Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms: Preconception, Pumping & Parenting Support

Medications often intervene in the hormonal balance of women, particularly when using an early pregnancy strip test or an ovulation pregnancy test. Especially if you are trying a home pregnancy test, the medications you are on play a very important role. If you are wondering 'can azo cause false positive pregnancy tests' then you are on the right track! Let's get to know about azo pills and their effects in more detail!   How Do Pregnancy Tests Work? If you are thinking can urine pregnancy test give false positive, here's your answer to that!Most pregnancy tests are driven by urine tests. They function by checking your urine for a hormone called hCG. HCG is a hormone that is released in the child-bearers body when a fetus has attached to the uterus.The pregnancy tests simply detect these levels and give out a positive or negative result. However, it does not realize what is the reason behind the higher levels of HCG hormones. Hence, if your hormone levels have been altered by something other than actual pregnancy, you might be up for a false alarm.If the hCG hormone is secreted in your body due to certain medications such as Azo, then a wrong pregnancy test can be detected due to imbalanced hormone levels. If you are planning to take a pregnancy test, then it is important to stay away from fertility medicines. Check all your medications from your respective doctors, even the over-the-counter medicines and understand whether these can cause any problems for your ovulation pregnancy test.   All You Need To Know About Azo Pills Azo pills are used to treat urinary tract infections and are an easily available over-the-counter medicine. These are completely safe and can be consumed by anyone for UTIs. However, when it comes to pregnant women, there is a debate about whether Azo pills can be considered safe or not.These pills have an active ingredient of phenazopyridine. Can phenazopyridine cause a false positive pregnancy test? Let's find out.This ingredient from these pills can change the colour of the urine and interfere with the urine's composition to treat urinary tract infections. However, when taking a pregnancy test, it might result in a negative effect since urine is the key indicator for home pregnancy tests.This element from the azo pills also has a quality that allows it to enter the uterus, cross the placenta and mix with the fetus. Hence, such types of medications are usually better avoided for pregnant women. It might cause health issues for the fetus in the future.   Can Azo Cause a False Negative Pregnancy Test Result? A false negative result is only possible when the urine contains less or no levels of HCG hormones. If you are pregnant this is an extremely rare scenario. Azo pills in general cannot cause false negative results.You might find a false negative result if you have used a pregnancy test too early. In normal circumstances, taking a pregnancy test two to three weeks after a missed period is the ideal time to provide the right results. If you have opted for an IVF embryo transfer then 10 DPT (days past transfer) or 14 DPT is the right time to take a pregnancy test.When you drink a lot of water before taking the pregnancy test or if you are using an expired test, there might be chances of a false negative result. You can always go for a double check or a proper medical pregnancy test or sonography from your gynaecologist to be sure of the result.   Can Azo Cause False Positive Pregnancy Test Results? A lot of times people ask can a UTI give a false positive pregnancy test. However, it's not the UTI that does anything to the hormone levels, instead, it is the medicines that we take for UTIs.So can azo cause a positive pregnancy test? The chances of women getting a false positive pregnancy test due to azo pills is quite rare. The azo pill manufacturers have claimed that false positive pregnancy tests due to azo pills have occurred in even less than 1% of the women who tested after taking an azo pill.Apart from this, there might be other reasons through which you can get a false positive test. These reasons include abortion, miscarriage and other medical conditions. In case you have just been through a pregnancy and have aborted or had a miscarriage, your body's hormone levels may be still in the pregnancy state. Allow your body's hormone levels to come back to normal. This usually happens after 3 weeks of the end of pregnancy.Along with that, if there is an error in the usage of the pregnancy tests or if you do not go through with the user manual properly, it could also result in a false pregnancy test.   Effects of Azo on Pregnancy If you are thinking 'Can azo cause a false positive pregnancy test' you are probably also on the lines of worrying whether it has any effect on your pregnancy. Let's clear that up!The best way to prevent your unborn child from any excessive medication is to hydrate well and maintain genital hygiene so that you don't catch UTIs in the first place. Azo medications are recommended by doctors when a woman catches UTI. Even though there have been no reports of azo medications harming mothers or fetuses, it has been known to get passed on through the breast milk and might enter the placenta and mix with the fetus.There is no clarity on any adverse side effects that this might cause. However, if a doctor prescribes an azo medication to you, then it must be because the pros overshadow the cons. You can try searching or consulting the doctor for an alternative to azo.   Effects of Azo on Menstruation Azo pills alter the hormonal balance of your internal system and hence can play a major role in altering your menstrual cycle as well. If your period is delayed by more than 10 days after being on an azo medication, then it's time to contact your doctor!   Final Words Azo is ideally an effective drug that helps in treating UTIs and killing bacteria in the urinary tract. However, when it comes to pregnant women, there are several aspects of concern.   Now that you know the effects and uses of Azo, you can decide for yourself whether or not you want to take it during pregnancy. If you are wondering “can Azo cause a false positive pregnancy test”, hopefully this article will help clear that up! If you would like to purchase pregnancy test strips, you can buy them at Mommed. Related Reading: What Does a 16 DPO Positive Pregnancy Test Mean?

