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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

How did you find out you were pregnant ?

49 replies

sazlocks · 28/10/2009 19:33

I am just doing this thing in work at the mo and we have been talking about where women buy pregnancy tests. We were thinking of where would be the best place to put information about accessing midwives as soon as women find out they are pregnant. I am 28 weeks pregnant and got some off e bay and a couple from Boots. Some colleagues did a mini survey and found that out of 50 pregnant women, 47 of them bought their tests from a supermarket. I am astounded by this and wanted to get a general idea of how representative this is. I am on the Jan 2010 ante natal club so will be asking there as well but if you bought a pregnancy test to find out if you were pregnant, where did you get it from ?
Thanks

OP posts:

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Jayfer · 29/10/2009 13:41

I found out from the GP! She was testing me for hormonal problems - no problems, just pregnant!

Then I did a home test as I didn't believe her. I bought one from tesco and one from boots.

newpup · 29/10/2009 14:31

DD1 bought lots of tests from the supermarket could not believe I was pregnant.

DD2 did a test at home and was told by the doctors receptionist that they must do their own too. I was negative - I asked them to do another as I had a positive test at home and was very sick. They refused, the receptionist told me they were always accurate and to keep trying! . I went home and did another test which was positive! Had to return after the weekend with my own test to prove it!

Midwives will not see you here until you are 12 weeks!

Horton · 29/10/2009 14:36

Midwives don't see you here until after 12 weeks, either. And I don't quite know why you'd want to see them earlier tbh.

I got my tests from Sainsburys. I'm a bit astounded that the OP is astounded by women getting tests from a supermarket. Why wouldn't you? I mean, it's convenient as most people visit one at least weekly (unlike chemists) and they usually have cheapish own brand ones.

aoifesmama · 29/10/2009 14:43

I was meeting my DSis and DNiece in Tesco to buy DN a paddling pool last August to take back to mine and play with. I was waiting for them and suddenly realised I'd been feeling sick because of the strong smells of everything. I had had 3 MCs so knew the feelings. Went and bought a test then and there and did it in the toilet of Tescos . Called DH as was so excited. Put the test (closed and in box) into bag, met DSis and DN and went home with them. When getting DN (who was nearly two) ready to swim she opened my bag and handed DSis the test. Needless to say our thoughts of keeping absolutely silent until scans went out the window ! I saw GP pretty much straight away. Midwives here don't normally see you until booking in at 12 weeks, but due to MCs and 2 bleeds at 7 weeks and 9 weeks, I was monitored from pretty early on.

Sorry, just realised I should have just written Tescos!!!

Chynah · 29/10/2009 14:55

trying to promote access to midwives is all very well but you can't actually see one here til you're over 10 weeks!

FluffyCoo · 29/10/2009 15:40

I too purchased from Tesco (24h - it was VERY late in the evening by the time DH convinced me I should test and that was the only place I could think of!)

Definitely can't beat late night supermarkets for a bit of anonymity - although I did get a very disapproving look from the cashier when I rocked up with 2x clearblue digital and...erm... a bottle of wine!

Original poster

sazlocks · 29/10/2009 19:24

Thanks all - I think its fairly clear from this feedback that supermarkets are a popular place to buy tests. Back to the drawing board for us as its easy to put information in bags with tests bought in chemists but no idea how to get information out with tests bought in supermarkets.............

OP posts:

iateallthecreameggsyummy · 30/10/2009 06:38

Tests in chemists are so expensive though and very small range on offer.

At least with tescos there is variety

Congrats to all those BFP's and lovng that people have tested in Tesco toilets just like me!

Hollyoaks · 30/10/2009 07:44

I too have tested in a supermarket toilet, but it was Asda! It was a clearblue digital one though as I didn't believe the two Asda own-brand ones that I had used at home previously.

This time round I did believe the Asda own-brand but had to check with Tesco's own-brand as line was so faint. I gave that one to my dsis who was downstairs to check the result, she nearly fainted when she saw it as no-one knew we were ttc. Still don't believe either of those until we see the 12 week scan in a fortnight.

Definitely a supermarket shopper here, and have done a few midnight dashes to Tesco 24hrs in the past, all false alarms though fortunately.

Hollyoaks · 30/10/2009 10:19

Don't want to kill the thread

FlightofFancy · 30/10/2009 13:18

I bought mine in Tescos - just because it happened to be close to the office I was working in - and I was impatient! (then tested in the 'nice' ladies loos in the office - in Slough. What a romantic tale to tell little one in years to come...)

Agree that it's probably the ease of picking up with the weekly shopping - and to a certain extent the anonymity. While if you're big city-based, a chemist is just as impersonal, some people wouldn't want to buy a test from someone they might know in the local community.

