Original "OFFICIAL: line spotters" thread
Official Line Spotting Thread pt.2
Ladies! The OP is
VERY long, I know, but there is
A LOT of very helpful information on everything from implantation to opks. There are also graphics and helpful sites towards the end. Please at least skim through!!
PLEASE!! If you are going to post a test for us to edit or analyze, post the original.
**DISCLAIMER**
Just because an editor pulls a line does NOT mean that you are in fact pregnant or that the test is definitely positive. We have a lot of great people on this thread that can pull lines from almost anything. Please keep this in mind as we do not want anyone getting their hopes up.
RULES: ANYONE can be a line spotter, we all know it's fun. Join in, we love getting new editors or just new people to talk with in here. However, no one is here to give out false hope to anyone. So if you think you might see a positive or you edit a test, take into consideration that the tester may take your post to heart. Meaning that if you find a line, edit, and post it, please don't tell someone they are pregnant. A simple "Here is my edit. I think it's a positive" will do.
Implantation:
http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/conception-implantation.html
About 6-12 days after conception, the embryo implants itself into the uterine wall. Some women will experience spotting as well as some cramping. The process of traveling and implanting will take somewhere around 7 to 10 days altogether. Thus, it is possible that it can be as many as 7 to 14 days between the time of sexual intercourse and the time that the fertilized egg implants in the uterus.
When should you test:
http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/whenpregnancytest.html
If you are familiar with your cycle, and you are emotionally able to deal with knowing about an early miscarriage, testing at 9 or 10 days past ovulation with
a sensitive ( 20 - 25 mIU ) pregnancy test can yield a positive result in a good percentage of women. But, the most accurate way to test for pregnancy is to wait until after your period is due.
For women not familiar with their cycle dates or fresh off of IUD or Implanon start testing 19 days after unprotected sex.
HCG levels:
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/duringpregnancy/hcglevels.html
In about 85% of normal pregnancies, the hCG level will double every 48 - 72 hours. As you get further along in pregnancy and the hCG level gets higher, the time it takes to double can increase to about every 96 hours. An hCG level of less than 5mIU/ml is considered negative for pregnancy, and anything above 25mIU/ml is considered positive for pregnancy.
More helpful information regarding hcg levels in the first trimester
Preferred tests:
+ Pink Equate
Dollar tree (New Choice)
Mixed Opinions:
First Response Early Result
Answer
Not recommended by most:
ACCU CLEAR
Blue dye tests
Tests from
early-pregnancy-tests.com/
Blue Dye tests:
So we know blue dye tests are not recommended and infamous for evaporation lines. Blue dye tests are the ones that use a blue ink rather than a pink or red ink for their lines. Typically (although not always) blue dye tests will use a +/ - sign method for pregnancy detection. The horizontal control line is visible before you even pee on the stick, with a vertical line indicating pregnancy. Sad to say, these tests FAR too often yield false positives. And we are NOT talking 12 hours later, we are talking within the 3 minute limit, sure as can be, no doubt in my mind positives. The more concentrated your urine, the darker the evap. will be. Heartbreaking results for every woman trying their best to conceive.
When a blue dye is in fact positive, it tends to be dark and obvious
OR one side of the test line tends to be thicker.
Brands offering "blue dye" tests are including but not limited to:
Clearblue Easy
Fact Plus
EPT
Inverness (or Target)
Equate (or Walmart)
One Step (Walgreens)
Positive Example of a Blue dye test:
Example of a false positive/evaporation line on a blue dye test:
Digital Tests:
When taking a digital test remember that most have a higher sensitivity requirement. Meaning that most do
not pick up hCG until it is around 50miU/mL. So if you test on a lined test and get a positive, than test with a digital and it reads "not pregnant" do not count yourself out. You may not have had enough hCG in your urine yet.
After taking a digital test, do NOT take apart the test to see if there are two lines. There will
always be 2 lines on the inside of a digital.
http://www.peeonastick.com/hpt/digitalsecret.html
**Please note: Chart above is an estimate of normal sensitivities. Of course tests may vary!**
"False Positives":
One common corrupting agent to the pregnancy test is exposure to soaps or detergents. These can cause a false positive result. Thus urine collection should be done carefully to avoid such exposure.
A false positive most often is a result of a chemical pregnancy. This is why false positives are considered rare.
Evaporations:
Sometimes what may appear to be a positive test may be an evaporation. For this reason we ask to not take pictures after the recommended time frame. If you choose to do so, please be advised the lines you see or that we pull may be "evaps."
Examples of evaps:
I'm sure you get the point.
Chemical Pregnancy:
If you get an early positive result and then get your period soon after, you may have had what's sometimes called a "chemical pregnancy" — meaning that a fertilized egg implanted in your uterus and developed just enough to start producing hCG but then stopped developing for some reason. This happens with about 30 percent of fertilized eggs because they're abnormal or otherwise incapable of developing into an embryo.After a chemical pregnancy, you'll go on to get your period, which may be a little heavier and a few days later than usual. Most chemical pregnancies are due to chromosomal problems in the developing fetus.
Ovulation Predictor Kits/Tests
OPK's:
OPK's measure LH, which is a hormone that is
always present in the female body in some quantity, for this reason most women will always have 2 lines on an OPK. The LH hormone
surges 12-48 hours before ovulation. In women of normal fertility, a "surge" (indicating ovulation is near) means
at least 20 mIU/mL of LH is present.
A positive result (indicating an LH Surge) is indicated by a test line that is of equal or greater intensity (equal or darker) than the control line. Generally, ovulation will take place 12-48 hours after the LH surge is first detected, though t36 hours is considered to be the average length of time following the LH surge.
It is NOT recommended to use FMU with OPK's. It is best to test twice daily around noon and 7pm.