The term “chemical pregnancy” is a way of describing a pregnancy that does not develop for long enough to be confirmed as a clinical pregnancy. The only way to know you are pregnant at this early stage is due to the chemicals, or hormones, that your body produces when you first become pregnant.   These pregnancies might be detected on a home pregnancy test, only to result in an early miscarriage before they can be confirmed in a clinical setting. While many chemical pregnancies go unnoticed, it can be a disappointing and confusing experience for those hoping to have a baby.   Below are 8 things to know about chemical pregnancy symptoms, causes, and what they mean for future pregnancies. 1. Chemical pregnancies can be detected with urine or blood tests. Urine tests can be used to detect the human chorionic gonadotrophic (or hCG) hormone as early as 5 days before a missed period. You might have used a home pregnancy test on or before the day of your expected period if you are actively trying to conceive. Blood tests may also be used very early in the case of fertility treatments or other closely monitored pregnancies. When a pregnancy test shows a positive, but your period starts within a week of the positive test, it could be that you experienced a chemical pregnancy. This could also be the case if you get a positive home test, only to have a negative test a bit later on.  2. Chemical pregnancies result when an embryo ceases to continue development. A chemical pregnancy simply means that there was an egg that was fertilized and maybe even implanted into the uterus, but ceased to continue developing very early in the process. Therefore, your body started to produce hCG only to stop producing it shortly after. There are any number of reasons why an embryo might cease to develop at this early stage. There might be a genetic component that causes that particular embryo to be incompatible with growth. Other times, the uterine lining might not be ready to support a growing pregnancy, or certain illnesses might cause the body to reject the pregnancy in order to protect the health of the mother.   3. Chemical pregnancies are very common. About 80% of known miscarriages happen very early, such as in the case of a chemical pregnancy. Miscarriages (pregnancies that end before 20 weeks) occur in about a quarter of all recorded pregnancies. Due to the nature of chemical pregnancies, there may even be a large number that go completely unnoticed.   4. Early pregnancy loss means not everyone will realize they were even pregnant. People with irregular periods or inconsistent cycles might not think to test for pregnancy or assume that they are simply experiencing a heavier than normal period. Some women may never test or find out for sure but suspect that they experienced a chemical pregnancy after the fact. For those trying to conceive, a chemical pregnancy can be a source of grief and confusion, as they will be more likely to have tested early enough to see the positive test before the pregnancy stopped developing.    5. Some factors can increase your odds of a chemical pregnancy. The risk of having a chemical pregnancy is similar to the risk of having any other early miscarriage. You might be more likely to notice that a chemical pregnancy has occurred if you are closely monitoring for pregnancy, as in the case of IVF. Common risk factors that increase your chance of pregnancy loss are being over 35 years old, having a uterus that is atypical in shape, inconsistent hormone levels, or certain STIs or other reproductive conditions such as PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).   6. Chemical pregnancy symptoms will vary from person to person. Chemical pregnancies will cause different symptoms depending on the person as well as how many days pregnant you are. There is no way to know ahead of time if an early positive pregnancy test will result in a chemical pregnancy. Some signs that you have experienced a chemical pregnancy are a heavier or late period, more painful cramps, a positive pregnancy test followed by a period that starts a few days later, or a positive test followed by a negative test later on. Whether or not you were expecting a pregnancy, each person will have a unique response to the experience of a pregnancy loss. Whatever you feel about the situation is valid for you. Do not be afraid to reach out for emotional and physical support if you are having trouble processing the experience or dealing with symptoms of pain or exhaustion.   7. There is no sure way to prevent an early pregnancy loss. Unfortunately, pregnancy loss at such an early stage is not something that can be prevented or predicted before it happens. Often, the loss occurs due to some kind of genetic incompatibility within the embryo or an inability of the uterus to support the pregnancy. If you are thinking of getting pregnant, your provider might recommend starting prenatal vitamins and a getting full checkup before attempting to conceive. While it’s a good idea to be taking prenatal vitamins and make sure you are healthy enough to carry a pregnancy, early miscarriages can happen to anyone regardless of these measures.   8. Many people continue on with normal pregnancies after a chemical pregnancy. The good news for those trying to conceive is that the majority of people who experience a chemical pregnancy will go on to have a healthy pregnancy later on. If you have experienced a chemical pregnancy or other early miscarriage for the first time, chances are high that you will be able to become pregnant again and carry the pregnancy to term. If you have experienced repeated early losses or meet certain criteria, you may need to speak with your care provider about fertility options. They will be able to work with you to discover if there is a treatable reason for your early losses, or if fertility treatments might be needed. Final Thoughts Chemical pregnancies can happen to anyone, and should not be taken as a sign that something is wrong with you or your body. Many people experience chemical pregnancies without any noticeable symptoms, while others may be acutely aware of the early loss.   Remember, everyone experiences chemical pregnancies differently, both physically and emotionally. If you have experienced a chemical pregnancy, do not be afraid to reach out to friends and family for support while you process the experience. If you’re worried about future pregnancies, consider talking to your doctor and asking any questions you have until you feel comfortable.

