Top 6 Simple And Natural DIY Tests To Check Pregnancy At Home
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While one can always get a home pregnancy test kit, women have relied on homemade pregnancy tests for several decades. Just like a home pregnancy test, some of the homemade ones also test for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). A DIY pregnancy test might be a fun idea to try out if you ever find yourself in a tricky situation where you cannot visit a pharmacy. However, the most reliable way to confirm your pregnancy is by using a home pregnancy test or by visiting a doctor. Continue reading the post if you are interested to know about the different DIY pregnancy tests you can try at home.
1. Sugar Test
The sugar test involves mixing equal parts of sugar and urine. So you can take about 1 tablespoon of each and mix it properly. Leave the mix for a few minutes. If the mixture forms clumps, the test is considered to be positive, and if the sugar dissolves, it is negative. This test is not backed by any scientific evidence or research (1).
2. Baking Soda Test
This test is done by combining equal amounts of urine and baking soda. It is believed that hCG, the hormone released by a woman’s body during early pregnancy, will result in fizzing or crackling after reacting with baking soda in the mix, in which case the test is considered to be positive. If there are no bubbles or crackles, it is negative (2).
3. Barley/Wheat Test
Women in ancient Egypt believed that the wheat or barley test would help them find out if they are pregnant or not. The test was performed by urinating in either one of the grain seeds and then waiting for 2 days. If the seeds sprout, it means that the woman is pregnant and if it doesn’t it means that the test is negative (3).
An analysis was conducted in 1963 to find if the claims of this test were true. It was found that in 70% of cases when the test was positive, the seed did sprout. However, there were numerous cases when it didn’t and hence it was considered to be an unreliable way to find out if someone is pregnant or not.
4. Salt Test
Similar to the sugar pregnancy test, this test is performed by combining equal amounts of salt and urine. If the mix forms clumps, the woman is pregnant, and if it does not, the woman is not pregnant. Again, just like most homemade pregnancy tests, there is no research or evidence to support this test (4).
5. Wine Pregnancy Test
Another popular homemade pregnancy test is a little on the expensive side. But it is definitely an easy test to try out if you’ve got wine at home. The test involves mixing half a cup of wine and the same amount of urine in a jar. Let the mix sit for about 10 minutes before making any observation. If the wine changes color, it means that the test is positive (5).
6. Shampoo Test
The shampoo test is performed based on the belief that the hCG in the urine will form foam or bubbles when mixed with the shampoo. For the test, you need to add 2 tablespoons of urine and 2 tablespoons of shampoo in a bowl. Shaking the mix can cause frothing. So, it is recommended to leave it as it is. If the shampoo doesn’t foam or bubble, the test is considered negative (6).
While certain blogs believe in the effectiveness of these tests, there is no research or study to support these claims. It is possible that certain home pregnancy tests may give you the same result as a pregnancy kit bought from a pharmacy. But it could be just pure coincidence and does not prove that the DIY test is accurate.
Do you know of any such homemade pregnancy tests? Have you tried out these tests before? Let us know in the comments section below.
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