After years of avoiding the inevitable, I finally upgraded to a smart phone a few months ago. My little flippy running on a 2G network finally died. Yes, I grew up with flip phones. 🙂
I wanted to avoid being plugged-in everywhere I went because I know it’s not a good use of my time 24/7. So I gave an exasperated scoff when I read recently that you can now take a pregnancy test on your phone. Are they accurate? Do you have to pee on your phone?
Take A Pregnancy Test On Your Phone
Slow down, don’t worry. These apps are essentially just quizzes about your symptoms–no peeing on anything. Funny thing though, they often ask you if you’ve taken a legitimate pee-on-a-stick test.
Why are you using an app if you’ve already peed on a stick?! It gets to me.
Some of these lame-o’s are apps that ask you to just touch your thumbs to the screen and it will verify your pregnancy status. LAME. Although, they do have the noted disclaimer right there in the app description that it’s for entertainment purposes only. *Sigh*
Okay, I’ll give them that. But there are thousands of downloads of the thing. What a waste of time.
A few others are genuinely nice looking, ask all appropriate questions, and give you a percent likelihood of having a little bun in the oven. I have a few problems with these still.
Why They’re A Complete Waste
Most of these are symptom based and ask you to input of few things like:
- date of your last period
- the last time you had sex
- if you’ve taken a legit pregnancy test
- the result of your pregnancy test
- if you have any nausea
- lack of energy
- headaches and body aches
- sore and tender breasts
The funny thing is that you can have ALL of the symptoms even when you’re NOT pregnant.
And you can have NO symptoms when you ARE pregnant!
Get off the forums where you can read about any and every symptom happening for other mothers, and then the ones about the mothers having nothing going on.
You’re a smart person. Educate yourself from a medical perspective when it comes to determining if you’re pregnant. The only (mostly) reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period, but even that can fool you. I’ll prove it.
| When we were trying for our second baby I was late with my period. I thought for sure I was pregnant. I kept taking tests each day, but they were negative. Negative. NEGATIVE.
We were still convinced that I was pregnant. It had been over a week for heaven’s sake! Finally, after a week of believing that I was, I started my period like nothing had ever been off. I believe that because I was CONVINCED I was pregnant, my body delayed my cycle. |
Sometimes weird things happen and our stresses, hormones, and moods affect our physiology.
There Are Only Two Reliable Tests
One’s quick and easy; the other is delayed and expensive.
At Home Test
- Forget the expensive $15 version over the generic $5 stick. They’re EXACTLY the same. They’re BOTH 99% accurate.
- Just grit your teeth and pee on that stick. If you don’t want the spray, pee in a cup and dip the stick in it.
- Do it first thing in the morning.
- If you’re unsure, have someone else look at it.
It’s not difficult.
Yes, it’s nerve-wracking. But it’s private and personal.
Office Blood Test
- Or if you’re determined, you can drive to your doctor’s office, and wait around.
- They’ll draw your blood and run a test.
- You’ll go home, even more anxious.
- Then they’ll call you with your result.
Soon after you’ll get the $100 bill in the mail for the same thing you can get at home.
So Make Your Choice
I know it’s torture to wait in the first place for your period to come or not. But don’t rely on an app. Sure, the fancy $15 pregnancy test in the store can blue-tooth with your phone now. But honestly, leave technology out of it. It doesn’t add any benefit to the anxiousness you already feel.
Take the moment to let it sink in. Accept it. Share it with your husband when you’re ready.
Just bask in the future that is to come. Forget your phone. Focus on you and your baby.
Next step? Help soothe your body with my favorite bundle of goodies whilst on your new adventure.
>>The ‘P’ In Pregnancy Means ‘Pamper'<<
Our lives are fuller when they’re not filled with apps and quizzes and stuff. Have you taken a pregnant test on your phone?
Skeptical I am very skeptical about these phone apps not really sure if they work don’t really care that’s why I’m backing it up with the stick, it up with confirmation from the doctor. It’s safer that way
I had a unexpected sex last time. I m worried now because right now we are not ready for baby. However i want to do a pregnancy test. My friend has suggested me a counselling center who does a free pregnancy test San Antonio
Have you missed your period?
