Is your period a day late? Or a few weeks? Sore breasts? Morning sickness? These are pregnancy symptoms that should alert you... To dispel your doubts and/or confirm your hopes, you peed on a pregnancy test. Faced with the two little lines, you're shocked, you're pregnant (congratulations!). Take a deep breath and grab your best notebook: let's get those to-do lists ready.
Here's how to be sure your pregnancy test is positive
When you take a positive pregnancy test, it's sometimes hard to believe the result you see. We understand, so here's how to make sure you interpret it correctly.
How do I know if the pregnancy test is positive?
Don't throw away your urine test box! To make sure it's positive, check the signs on the packaging. Most of them display either:
- a dark line (type “l”);
- a clear symbol (like a +).
Of course, this only works if the strip detects the famous pregnancy hormones, better known as hCG.
To make sure you don't make a mistake, follow the instructions carefully: wait a few minutes. And read the results carefully under natural light to interpret them correctly.
Still in doubt? Don't let it linger, take another test right away!
Can a pregnancy test be false positive?
Yes, urine pregnancy tests can sometimes show a false positive. But, between you and me: this is very (very) rare. You could have a bad experience if:
- You are taking medications containing hormones (such as those used to treat fertility).
- You suffer from certain hormonal disorders or certain infections.
Again, if you still have doubts, make an appointment with a healthcare professional. They will prescribe a blood pregnancy test, which will detect beta hCG more accurately.
Why is my test result pale?
If your test shows a very faint line, you can still interpret it as positive. Its paleness simply reflects low hCG levels, which is typical in the very first week of pregnancy. You probably took your test a little too early, and pregnancy hormones are still quite low. To confirm the result, wait a few days (yes, we know, it's a long time) – and take another test. If you're pregnant, the symbol should appear more clearly.
When is the best time to take a pregnancy test?
When to take a pregnancy test: morning or evening ? Answer: Morning is still the best time to take your test. This is because HCG hormone levels are more concentrated after a good night's sleep. If you take it in the evening, and you're still early in your pregnancy, your test could come back negative. Even if you are indeed pregnant. Therefore, the best time is to wait until your period is a few days late (to be sure to "capture" the beta hCG), and take it easy in the early morning.
Blood tests, on the other hand, can be done at any time of day. But if you're feeling impatient, go early: you'll ensure you receive the results the same day rather than the next day!
What are the medical steps after a positive pregnancy test?
Joy, stress, pride, panic... everything mixes together when you find out you're expecting a baby, and that's perfectly normal. Discovering your pregnancy promises many upheavals for future parents and... just as many appointments to make!
1. Confirm your pregnancy
Do you have doubts about the reliability of the tests found in pharmacies? Know that false positives are extremely rare: all types of pregnancy tests detect the hCG hormone in urine, produced by your body when you are trying to conceive (and which will increase during the first weeks of pregnancy). Even when your menstrual cycle isn't perfectly regulated. And you're more of an irregular cycle type. Even, also, in the case of an early pregnancy. If the famous + or the two parallel bars appear, in a very contrasting way, or barely visible, then there's no doubt... It's because you're pregnant.
An appointment with a doctor or midwife/gynecologist is required to prescribe a blood pregnancy test, which will confirm the pregnancy. This also measures the pregnancy hormone level, but will be more accurate than urine pregnancy tests, and can already be used to check the stage and progress of your pregnancy (if it is multiple, if it presents risks, etc.). This will be your first medical assessment, to be carried out during the first 14 weeks of your pregnancy. This period also allows you to have a Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy if that is your choice. And you are completely free to do so!
Your doctor will also prescribe a dating ultrasound to determine the stage of your pregnancy and thus know the expected day of conception and therefore of delivery.
What's next? You'll have seven mandatory medical visits until your delivery. Each visit includes a prenatal exam to make sure everything is okay. These checkups are performed monthly, starting on the fourth month of pregnancy and continuing until the end of your pregnancy, and are used to ensure accurate monitoring for both you and your baby. Above all, don't worry about your wallet: everything is covered by the Health Insurance Fund.
Bonus: in some cases, you may even be eligible for a Birth Bonus. Check with your Family Allowance Fund—it would be a shame to miss out!
Achat express
2. Choose your medical environment
Nine months is a long time! So it's best to surround yourself with the right people. Take the time to think about how you want to experience your pregnancy. Midwife, gynecologist, obstetrician... The choice of your healthcare professional also depends on your type of pregnancy (whether it's late, complicated, or requires special attention, etc.). For example, if you have a high-risk pregnancy, you'll need to be monitored by an obstetrician. They deliver their patients in the hospital or clinic where they practice, so you'll need to monitor them. In the public sector, deliveries are often performed by midwives, who also provide childbirth preparation.