How to Read an OPK:
Examples of Positive OPKs:
OPK's as HPT's: (
http://www.peeonastick.com/opkhpt.html)
An OPK will turn positive when it detects either ovulation or pregnancy hormone, therefore
may be used to detect pregnancy, though it is
not recommended. The test line must be
as dark as, or darker than, the control line to be a positive result. OPK's are not as sensitive as a lot of HPT's are. This means that, if pregnant, you are likely to get a positive HPT earlier than you would get a positive OPK. For this reason it is
not recommended that OPK's be used
in place of a HPT.
Example of an OPK positive for pregnancy:
Top test is a HPT. Bottom test is an OPK.
Now post your tests please and we'll find the line as long as it's there!!
Tips for taking a good picture for an edit:
☻Try to hold as steady as possible to avoid blur.
☻Lay the test on a flat surface.
☻Natural light is best (by a window, on your deck, etc).
☻Don't hold the test up to a light or with light behind it. More often than not you'll see a 2nd line that is not a positive.
☻Turn off your flash or hold the camera far enough above the test so the flash does not interfere.
☻With the above suggestion, if you are keeping the flash on, hold the camera high above the test, zoom in and take the pic.
☻Don't take the test apart before the specified time.
☻
If you do take the test apart, post a picture of the test together
AND the test apart.
☻Try your best to get one that is not blurry, many pics we see are so blurry it is hard to determine if there is a 2nd line or we're seeing lines with in the blur. Also it causes headaches.
☻If you can remember, please post how many DPO you are or when AF is due with your pictures.
♦ If you do post a test that is blurry, most of the OLSers will not edit the test.
♦ If you post a test and no one answers you either no one is on, we're busy at the moment, or unfortunately we don't see anything. Please don't get your panties in a twist.
Best advice: Use the macro setting on your camera if it has one.It's for taking pictures from close range and will give the best results.
What the button may look like on your camera:
LURKERS: Please feel free to post...even if it's randomly or you just want to chat
10-2-09:
LINE SPOTTERS:
Remember not to dish out false hope.
If you sharpen the death out of a picture, you're going to create lines. Sharpen to an extent if you need to, but don't over-do it.
If you put an arrow pointing to a line, make sure you actually see a line.
If you're
not sure you see a line, just post the edit. Don't put an arrow. You don't want to "create lines".
Abbreviations:
AF - Aunt Flo (Menstruation)
AFNW - Aunt Flo Not Wanted
BBT - Basal Body Temperature
BD - Baby Dancing (sex during fertile time)
Beta - (see "HCG")
BCP - Birth Control Pills
BF (BFing) - Breastfeeding
BFN - Big Fat Negative
BFP - Big Fat Positive
CB - Cycle Buddy
CD - Cycle Day
CF - Cervical Fluid
CM - Cervical Mucus
CP - Cervical Position
DD (or EDD) - Due Date (or Estimated Due Date)
D&C - Dilation & Curettage
DPO - Days Post-ovulation
EPT - Early Pregnancy Test
EWCM - Egg White Cervical Mucus (the most fertile CM)
FMU -First Morning Urine (highest in certain hormone levels and best to use for taking an HPT)
FRE - First Response Early (commonly used brand of HPT)
HCG (a.k.a. beta-HCG and beta) -Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (levels tested to confirm pregnancy and track early pregnancy progress and growth)
HPT - Home Pregnancy Test (tests HCG levels)
IC- Internet Cheapies (pregnancy strips ordered off the internet)
IF - Infertility
LMP - Last Menstrual Period (first day of LMP used as first day of pregnancy)
LP - Luteal Phase (time between ovulation and AF)a.k.a.
2WW - 2 week wait
MC (or M/C) - Miscarriage
O - Ovulate/ or ovulation
OB/GYN - Obstetrician/Gynecologist
OPK - Ovulation Predictor Kit (tests LH levels)
POAS - Pee on a stick
PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
TTC - Trying To Conceive
US (or U/S) - Ultrasound
HELPFUL WEBSITES:
http://www.peeonastick.com/ Great for HPT sensitivities, recommendations and general information on pregnancy tests and OPKs.
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/index.htm Resourceful information such as HCG levels and the frequency of levels increasing, ovulation, early pregnancy symptoms and possible causes for false symptoms, etc.
http://www.whenmybaby.com/pregnancy-test-calculator.php (courtesy of:
*~Trina~ *) Cycle calculations, test recommendations, and fertility calendars.
http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/preconception/planner/ Helpful with ovulation and planning out TTC cycles.
http://www.babyhopes.com/ Good resource for TTC, general pregnancy information, and TTC supplies.
http://www.twoweekwait.com/web/
http://www.babyandbump.com/trying-to-conceive/29109-pee-stick.html (Courtesy of
BrittG.R.I.T.S) Instructions on how to pee on a stick.
http://www.ovulation-calendar.com/hlp-d01-ovulation-basics.html Ovulation Basics.
http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/opk.html(Courtesy of
Tobys Mommy [Lisa]) OPK information
http://www.justmommies.com/getting-pregnant/understanding-your-cycle/can-you-ovulate-twice-in-one-cycle Information on Ovulating 2x
http://www.pregnology.com/ovulating.php (Courtesy of
Slytherins Heiress) Will give you a personalized break down of your cycle, ovulation, luteal phase, implantation, and when to test.
Graphics (feel free to snag and use):
POAS addicts:
TTC:
TTC Stages:
Baby Related Dusts:
TNTC: (Trying not to conceive)
Dear Aunt Flo:
Results:
And just for laughs, what an POAS addicts stash
may look like:
More graphics:
http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about1014086-13.html
**If anyone has any suggestions, graphics, links, etc for the OP please let me know! I would be happy to incorporate what you think may be beneficial. **
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