When you’re trying to conceive, any slight new symptom can get your heart pounding. Waiting to see if two pink lines are in store for you this month can be agony, so it’s hard not to read into every twinge, cramp, and an extra trip to the bathroom. But what are the first signs of pregnancy you should really be on the lookout for？Here, we break down the most common early pregnancy symptoms and what you can do to ease any ensuing discomfort.  8. Missed Period If you’re hoping to start the journey to motherhood, your heart probably races every time you visit the bathroom around the time your period is due. So it’s only natural to feel pretty excited if you’re late, even by a day. After all, it’s one of the classic early signs of pregnancy. While the accuracy of a pregnant test increases the longer you wait to take one, many pregnancy tests these days are able to detect hCG levels up to five days before your period is supposed to start.What should you do?If your cycle is regular, missing your period is one of the first early signs of pregnancy, so try taking a pregnancy test (or calling your doctor) to confirm. If your periods are irregular, it’s possible you just skipped a month — or you could be pregnant. A pregnancy test will help tell.  9. Morning Sickness The one-two punch of nausea and vomiting are pregnancy symptoms that strike some women very early on, but for most sufferers, the fun begins around week six. Morning sickness is a bit of a misnomer — while you’re likely to feel more nauseous on an empty stomach (like in the morning before you’ve had breakfast), that queasiness can pop up at any time of day.What should you do?In most cases the queasiness isn’t too overwhelming, so listen to your body and try to stay calm. We suggest eating frequent small meals, nibbling on some crackers before getting out of bed, taking vitamin B6 or B12 or ginger tablets, and drinking tea or ginger ale. But if you’re losing significant weight or can’t keep anything down, you may be suffering from a more serious problem (like hyperemesis gravidarum), so talk to your doctor. Get more morning sickness tips to help minimize any nausea and vomiting.   10. Heightened Sense of Smell If your favorite dish suddenly smells like dead fish, you may be experiencing one of the more bizarre early signs of pregnancy. Often associated with morning sickness and all the lovely things that come with it, having a super sniffer isn’t exactly a blessing. Most of the time, strong smells will seem nauseating to the mom-to-be.What should you do?If it’s really bothering you, try to stay away from those strong-smelling odors. Consider taking the stairs instead of the elevator so you’re not overwhelmed by someone’s perfume. Change lanes if you find yourself stuck behind an exhaust-heavy truck. At home, wash your clothes often (since odors cling to fibers), and switch to unscented cleaners and toiletries in order to curb those unpleasant smells.   11. Food Cravings If you’re expecting, chances are you might experience strong food cravings, especially in the first trimester. Some common yearnings you can chalk up as pregnancy symptoms? Sweet, spicy, salty and sour.What should you do?Moderate indulgence is fine (and totally inevitable), but watch your intake of empty calories, especially if they start to replace important nutrients. There are easy and healthy snacks that will give your body the nutrients it needs without downing three quarts of ice cream.  12. Food Aversions Ah, pregnancy — the only topic where it’s totally normal to discuss cravings and aversions in the same breath. One of the more unusual signs of pregnancy, aversions to or distaste for certain foods during early pregnancy and food cravings may be opposite pregnancy symptoms, but they can be equally as strong. Common aversions include meat, onions and eggs, although a pregnant woman can develop a distaste for just about any food.What should you do?The best way to deal is simply to avoid whatever foods are triggering your aversions. If it’s chicken, try eggs or another source of protein. If it’s milk, get your calcium fix from yogurt or even supplements.  13. Bloating Is gas a sign of pregnancy? It can be. A boost in progesterone and estrogen is one of the common early pregnancy signs, causing many women to swell up early on, and with it often comes pregnancy gas. Abdominal pain or tightening, bloating, belching and passing gas all accompany pregnancy, sometimes for the entire nine months.What should you do?Not a fan of pregnancy symptoms like gas and bloating? Eat small, regular meals and stay away from gas-causing foods like fried foods, sweets, cabbage and beans. Eating and drinking slowly will keep you from swallowing excess air (you’ll later use this technique when feeding baby), and loose clothing will keep you comfy. Yoga classes can also help settle things down. If your pregnancy gas is really intense, talk to your doctor before taking medication.  14. Constipation Is constipation a symptom of pregnancy? It can be. It goes hand-in-hand with bloating and occurs for all the same reasons. If you’re making more trips to the bathroom to pee but far fewer for the other, ahem, function, pregnancy could be the reason.What should you do?Eat as many fiber-rich foods as your queasy tummy will allow, and don’t forget to drink lots of water. If you’re really struggling, you might even consider adding a bit of white grape or pear juice to your diet. In addition, talk to your doctor about switching to a different prenatal vitamin, since there are some that tend to cause less constipation than others.