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Pregnancy tests
Mum Knows Best
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If you have trouble sleeping in pregnancy, read a baby names' book. The monotony of the list means that by the time you reach 'D', you'll be gone!Emily Gale, 31, from London, mum to Madeleine, 2, and 35 weeks pregnant
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Ditch as much of your housework as possible and don't stress because the house is a mess or there's ironing to do. Your baby will sense you're calm and, with luck, he'll be calm, too. I know it worked for me - Daniel is a chilled-out, happy baby!
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Before you go out and buy lots of expensive maternity clothes, have a good rummage through your wardrobe. You'll probably be surprised at how much stuff can be adapted or worn a little differently to still fit you!Natalie, mum to Bobby
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I was convinced the TENS machine I used wasn't working because labour still felt very painful. However, it was only when I took it off that I realised it had been effective, as I could feel the difference. It got me through the first few hours until I got in the pool, where my baby was born. Michelle, mum to Sam, 6 weeks
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To help beat morning sickness, as soon as you wake up - eat a piece of dry toast.
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If you're set on having a natural birth, read up on visualisation and breathing techniques so you feel strong when the time comes. It really helped me when I was having Honey.SJ Drew, Paignton
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If you're uncomfortable in bed, or suffer backache, tuck one end of a v-shaped pillow between your knees to get your hips level, put the 'v' under your bump and cuddle the top. It was my midwife's idea - it also cured my insomnia.Isabelle Jacobs, 34, from Edinburgh, mum to Paul, 3 months
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Drink ginger tea to beat morning sickness - it really works!Jenny, pregnant with baby no.1
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I started getting really bad headaches when I was about 12 weeks pregnant, but forcing myself to drink two litres of water every day really helped.Jennifer Shepherd, London
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There are certain signs of pregnancy that you can look out for, but many women don't suffer from all or any of them, so the best way to tell if you're pregnant is to do a home pregnancy test.
How do pregnancy tests work?
Pregnancy tests look for a special hormone in the urine or blood called hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) that is only there when a woman is pregnant.hCG is only made in your body after a fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus and this usually happens around 6 days after conception - however, this can vary from woman to woman. The further along your pregnancy you are, the higher the level of hCG in your body.
How soon can you take a pregnancy test?
Home pregnancy tests claim that they can tell if you're pregnant on the day you expect your period and it's possible to tell even a couple of days before your period, but this is not usually the case. It's not always possible to be that specific about the date of your period, and levels of hCG vary greatly from woman to woman.Women all have different menstrual cycles and so everyone ovulates at a different time. This will affect when your period is due. You may also have conceived later in your cycle than average, which will affect how much hCG is in your body.
Although you may not want to wait, the best way to be sure is give it at least a week after your period is due.
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