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What happens after a positive pregnancy test?

Got your big fat positive on that little plastic stick? It can be hard to know what to do next.

positive pregnancy test

When you first pick up that little plastic stick, you’ve probably got a lot of thoughts going around your head. Am I just really bloated from all that pasta? Maybe this is the reason why I always fancy a nap at 3 PM when I’m working from home? And what am I going to do if it’s a positive pregnancy test?

But let’s slow down for a second and take a breath. Regardless of what you want the result of your pregnancy test to be, we’re here to help you with the next steps. 

A quick disclaimer: while we’re pregnancy enthusiasts with a PhD in baby-ology over here at LittleList, we’re not actual doctors. If you’re ever concerned, please contact your local GP or a medical professional. 

How does an at-home pregnancy test work?

Naturally, you may find yourself wondering: what witchcraft is in this stick that it can tell me if I’m expecting from just my pee? There’s no magic - just science! 

Your at-home pregnancy test detects a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). This handy little hormone starts being produced just six days after fertilisation. That’s right - only six days! It takes more time for Evri to deliver your next-day-postage parcel than it does for your body to start producing hCG. 

Most at-home pregnancy tests will be 99% accurate if you test from, or the day after, an expected period. There are some tests that are more sensitive to your levels of hCG and can tell you if you’re expecting earlier, but in general, the day of your expected period works great. 

Your bog standard pregnancy test will come in a box with one or two test sticks or strips. You get them out, squat over the loo, and wee on the correct end. Alternatively, you can wee into a clean container of your choice and dip the stick in. Either way, the results will appear in a few minutes. All tests are slightly different, so make sure to read your instruction manual.

Reading your pregnancy test results


Each brand of pregnancy test is different, but they’ll typically follow this format if the pregnancy test is positive:

  • Two lines - Most tests will have a control line (the first line) that lets you know the test is working. If you’re not pregnant, you’ll only see this line. If you are pregnant, another line (even if it’s very faint) will appear. 

  • Plus sign - Other tests might show a plus/minus symbol. A negative symbol means you’re not pregnant. When another line crosses over that line to make a plus symbol (again, even faintly,) then you’re expecting. 

  • Digital -  The easiest to read of all, digital pregnancy tests will plainly read ‘pregnant’ or ‘not pregnant.’ Some can even estimate how many weeks along you might be based on the strength of those blossoming baby hormones.  

If you’re worried about sourcing a pregnancy test, there are organisations that will help. Life is a UK pregnancy and maternity charity that can send a free pregnancy test and support you through the process.

Pregnancy test1

What about false positive pregnancy tests?

You may have heard some rumblings out there about the rare ‘false positives.’ While rare, there could be a few reasons why you tested positive for pregnancy when you’re actually not:

  1. You’ve recently been pregnant.

  2. You’ve been taking fertility medications that contain hCG. (For example, your fertility treatment could include a ‘trigger shot’ of hCG. Because pregnancy tests are looking for hCG in your wee, you could have a positive pregnancy test even when you’re not really expecting. If you know you’ve had a ‘trigger shot’, make sure to wait at least 10 days before taking a pregnancy test.)

  3. You have a very rare medical condition, like ovarian cysts, that produce hCG which creates a positive pregnancy test result.

If you’re sure none of the above apply to you, then there’s also something called an evaporation line that can create the appearance of a false positive too. 

What is an evaporation line?

An evaporation line is a very faint, colourless line where there is typically meant to be a coloured line (with the specific colour dependent on the brand of test).  These false lines tend to appear on tests when you’ve looked at your pregnancy test at the wrong time. Say, if the brand of pregnancy test you’re using says to check the results after three minutes, and you check after 15 instead. 

It’s really important to follow the instructions on your at-home pregnancy test to make sure you get accurate results. It seems super easy, right? Wee on the right end of the stick and bam - you’re all sorted. 

Taking a pregnancy test tends to be a tense time when even the simplest of tasks can scramble your brain. It’s always best to double-check the instruction manual and be 100% sure of what you need to do. 

Pregnancy scan

Is there such a thing as a false negative pregnancy test? 

False positive pregnancy tests are widely spoken about, but what about its inverse - a false negative pregnancy test? There are three reasons why you might get a false negative pregnancy test:

  1. Testing too soon: the most common reason for a false negative is by testing too early. If you test too soon in your cycle, your placenta won’t have produced enough hCG to register yet. It’s typically recommended to wait until you’ve missed your first period to test. We know how tricky it can be to hold off if you’re trying for a baby, but hold tight! 

  2. Diluted urine: the first time in your life where being dehydrated works in your favour! If your wee is too diluted, aka if you’ve drank too many liquids, there won’t be enough hCG for the test. Try taking a test after not having drank anything for a few hours just to make sure, first thing in the morning is ideal.

  3. Too much or fragmented hCG: we know what you’re thinking - now you can have too much hCG? When you’ve got loads of hCG, it can overwhelm the test, making it produce a false negative. This is called the ‘hook effect’ and usually only happens further along in the pregnancy (when your levels of hCG ramp up.) 

