So you think you might be pregnant. Whether you’re thinking about getting pregnant or you’re worried you might be pregnant, it’s not always easy to simply run to the store to buy a pregnancy test.
The First Sign of Pregnancy
Before you jump to conclusions, ask yourself if you have the most common first sign of pregnancy. Have you missed your period or is it late? If you are more than a couple of days late, it’s time to take the next step.
You can start by using items you probably have at home to make your own pregnancy tests. These tests are simple, super cheap, safe, and more often than not, accurate.
Many of these tests were discovered long before women had access to quick pregnancy or medical tests. And the other benefit of these tests is that you can perform them in the comfort of your own home. No need to run to the store and hide a pregnancy test as you wait in line to pay or hand a cup of urine over to your doctor at the clinic.
So for the sake of your privacy and your wallet, here is a full list of all the homemade pregnancy tests you can try.
Related Post: Pregnancy Symptoms: Early Signs That You Might Be Pregnant
Common Guidelines to Follow
It is best to follow these general guidelines with all of the tests:
- your results will be most accurate if you use fresh, first morning urine. It will contain the largest amount of the hormone (hCG) that will interact with the chemicals in the various tests. You will get the most accurate results if you use first morning urine.
- do not save morning urine. Test as soon as you have collected your urine so that it is fresh.
- use clean and clear plastic containers. Do not use metal containers because the metal may interact with the chemicals. If in doubt, you can sterilize your containers with boiling water after washing them thoroughly with soap and warm water.
- use disposable containers for the tests that use harsh chemicals such as bleach, Drain-O, and Pine Sol.
- take proper care when using harsh chemicals. Wear protective rubber gloves and cover your mouth and nose with a mask or cloth. Mix chemicals in an area with plenty of fresh air.
Best Homemade/DIY Pregnancy Tests That Work
1. The Toothpaste Test
What you need:
- plain white toothpaste,
- first morning urine,
- a clean stir-stick,
- two clean containers.
Method: Begin by putting one teaspoon of white toothpaste in a clean container. Collect your urine in a separate container. Add two or three drops of urine to the toothpaste and mix together.
Positive result: If you’re pregnant, the toothpaste mixture will start bubbling and change to a bluish colour. The colour change is more indicative of pregnancy than the bubbling.
2. The Vinegar Test
What you need:
- one tablespoon white vinegar,
- first morning urine,
- two clean containers.
Method: Put one tablespoon of vinegar in a clean container. Collect your urine in a separate clean container. Add three or four drops of urine to the vinegar and watch what happens.
Positive result: the bubbles mean nothing. What you’re looking for is a colour change. Any colour change indicates a positive pregnancy result.
3. The Soap Test
What you need:
- a bar of soap,
- first morning urine,
- two clean containers.
Method: Place a bar of soap in a clean container. Collect your urine in a separate clean container. Drop one or two drops of urine onto the bar of soap.
Positive result: If the soap bubbles and foam appears, you are pregnant.
4. The Wine Test
What you need:
- wine,
- first morning urine,
- two clean, clear containers.
Method: Pour 1/2 cup of wine into a clean container. Collect your urine in a separate container. Pour the urine into the wine and set the mixture aside for 10 minutes.
Positive Result: any colour change indicates a positive pregnancy result. If the colour remains unchanged, you are likely not pregnant.
5. The Latch Test – One of the Oldest Pregnancy Tests!
What you need:
- a metal latch,
- two clean containers,
- first-morning urine.
Method: place the latch in a clean container. Collect your urine in a separate container. Pour the urine into the container with the latch and let it soak at least 3 hours. Overnight is best.
Positive Result: Remove the latch and look at the bottom of the container. If you can see the outline of the latch on the container, you are most likely pregnant!
6. The Bleach Test
What you need:
- bleach,
- a well-ventilated room,
- first-morning urine,
- rubber gloves and a face mask,
- two clean, disposable containers.
Method: Put on the rubber gloves and cover your nose and mouth with a mask or scarf. Pour a small amount (1/4 to 1/2 cup) of bleach into a clean container. Collect your urine in a separate clean container. In a well-ventilated room, add a few drops of urine to the bleach.
Observe what happens and then safely and quickly get rid of the bleach mixture.
Positive Result: if the mixture foams, bubbles, and hisses, you are pregnant.
7. The Dandelion Test
What you need:
- a handful of fresh-picked dandelions leaves,
- first morning urine,
- a clean container to collect urine,
- a plastic sheet to lay the urine-soaked leaves on,
- optional: rubber gloves.
Method: after picking the dandelion leaves, set them aside, away from direct sunlight. Collect your first morning urine in a clean container and submerge your dandelion leaves completely for one minute. Remove the leaves and lay flat on a plastic sheet. Check the leaves every ten minutes until they are dry.
Positive result: the dandelion leaves will begin to develop red bumps if you are pregnant. If you are not pregnant, the leaves will remain unchanged.
8. The Sugar Test
What you need:
- 3 tablespoons of white sugar,
- first-morning urine,
- two clean containers.
Method: Place three tablespoons of sugar in a clean container. Collect your urine in a separate clean container. Add the urine to the sugar.
Positive Result: if the sugar remains in lumps in the bowl, you are pregnant. However, if the sugar dissolves easily, you are not pregnant.
9. The Vinegar and Tuna Juice Test
What you need:
- 1/2 cup of white vinegar,
- one can of tuna,
- first-morning urine,
- two clean containers.
Method: Drain the tuna and save the juice. Mix 1/2 cup vinegar with 1/2 cup tuna juice and set aside overnight. Do not refrigerate.
In the morning, collect your urine in a separate clean container. Add an equal amount of urine to the vinegar/tuna juice mixture.