You can also call on a doula: a woman who accompanies and supports the mother-to-be and her loved ones during pregnancy and even postpartum. Through her listening and advice, she is a caring support, who can help in daily life and/or when you feel a little lost or overwhelmed. It is an intimate and trusting female relationship, but it is not a substitute for medical monitoring and healthcare personnel.
Those around you will surely give you 1000 pieces of advice, but listen to your intuition and above all, feel confident with the person or people who will follow you!
3. First trimester ultrasound
Who says 1st trimester of pregnancy , says... 1st ultrasound! It is one of the three recommended – but not mandatory – ultrasounds during pregnancy. This ultrasound is often expected, because it provides valuable information; in particular, it can detect the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome. We see the four limbs, the eyes, the ears, the feet, the fingers, and a small profile is drawn. Your – future – mother's heart may well go BOOM!
4. Prepare your body
Of course you'll have to stop drinking alcohol, smoking, cross off sushi, raw meats, get enough sleep... (but I promise, it's for a good cause <3). In short, have the healthiest lifestyle possible, compatible with your daily life. The goal isn't just frustration: it's mainly to put your body (and your head, because the two respond to each other!) in the best possible condition, so that it(they) can best experience the coming months filled with emotions and changes.
Even when our lifestyle is at its best, we sometimes have certain deficiencies, which is why supplementation is recommended, from the moment we want to get pregnant. But there is still time to start now that you know you are pregnant! We created our pregnancy vitamins , originally 100% natural, for this: to allow future mothers to build up a reserve of good vitamins and minerals (especially vitamin B9, also called folic acid), since its needs will be increased during the next nine months... and beyond!
Administrative steps
There's already a lot to do on the medical side, and we could do without the rest. And yet, we'll also have to (we don't like that either!) anticipate and delve into the few administrative obligations.
1. Choose and register for the maternity ward
Ouch, ouch, ouch, the famous question that all expectant mothers ask themselves, and which can generate quite a bit of stress: how to register for a maternity ward ? I promise, it's not complicated. You can decide to give birth in a public or private ward. On the public side, you must register yourself and it is recommended to "book" your place as early as possible (yes, just like for the best brunches!). On the other hand, if you choose an obstetrician from a private clinic, they will take care of your registration and booking your room. As for the choice of maternity ward, it is important to try to:
- take into account its level: 1, 2 or 3. A level 3 maternity ward is better equipped (intensive care unit, pediatric resuscitation service) and ready to respond to major complications (premature babies, babies requiring intensive care, etc.).
- ensure a correct distance from home
- find out about the rate of caesareans, episiotomies performed, etc.
And even though it's still relatively undeveloped in France, home birth is also possible, for a completely different experience. However, this requires meeting several criteria: not being too far from a maternity ward (if necessary), that the pregnancy is going well with a healthy mother, that you're not expecting twins, or that the baby is not breech.
2. Declare your pregnancy
There will be the announcement to your loved ones, and it will be a joyous moment. But you will also have to notify the authorities. Less fun, we grant you. This pregnancy declaration to the Primary Health Insurance Fund must be made after the first medical examination, within the first 14 weeks of your pregnancy. All you need to do is send a pregnancy certificate, which the doctor or midwife will give you.
However, if you become aware of your pregnancy after this time, don't panic! Denial of pregnancy, while rare, does exist. Fortunately, women who experience it can still be monitored by a medical team and supported by Social Security. Even later in life. If this is the case, speak directly with your midwife.
And if you're worried about being affected... Don't worry: our article How to know if you're in denial of pregnancy will help you see things more clearly!
3. Notify your employer
Less fun than a gender reveal party, but nonetheless essential: informing your workplace of your pregnancy. The Labor Code doesn't stipulate a deadline for doing so, not even when you're hired. You're only officially required to inform them before your maternity leave, in writing or orally, with a medical certificate. But the sooner you do it, the more comfortable you'll be! You'll then be able to benefit from your rights, including: authorized absences (and without any impact on your salary, of course) for your medical exams, a reduction in working hours (depending on the agreements).
And, we see you, stressed ones! No need to panic: a pregnant woman is protected by law against any risk of dismissal (in a permanent contract, this protection extends to the 14 weeks postpartum).
A pregnancy doesn't last nine months, and we're not the only ones saying it ! And that's why it's important to take care of yourself at every stage of your pregnancy. From preconception to postpartum products to pamper you after birth, we'll be there!
