those things get expensive.....

There are 2 test lines on each AHPT.  One line to show the test is working/valid and the other line to show the positive/negative result.

What you may not know is, there is a possibility that the working/valid line will show before the result line.  When I tested positive with my first pregnancy, both lines showed simultaneously so I thought that was the way it's supposed to be.  I figured if that wasn't the case then the test wasn't positive.  Not true.  The test is not finished testing until the waiting period is over.

I took a test last Friday night and the working/valid line showed quickly but the result line didn't do anything so I just threw it away.  Another negative.  Nothing new.  Better luck next time.  But something later that night led me to go get it out of the garbage can and look at it.  The result line showed positive?!?  What the......

So I sat down at my computer to find more information.  I learned more about factors that can affect AHPTs and realized the importance of the specified waiting period.  So I decided it would be a good idea to take another test first thing the following morning.  If only for my own sanity.

Saturday morning when I woke, I just had a feeling that I was pregnant.  I didn't let myself believe it though- -I thought I was just convincing myself that I had done the test(s) all wrong and that now I knew what I needed to do, the next test would be positive.

Without telling Tyson, I went to the bathroom and started the test.  3 minute waiting period.  The working/valid line showed quickly, as it did the night before.  I kept waiting......waiting.....wait......the other line is showing......showing.......SHOWING!  We're pregnant!  Ahhhh!!!

I still didn't quite believe it though.  After 7 months of negative tests, it seemed a little unbelievable.  So this morning I went to get a test done by a nurse and she got a positive result too! 

And guess what else?  She thinks I'm 7 weeks along.  SAY WHAAAAA???  

Too bad I didn't know how to take a stinkin' pregnancy test.....

I called and scheduled an appointment with my OB for July 13th.  We will get an ultrasound and a more accurate due date at that point.  The nurse says I'm due around January 25th so we'll see how close she is!

 

The day we found out - approximately 7 weeks

So going back to Saturday morning- -something funny to add to the story.  

Tyson worked so late Friday night that he couldn't even make it past the couch when he got home.  I went to bed alone and woke up alone.  After taking the pregnancy test I went into the living room to tell Tyson and found this on the kitchen table.

Me:  "Who's this from?"

Tyson:  "Me."

Me:  "Oh, that's nice!  Thank you.  What's it for?"

Tyson:  "I took your iPod to listen to at work and all of your country love songs made me fall in love with you again."

I went to lay next to him on the couch and while we snuggled I said, "Guess what.  I think I'm pregnant."  He laughed.  Ironic that he brought me home a gift.  I told him he should have brought me gifts 7 months ago =0)

Anyway.  We are really excited.  Still a little unbelieving.  Mostly because I'm feeling so great that I can't believe it's real.  I mentioned last week that I've started waking up in the mornings to exercise again and I have no signs of sickness at all.  I'm pretty sure it was hitting full force at this point with Teryn's pregnancy, so I don't know what's going on this time.  

So here's to pregnancy #2!  To be continued.....