Pregnancy tests (I'm trying to be moneysaving here)

dizziblonde

OK - so we've been trying three+ years... hence I've driven myself mildly nuts several times over the endless months.

I've got a fairly regular 28/9 day cycle - occasionally I skip a month but never have known myself to short cut less than 28 days. Had some bleeding on day 23 this time, thought the painters were in, then thought it was strange to be that early - shrugged shoulders about it, spotting lasted less than a day (had stopped next time I went to the loo). For some reason with the timing of it being when it was, I decided to do a test when AF was due just to rule out the chance it was implantation bleeding. Wasn't expecting anything from it - so did a quick test, watched for the control line coming up which took about a minute (test was a three minute wait, give it another minute if nothing's come up jobbie - but I viewed it as just satisfying the urge infertile women have to pee on sticks and not a really "proper" test), threw it to one side and stropped back off to bed for a lie-in.

Anyway, for some insane reason I just had the urge to look at it again yesterday (I've never known myself get that urge in the last 3+ years of going nuts struggling to concieve). There was a very nice pink line there. I've used Tesco cheapies a lot - never known them get an evaporation line - but basically told myself I was a stupid moo for looking as now I was going to flap about evap lines and HAVE to test again with the spare one I had in the house... which I did... sat there watching it for 3 minutes, nothing, gave it the extra minute as the instructions said... a very faint line which got darker up until the 10 minute window after which you're not meant to read the test. I then (yes this is sad), sat with it on my desk all evening keeping an eye on the line to make sure it didn't go anywhere!

So today, not having the car my options for pee stick shopping were limited. Walked down into town, picked up an el-cheapo (although twice the flipping price of Tesco - grrr) which turned out to be identical to the Tesco cheapies, and a Clearblue +/- one (I hate these, but they had none of the fancy digital ones there). El-cheapo came up just after the 3 minute mark (I had the stopwatch out at this point), and definitely about 30 seconds before the 4 minute mark, Clearblue showed a line by the 2 minutes it claims to give results in... Clearblue line seems to have faded somewhat now - it's still there, but very faint (not that I've been watching it for the last 2 hours - honest). Apart from me baps hurting like billyo (but they generally become a 2 mile exclusion zone when it's PMT time anyway) - I don't feel pregnant, and I'm irrationally scared that if I make a doctor's appointment it's all going to be me being ridiculous and having got my hopes up and actually turn out negative.

Dunno what to do - tempted to go out and buy a fancy singing, dancing, digital test (for the flipping price of those I'd expect it gold plated and a performance of the Macarena while I pee), but am I just wasting a small fortune avoiding the doctors here?!

I've been pregnant before (I posted about it when that girl came on struggling to deal with her termination) and from what I recall back then - I had what I thought was an early period, followed by no symptoms apart from stupid tiredness and actually didn't realize and test for a good 2 months... so I guess what I'm going through fits my body's pattern.

**confuzzled**

For complete peace of mind for a definite answer I'd say go get a digital one...will stop the umming and ahhing as it gives you a definite answer:D

And from what you've said i can confidently say the following.......................



here's to a very happy & healthy 8months:beer::beer: When you're ready come join us on the -12wk thread and the pg thread:D:D x

falady

I ended up using the clear blue digital one for confirmation, as the other tests i used just showed a faint line. It was so frustrating, but when 'Pregnant' came up on the little screen, it as worth spending the tenner on the digital test!

maryjane01

That many positive results you sound pregnant to me, congratulations :j The docyor probably won't give you a test anyway, they will just take your word for it.

Don't spend any money on more tests, if you are really worried save your money for a private viability scan at around 7-8 weeks. They will be able to tell you if bubba has implanted nicely and has a good heart rate. It cost me around £80. Not moneysaving as it is not necessary, but it was very reassuring so worth every penny to me.

dizziblonde

To be honest, just knowing the plumbing system's working for us is a relief in itself right now - whether things are viable or not... three+ years of trying had really taken its toll... I was bawling my eyes out in the doctor's surgery a fortnight ago that I'd given up and would never get pregnant... am now claiming that little outburst as hormonally induced ... hence me not wanting to look like a wally at the doctors!

Bufger

dizziblonde wrote: »

To be honest, just knowing the plumbing system's working for us is a relief in itself right now - whether things are viable or not... three+ years of trying had really taken its toll... I was bawling my eyes out in the doctor's surgery a fortnight ago that I'd given up and would never get pregnant... am now claiming that little outburst as hormonally induced ... hence me not wanting to look like a wally at the doctors!

Now you need to relax (have a big WAHOOOOOOOOOOOO out the window first!) and not worry about it. Stressing out can stress your body and the last thing you want after trying so hard is to lose it. Your OH will have to do lots for you for these next 8-12 weeks so you dont strain!

Uncle bufger says take it easy! hopefully we will see you on the pregnancy club thread soon then :A

Have you told OH yet? go and get the more expensive test and double check on that and if it comes up as positive then tell him!

dizziblonde

Hubby knows about the ones last night, doesn't know about the two I've done today... just that damned clearblue one's bothering me as the + is so flipping faint that I don't dare believe it all. Too damned scared to go get an expensive one in case it comes up as a negative I guess (that and I don't have a car to go out till he gets home).

**confuzzled**

don't worry about it being faint...the fact it's there is fab:D:D also if you didn't use FMU that might account for the faintness of it:)
And the blue dye tests are known for having fainter results than the pink ones, not sure whether it's down to sensitivity or whether it's because pale blue isn't as obvious on a white urine tinged window as pink is:D

dizziblonde

Yeah I know it wasn't FMU, and I hadn't held my pee in all that long to be honest (I never can) so I know it was quite a weak sample.
Really do think the +/- easy to read tests are a right royal con!

FairyShazza

Personally I would be tempted to give it a day or two and then get a Clearblue Digital although I know you are probably too excited / nervous to want to wait. For the extra cost I do think they are worth it as there is no question as to if you are pregnant when that word comes up on the screen.

You are definitely best to use FMU though.

Good luck whatever you decide to do

Grimbal

At this point in time, I would say hang the expense and go for a digital with FMU. A line is a line, as far as I know there's no false positives in a HPT test, so splash out on a nice no nonsense digital (& remember to take a photo for us on here !)

very many congratulations, here's to a H&H 9 months :j

Liz
x
p.s. speaking as someone who is nearing the 3 year mark herself, it does one good to hear about these success stories