  • And then there’s fragmented hCG. This also happens when you’ve progressed with your pregnancy. Your at-home pregnancy test might capture the fragmented hormone rather than the intact hormone. The test doesn’t respond to the fragmented hormone which leads to a false negative. 

How many pregnancy tests should I take if my first one is positive?

Doing one positive pregnancy test just doesn’t feel like enough in some cases. This small stick alone is going to determine the rest of your life? Let’s bring its friend in for back up… Just to double-check.

In a lot of cases, you’ll get two pregnancy tests in your box. While there’s no need to repeat a positive pregnancy test if you’re sure you’ve done it correctly the first time around, a lot of people like to give it a second go just to be extra reassured they’ve got the right result. 

There’s no harm in doing another test. If you want to, go for it! But if you’re confident you nailed the whole ‘pregnancy-test-taking-thing’ the first time, you don’t have to do it again. 

Can I use a homemade pregnancy test? 

If you’ve ever stumbled across the crystal-loving, holistic side of the internet, you might have seen people talking about making their own pregnancy tests. These homemade pregnancy tests, typically made from household items, aren’t scientifically accurate. Whether it’s a test made of shampoo, toothpaste, bleach, or anything else that could be found in your bathroom cabinet, the scientific research shows that there is no evidence that any of these tests work. 

Newborn baby

What is a pregnancy blood test and should I get one?

Once your urine test comes back positive, you can then go on to have a (much less common these days) pregnancy blood test if this is something your doctor recommends. These pregnancy blood tests are also called beta hCG tests! There’s a couple of reasons why you might want this extra test: 

  • To confirm your pregnancy

  • Multiple hCG tests to check the viability of your early pregnancy 

  • To monitor levels as indicated by your doctor 

It takes around 11 days after conception for a pregnancy blood test to do its thing and pick up all the new hormones running around your veins. 

Your pregnancy blood test is a lot like every other blood test. A small sample of blood is taken from your inner arm, near the elbow. So long as you don’t have a crippling fear of needles - it’s a walk in the park!

Unfortunately, this test isn’t as instant as the at-home one. You’ll have to wait a bit for your doctor to get back to you with the results. Head home, make a cuppa, curl up on the sofa and wait it out. 

What happens after a positive pregnancy test?

You’ve taken your positive pregnancy test and it’s told you that you’re expecting! Now what? If you’d like to continue with the pregnancy, then we’ve got the next steps for you. And if you’re not sure if you want to continue, (scroll down to the bottom to ‘If you're not sure you want to be pregnant’) this NHS page will walk you through your options. 

Give your GP a ring

Even though not much happens medically at this point in pregnancy, it’s good to get yourself on the system as soon as possible so you can make sure you have all your prenatal care appointments at the right time. 

Give your surgery a call, let them know you’re waving a positive pregnancy test around with wild abandon and they will direct you accordingly - usually by scheduling you in for your midwife booking appointment for when you’re around 8 weeks along. 

If you suffer from any medical conditions or are on medication, it’s worth flagging this with the surgery too so you can be advised accordingly (and definitely before you suddenly stop taking anything without the relevant advice!). 

Calculate your due date 

We’d recommend the official NHS due date calculator to figure out when your little one will be turning up in your arms - you just need the date of your last period. When the time comes for your first ultrasound scan, this date might change, but it’s a good starting point.

Calendar

Take your vitamins

It’s never too soon to start taking prenatal vitamins - or at the very least, folic acid, which can help your baby’s brain, skull and spinal cord develop in the right way. You can pick these up cheaply and easily from your supermarket, pharmacy or humongous online warehouse of choice. 

Evaluate what you put in your body

If you’re a smoker or you drink alcohol, you’re going to need to try your best to quit those habits, at least temporarily. If you’re panicking that you’ve been unwittingly a-puffing and a-boozing before you realised you were pregnant, be kind to yourself - this is incredibly normal and the chances of any harm to your baby are seriously minimal, promise.

Similarly, you’ve probably heard that there are various foods that you should avoid after your positive pregnancy test - including unpasteurised cheeses and undercooked meat. Some parents-to-be don’t pay much attention to this advice and do just fine eating whatever they fancy, but it’s a good idea to arm yourself with the relevant knowledge and use your common sense accordingly.

Keep an eye on your symptoms

This early on, you’re probably not feeling anything in particular - other than excited/scared/excited and scared in equal measure - but those early pregnancy symptoms, from sore boobs to nausea to all-consuming fatigue, might well start to kick in soon, although you’re a few weeks off from them peaking. 

You’ll also want to look out for any spotting in your underwear/loo roll (and call your GP if you’re concerned about anything). If you’re into tracking your bodily functions, you could make a note of any symptoms - but otherwise, just listen to your body and get rest when you feel like you need it.  

Need help or advice? Our Baby Brains are here for you!