WHAT!, take a pregnancy test on your phone? How bizarre is that! I like the smart phone just like most people, but one thing I don’t do is depend on it for Everything. I know that a smart phone can do a lot of things, but I agree with you, LEAVE IT TO THE STICK, it’s accurate and way cheaper than a visit to the doctor. Do you think that most of our society depends on these kind of apps or do you think they just try to humor themselves? I can’t imagine anyone being that fascinated with an app as ridiculous as that one. Don’t get me wrong, I like a lot of apps, but the ones that try to do the work of “the natural way” is where I draw the line. You’ve made my day with this post, thanks!
Hopefully it’s just people trying to reassure themselves. I imagine that with the ones that are fairly accurate, based on symptoms and things, that those are used by women who just simply can’t wait to take the pee-on-a-stick test. But in the end, it doesn’t even help the nerves anyway. 🙂 Maybe I should just try one and see what I get too, for fun. Thanks Retha!
I started laughing. I’m a mother of 4. My oldest is 20, the next one is 18 and the twins are 17. I knew each time I was pregnant before taking a pregnancy test and before missing my period. LOL
Technology cracks me up. The powers that be seem to think we need an app for everything. Get real. LOL
I agree. Do an inexpensive pregnancy test because it’s the same as the expensive. You can also go to the local family planning and have one done at no charge. Or you can go to the doctor and have a blood test.
This is better than an app. The app might be for fun but nothing to get serious about.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. That’s really interesting that you knew you were pregnancy even before missing your period. I can’t say I’m that aware of my symptoms, like the time I thought I was pregnancy and actually wasn’t. 🙂
I never pay for the expensive tests either. And yes, you can go to certain places and get them for free too. Thanks Rawl!
Hey there Sarah when I first read your post title I was like no way! LOL. So you definitely got my attention.
I agree with your post and my wife simply got the cheap home pregnancy test. Once it was positive she then when to the doctors to confirm it.
Just seems easier todo it that way, rather than to bring technology into it.
Keep it simple. It’s better that way. Thanks Joel!
Hahaha! Those apps are such crap…..if I’ve taken a test already, why the heck am I going to a phone app to confirm? Smh. My partner was the one that realized that I missed my period, and when I peed on that $5 stick, the line came up immediately as if to say “No ifs, buts or maybes here, you ARE pregnant.” I had a natural birth without anesthesia…..it feels empowering to be able to say that, 9 months later. I didn’t want to spend too much for hospital bill because of the anesthesia, but I would’ve really loved your birth relaxation kit! Those techniques would’ve really helped….the pain was no joke and the nurses that delivered my baby weren’t helpful in keeping me relaxed.
Hi JeAnn. I would love to hear your birth story. You can add it to the Stories and read some other fabulous ones too.
That’s another awesome benefit to having a baby naturally–lower bills for sure! It was one of the motivators for me. Sorry your nurses weren’t much help. It seems they’re awesome or just plain annoyed with us.
Next time around be sure to get yourself a The Birth Relaxation Kit Makes Hypnobirthing Easy and I can help you along with a bunch of things to make it even better. Cheers!
How do you comment on a website that looks so perfect.
This website is very educational in a fun sort of way, it is attractive and draws you to every page. It is very informative and well written it definitely looks like a money earner.
The website is very clear and concise and gives information pertaining to the name of the website.
Thanks for the nice comments. Any questions or comments on the post?
Good initial look to the website, nice color layout and good pictures.
There are a lot of words on each page and it seems kind of cluttered. However, there is a lot of helpful information in the pages on your website.
Good explanation of the birth relaxation kit, I also like how you put a consumer review in there. It validates it and makes it look more professional.
Thanks Tyler. Any questions or comments on the fact that women are taking pregnancy tests on their phone?
Hey, Sarah.. Good info on the pregnancy tests, especially regarding the US$5 x US$15 tests. When you are concerned about this, as I have and I believe many other couples have already, you tend to cloud your judgement and simply believe the more expensive is the better solution, or it will be more accurate somehow. It’s good to know there’s no significant difference.
Exactly. I like how you mention some people’s judgement being clouded. That’s the whole premise for some that would download an app too, not trusting in that little stick and feeling that they’re the fraction of a percent with a false answer. Take another reliable test if your doubt, not throwing your precious time and money at something different. Thanks Daniel!
I didn’t even know they had apps that claimed to tell you when you were pregnant!
I know! Crazy, right? I didn’t either. It’s amazing what you can access or get people to use and/or buy when it comes to any aspect of their lives. I can see them being fun, giving you a percentage of likelihood that you’re pregnant or not. But really? Hopefully no young ladies going through the process the first time resort to relying on it. 🙂