Best Homemade Pregnancy Tests

Many women choose to use a homemade pregnancy tests to find out whether their lives are about to change, but if you want to take this all-natural, doctor-free approach to your early pregnancy, there are a number of key things to understand.

What is a Homemade Pregnancy Test?

A homemade pregnancy test is rather self-explanatory, in that it is a Do-It-Yourself test prepared with things that can often be found around your home. Using a homemade pregnancy test to determine whether you are carrying a child may be one of the oldest DIY practices in human history, considering that specialized doctors and formal pregnancy tests weren’t available for many of our ancestors, but early detection of a pregnancy meant a higher chance of survival for the baby. Although some homemade pregnancy tests date back thousands of years, others have been and continue to be used to this day.

Most homemade pregnancy tests consist of combining your urine with another substance that will react (or not react) to some of the active compounds (hormones) in your urine that signal pregnancy. In recent decades, the accuracy, availability, and safety of pregnancy tests has increased exponentially, but some of these homemade tests are still preferred by those who take a natural approach to their health. Most experts recommend seeking formal medical attention when you believe that you are pregnant, as this will give you the healthiest and best outcome for your baby. These homemade tests are often used as a first-detection measure, and women who find a positive result will then see a doctor.

The validity and efficacy of these tests are always in question since there has been limited scientific research done on the reliability of such tests. However, anecdotal evidence is strong in arguing that these tests are, in fact, good ways to determine whether or not you are pregnant.

Benefits of a Homemade Test

The benefits of a homemade test include its low cost, accessibility, privacy, the experience of a natural pregnancy, and convenience, among others.

Simplicity

There is no need to follow instructions for most of these tests, and the process is very simple, in most cases. This can be a simpler option than buying a test and having to interpret symbols, rather than a simple binary answer that these tests provide.

Cost Factor

For many people who are under dire financial constraints, even small unexpected expenses can be complicating. Some pregnancy tests aren’t cheap, nor are doctor’s visits, only to find out that you aren’t pregnant. Many women in these situations simply use a homemade pregnancy test instead, to see whether it is worth going to visit a doctor.

Natural Pregnancy

Some women have no interest in medical intervention in the pregnancy and prefer to have a completely natural pregnancy. Homemade pregnancy tests are particularly appealing to these types of people.

Privacy

In certain situations, getting pregnant can be a very difficult situation, perhaps if you are not supposed to be sexually active, if you have been unfaithful to a partner, or if your religion forbids sexual intercourse before marriage. In these situations, going to a doctor is not an option, but homemade pregnancy tests can provide an alternative.

Convenience

If you think you may be pregnant, it will likely be the only thing on your mind. In the middle of the night, the convenience of making a homemade test and getting some answers can be a huge relief for a woman.

Accessibility

If you live far from local stores or don’t make trips into town very often, it could be weeks before you have access to a pregnancy test, but with these basic homemade tests, you can get results based on the same basic medical principles as a formal test at a hospital.

Various DIY Pregnancy Tests

There are quite a few popular and highly effective homemade pregnancy tests that can be made and used in your home with things you likely already have in your pantry. Some of the most trusted homemade pregnancy tests include the bleach test, the toothpaste test, and the dandelion leaves test, just to name a few.

The best advice is to use these tests first thing in the morning, when your urine is most concentrated, as this will be the fastest and most effective measurement of your pregnancy. The majority of these tests relies on the presence or absence of hCG (human chorionicgonadotropin) to garner a reaction, similar to a more traditional pregnancy test. Most practitioners of homemade pregnancy tests recommend using an equal 50/50 ratio of urine to the testing materials for best results. Again, there is a great deal of uncertainty in these tests, and all results (positive or negative) should be confirmed by a formal test at some point.

Bleach Test

Step 1 – Add 1 cup of bleach to a container.

Step 2 – Add your urine to the cup and mix thoroughly.

Step 3 – Wait 10 minutes.

Step 4 – If there is foam on the bleach, then you are likely pregnant!

Toothpaste Test

Step 1 – Add two tablespoons of white toothpaste to a container.

Step 2 – Add your urine to the container.

Step 3 – If the paste turns blue or begins to foam, that is a positive indication of pregnancy!

Dandelion Leaves Test

Step 1 – Place two cups of dandelion leaves into a container.

Step 2 – Add the urine to the top of the leaves, submerging them.

Step 3 – Wait 10 minutes.

Step 4 – If red bumps appear on the leaves, you are pregnant!

Vinegar Test

Step 1 – Add 1 cup of white wine vinegar to a container.

Step 2 – Add your morning urine to this container.

Step 3 – If there is a color change in the vinegar, you are likely pregnant.

Sugar Test

Step 1 – Place 3 tablespoons of sugar in a cup.

Step 2 – Add your morning urine to this cup.

Step 3 – Watch to see what the sugar crystals do. If they begin to clump together, it is a positive sign of pregnancy. If the sugar begins to dissolve, you are not pregnant.