Have you considered seeing if the supermarkets would consider a shelf-edge leaflet holder next to where they stock the tests (presuming you're not offering anything that conflicts with stuff they offer/sell). That means people could take a leaflet if they felt appropriate - a risk of putting leaflet in to a bag with a test is it could feel a bit intrusive if someone isn't buying the test for happy reasons and it might make people think the cashier is judging them.

As a first-timer, I had no idea that you didn't see the midwife until 10 weeks (ish), so actually it would have been really useful to know that from a leaflet. We're all lucky that we're internet literate so can look up information on diet, worries, smoking etc online - but not everyone is.

Hope that helps...
[takes work hat off]

Original poster

sazlocks · 30/10/2009 19:27

That does help flightoffancy - I think we are going to have to approach the local supermarkets and see what the chances are of getting some info in front of people.
I think that many first timers (inc me) are unsure about when and how to contact a midwife and that's why so many people end up at their GP practice as a starting point. I looked at the internet to find out what to do when I realised I was pregnant so we might be better using some of the tiny money pot we have on some internet based info.
As its Fri eve I will also remove my work hat too !

OP posts:

GuernseyFrench · 30/10/2009 19:33

I bought a First response from Boots and as the result was not conclusive (very faint line) I bought a digital Clearblue again from Boots.

PavlovtheWitchesCat · 30/10/2009 19:35

Morrisons the first time.
Boots the second time.

GuernseyFrench · 30/10/2009 19:36

Sorry I press the enter button too quickly.
I then went to see my GP who did the referal to the midwife and obstetrician. My first appointment with the mw was at 10w.

messalina · 30/10/2009 19:42

Boots at the airport. On my own. Never expected it to be positive. Was checking all was ok before Christmas drinking season kicked in. Had the shock of my life when two blue lines appeared. Then bought about six more just to check - more expensive ones.

wheredidiputit · 30/10/2009 21:24

1st time mum told I was pg, then bought a cheap Asda test to prove her wrong (was 10wks)

2nd time mum told me I was pg again I bought a Asda test to prove her wrong (was 9wks).

3rd time again mum told me i was pg again bought ASDA test to prove her wrong (again 9/10wks).

As you cane tell i am crap at realising when i'm pg and my mother is a whitch .

mollybob · 30/10/2009 22:14

ds - sainsburys

dd - was working in a hospital and nicked one

mc early this year - tesco

this one - tesco but v faint so bought another in boots when stocking up on folic acid and waited two days before testing again - then realised it was a pack of two so tested again the next day just for the fun of seeing 2 lines again

bigsquirtybloodylips · 30/10/2009 22:16

first - first response from Superdrug i think
second - clearblue digital - bought it cheap off ebay

Mama2b5 · 30/10/2009 22:35

local chemist 2pack- digital clear blue. thought it was stress after losing my DM and was at work! dont test in my office toilet away from DH thought it would be negative then just as it was ready shoved it in bag and ran home for us to be totally gobsmackedwhen it read 5 weeks
tried to keep it but batteries run low so its gone but still very pregnant!

northender · 30/10/2009 22:40

Bought them can't remember where, when I was moving house I came across one and realised I was a few days over so thought I'd try it rather than just throw it out (2 pm Sunday after a drunken leaving party the evening before). Lo and behold 'twas positive giving dh and I a rather hungover shock (albeit a pleasant one!)

BexieID · 31/10/2009 06:23

With Tom I got one in Boots and DC2 I got one in Superdrug. Didn't even bother with a bag for that one, lol. With Tom, I had to hide it from my friend who I was with. Both pregnancies, I made a Dr appt who then said to make midwife appt.

I work in Tesco and a young woman was buying one, so I tried bunging it straight in a bag for her, but it wouldn't come up with a price, so had to go and find out. At least I had the good sense not to shout out for someone else to look.

Igglybuff · 31/10/2009 08:33

I bought mine from superdrugs the day after new years day so got a knowing look from the cashier. We were just starting ttc and I thought I'd get one after enjoying my last glass of champagne/wine/gin.

Like most others, went to the gp after getting the bfp. For some reason I found it ridiculously difficult to say to the doc "I'm pregnant"!!! (when I got the blue line I just handed the wee soaked stick to my DH who was on the sofa watching tv. We then had a cuddle, grinning like loons).

sweetkitty · 31/10/2009 08:40

DD1 - bought a test in Boots and did it in the toilet at work, did about 10 in all just to be sure

DD2 - Boots CBD

DB3 - Boots CBD

DD3 - loads of ebay cheapies then a CBD on Halloween 2 years ago to confirm

DB5 - ebay cheapies and CBD oh and some Boots and Tesco ones too, about 20 in total

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