Natural and Easy: 10 Ways to Confirm Pregnancy at Home

Becoming a parent is an exciting, life-changing experience, and one of the first milestones in this journey is confirming your pregnancy. While visiting a healthcare provider remains the most reliable method, many women prefer to begin their journey from the comfort of home. Luckily, there are several simple and natural ways to check pregnancy at home. In this article, we'll explore ten of these methods.

What is a Natural Pregnancy Test?

A natural pregnancy test, also known as a home pregnancy test, is a DIY method for checking pregnancy at home using common household items such as sugar, salt, toothpaste, and bleach. If you prefer checking your pregnancy without a commercial kit, a natural pregnancy test is the way to go.

Some benefits of using a natural pregnancy test at home:

• Cost-effective alternative to store-bought tests
• Ingredients are readily available in your kitchen
• Private option for suspected unplanned pregnancies
• Easy disposal compared to traditional tests
• Home-based, no pharmacy visits necessary

READ: When To Take A Pregnancy Test After Missed Period?

How to Check Pregnancy at Home Naturally?

Here are different ways to check pregnancy at home using simple household ingredients.

1. The Salt Pregnancy Test

What you’ll require:

• A clean container
• Salt
• Your first-morning urine

How to take the test:

• Pour your urine into the container and add a pinch or two of salt.
• Wait for 3-4 minutes.

2. The Sugar Test

What you'll require:

• A clean container
• A tablespoon of crystallised sugar
• Your first-morning urine

How to take the test:

• Add a tablespoon of sugar to the container and pour your urine sample over the sugar.
• Wait for 3-4 minutes.

READ: The Complete Guide to Home Pregnancy Tests

3. Toothpaste Test

What you'll require:

• A clean container
• Plain white toothpaste - make sure it doesn’t have crystals and salt
• A spoon
• Your first-morning urine

How to take the test:

• Add two tablespoons of toothpaste to the container and pour one tablespoon over it.
• Combine the mixture slightly with the spoon and wait at least 5 minutes.

4. The Baking Soda Test

What you'll require:

• A clean container
• Baking soda
• Your first-morning urine

How to take the test:

• Pour your morning urine into the container and add a teaspoon of baking soda to your urine.
• Wait for 4-5 minutes.

5. The Wheat and Barley Test

What you'll require:

• Clean containers
• Wheat berries or barley grains
• Your first-morning urine

How to take the test:

• Add wheat and barley to two separate containers.
• In the morning, add your urine to each container.
• Leave it for a few days to germinate.

6. The Bleach Test

What you'll require:

• A clean cup and bowl
• Bleaching powder - make sure it doesn’t smell or have chlorine powder
• Your first-morning urine

How to take the test:

• Pour in a cup of bleaching powder into the bowl.
• Over it, drop a minimum of half a cup of urine sample.
• Give it at least five minutes.

7. The White Vinegar Test

What you'll require:

• A clean glass
• A spoon to stir
• Distilled white vinegar
• Your first-morning urine

How to take the test:

• Fill the glass with half a cup of distilled white vinegar.
• Pour the urine sample into the vinegar and mix thoroughly.
• Give it at least five minutes.

8. The Soap Test

What you'll require:

• A clean container
• A bathing soap of your choice
• Your first-morning urine

How to take the test:

• In the bowl, put a tiny piece of soap.
• Over the soap, sprinkle two tablespoons of the urine sample.
• To see the reaction, give it at least a few minutes.

9. The Shampoo Test

What you'll require:

• A clean container
• Shampoo
• Water
• Your first-morning urine

How to take the test:

• Pour clean water into the container until halfway full.
• Add 2-3 drops of shampoo to the water to create a soapy solution. Stir gently to prevent foaming.
• Now add a few drops of your first-morning urine and wait at least 5 minutes.

10. The Storing Urine Test

What you'll require:

• A clean jar or glass
• Your first-morning urine

How to take the test:

• Gather a sample of your first urine in the morning in a clean glass or jar.
• Keep the jar on a level surface.
• After a full day, carefully examine the contents closely without shaking or moving the container.

Remember, these natural ways to check pregnancy at home are unreliable indicators (not scientifically proven), and the reactions or changes can occur due to various factors besides pregnancy. Therefore, you should visit a healthcare provider for confirmation and proper prenatal care.

How Can I Ensure the Accuracy of the Natural Pregnancy Test Results?

Now that you know different ways to take a pregnancy test without a kit, let’s explore what you can do to ensure accuracy when using a natural pregnancy test:

• Perform the test early in the morning (when you wake up) for better accuracy.
• Use first-morning urine for accurate results, as it has high hCG hormone levels.
• Avoid urinating in the middle of the night to maintain hCG levels in the morning urine.
• Use a clean bowl for the pregnancy test.
• Do not use metal containers, as they may interfere with the results.
• Don't shake or disturb the sample, regardless of the testing method.
• Consider repeating the test or using different methods for confirmation.
• Be patient; some tests may take up to 24 hours to display results.

READ: 7 early signs and symptoms of pregnancy

Take Away

Confirming your pregnancy is the first milestone in your journey. While many women opt for natural pregnancy tests for a private confirmation, it’s important to note that their accuracy is not scientifically proven. For more reliable results, consider taking multiple tests. However, if you're still uncertain, you may want to use a commercial home pregnancy test or undergo an ultrasound scan.

Remember, this exciting journey begins with accurate information and proper prenatal care.

Important Disclaimer: The natural pregnancy tests mentioned in this article (such as sugar, salt, toothpaste, etc.) are not medically or scientifically proven to be accurate. For a confirmed pregnancy, always consult a healthcare provider.