Positive result: if the urine turns the vinegar/tuna juice a dark green colour within 7 minutes, you are pregnant! If the mixture is yellow, you are probably not pregnant.
10. The Tylenol and Hydrogen Peroxide Test
What you need:
- 2 uncoated, plain white Tylenol tablets,
- hydrogen peroxide,
- first morning urine,
- a crushing utensil (the back of a spoon works well),
- 2 clean containers.
Method: crush 2 Tylenol tablets in a clean container. Add 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide to the crushed Tylenol. Mix thoroughly and set aside.
Collect your first morning urine in a separate clean container. Add the Tylenol/hydrogen peroxide to the urine and watch for a colour change.
Positive result: if the mixture turns blue, you are pregnant. If the mixture’s colour remains the same, you are likely not pregnant.
11. The Pine Sol Test
What you need:
- Pine Sol,
- first morning urine,
- rubber gloves and a face mask,
- two clean, disposable containers.
Method: Put on rubber gloves and face mask. Pour a small amount of Pine Sol in a disposable container. Collect your first morning urine in a separate container. Pour an equal amount of urine into the Pine Sol and observe.
Positive Result: if you see a colour change, you’re pregnant! No colour change indicates that you likely not pregnant.
Immediately, dispose of the Pine Sol and urine mixture with care.
12. The Drain-O Test
What you need:
- Drain-O,
- first morning urine,
- rubber gloves and a face mask,
- two clean, disposable containers,
- a well-ventilated room.
Method: Put on rubber gloves and face mask, then pour approximately 1/4 cup Drain-O into a plastic container. Collect your urine in a separate clean container. In a well-ventilated area, slowly pour the urine carefully into the Drain-O.
Positive Result: if the mixture turns a bluish-green colour, you are pregnant. If the Drain-O colour remains the same, you are probably not pregnant.
Carefully dispose of the Drain-O urine mixture immediately.
13. The Simple Urine in a Jar Test
What you need:
- a clean, clear jar,
- first morning urine,
- This test takes 24 hours.
Method: Collect your first morning urine in a clean jar. Set the jar aside in a safe place where it will not be disturbed. Leave it for 24 hours.
After 24 hours, take a close look inside the jar without picking it up.
Positive Result: If there is a thin white layer on top of the urine in the jar, you are pregnant. If the urine looks normal, it is likely that you are not pregnant.
14. The Seed Test
What you need:
- wheat seeds,
- barley seeds,
- first-morning urine,
- 2 clean containers,
- time! This test takes a few days.
Method: combine 1/2 cup of wheat seeds with 1/2 cup of barley seeds in a clean container. Collect your urine in a separate clean container. Pour your urine collection into the seeds and set the mixture aside for a few days.
Positive Result: if the seeds begin to sprout in a few days, you are pregnant!
15. The Baking Soda Test – Gender Predictor!
This test been used for many years to predict the gender of pregnant women’s babies.
What you need:
- 1-2 tablespoons baking soda,
- first-morning urine,
- two clean containers.
Method: put the baking soda into a clean container. Collect your urine in a separate clean container. Add the urine to the baking soda.
Boy Result: if the baking soda bubbles like soda, you are pregnant with a boy.
Girl Result: if the mixture does not fizzle and bubble, you are pregnant with a girl.
16. The Red Cabbage Pregnancy Test – Gender Predictor!
What you need:
- one head of cabbage,
- water,
- oven-safe pot,
- 2 clean glass jars, or 1 jar and 1 plastic container,
- first morning urine.
Method: take the cabbage and cut it in half. Place the cabbage in a pot of water. Boil for 10 minutes. Cool the water for a few minutes and pour into one of the jars. Don’t fill the jar.
Collect your urine in a separate clean container. Pour an equal amount of urine into the cooled cabbage water and observe.
Girl Result: If the colour of the water stays the same, you will have a girl!
Boy Result: If the water changes to a reddish shade, you will be having a boy!
17. The Mustard Powder Test – Not a Urine Test!
What you need:
- mustard powder,
- a warm bath.
Method: if your period is late and so far, all tests have come up negative, give this test a try. If you do not have mustard powder, it is available for a small cost at any grocery store, usually with the spices.
Place 1/2 to 3/4 cup of mustard powder in your bathtub and fill the tub with comfortably warm water. Get in and soak for at least 20 minutes. Ideally, soak up to 45 minutes in the mustard bath.
Positive Result: you will not get your period within the next three days. If you are not pregnant, your period should start within the next two or three days.
False Positive, False Negatives Happen!
It is common to get a false negative pregnancy test. A false negative means you could still be pregnant even if the test tells you’re not. This is often the case in the very early stages of pregnancy, even with store-bought pregnancy tests.
You can wait and retest the next morning, using whatever supplies you have on hand at home. In fact, it is encouraged that you try several of these tests more than once!
No matter what the results of the tests say, if you are convinced you are pregnant, it is best for you to make an appointment with your doctor. He or she can do a blood test which is the most accurate pregnancy test available to set your mind at ease.
Links/Resources:
- https://healthnbodytips.com/homemade-pregnancy-tests.html/
- http://www.1800remedies.com/homemade-pregnancy-test/
- http://www.babyprepping.com/pregnancy-planning/diy-toothpaste-pregnancy-test-get-an-answer-now/
- https://wealthformyhealth.com/homemade-pregnancy-test/
- http://mom-health.com/homemade-diy-pregnancy-test/
- http://www.boldsky.com/pregnancy-parenting/basics/2015/diy-homemade-pregnancy-tests/toothpaste-pf103948-093293.html
- healthandcaretips.com
