I heard an ad for a pregnancy test today that said it could tell you if you are pregnant “almost the moment you become pregnant.”
I sometimes find the idea of knowing so soon a little troubling. I should start by saying I am not a fan of this brand of home pregnancy test (which will remain nameless) because it gave me not one, but two false negatives despite the fact that it was used properly both times and within the guidelines for its early pregnancy detection claims. Wow, 7 years later and I’m still bitter…
I wonder if technology can be a little too revealing? For example, not too long ago, before HPTs were readily available and as sensitive as they now are, a woman could be closer to 8 weeks pregnant before she found out for certain. Generally she’d have to be a week or two late before the doctor would even give a test. If a woman miscarried before she found out she was pregnant, then for her, it would be like getting a period. No sadness, no drama just mother nature. A late period was just that. Now with state of art pregnancy tests we are finding out that often a late period is actually a really early miscarriage.
I know the appeal of finding out early; I’m guilty of trying it myself. The sheer excitement! The opportunity to stop certain risky behaviours such as drinking or smoking as early as possible. And of course more time to get used to the idea, make plans and shop!
Miscarriages are heartbreaking, regardless of when they occur. I think it would be really devastating to have a positive pregnancy test 3 or 4 days before my period was due, and then get it on time. Think about it; you don’t take a test and its just a period. You take it and all of a sudden its a miscarriage. Maybe it would have been better (emotionally) not to know at all?
How and when did you find out you were pregnant? Do you think there is a “too early”?
