$30 Pregnancy test

PrincessPerky · #1 (**permalink**) 12-29-2004, 07:19 AM

No this isn't a rant about how much Dr,s charge for a simple test. That is the estimated cost of me figuring out I was pregnant. For those of you lucky enough to not need them they average between $3 and $10.

So why do I think it costs $30? Because you never take just one! At least no one I know does. You realize something isn't right, you get a hint that the body is changing, so you wonder, you see a $3 test, you figure it sure beats having to act pregnat for a week or two and lose out on some fun stuff, or worse not act pregnant and do some serious harm to a poor fetus.

Anyway, you buy one, you use it you find not pregnant. A week later you can be uncomfortable for a week and not worry about the question for another month, or you take another test, if you are really unlucky you wait another week and take another one! I roughly added up the number of tests I have purchased since marrying my husband, and for 3 actual pregnancys I have spent almost $100! (in case you're keeping track I do only have 2 kids, I lost the first one, it was early on).

It strikes me that many modern 'conveniences' are like that, sure it is nice, but would it have killed me to wait another week half a dozen times? But other than not knowing I can't think of a frugal way to save here. I have heard a rabbit wll tell you, but I think the rabbit costs more than $3.

amomof4 · #2 (**permalink**) 12-29-2004, 11:38 AM

I remember when I was trying to get pregnant. Sometimes I was so anxious I bought the test and took it and the night I started my cycle. It took me 9 months to get pregnant! I can only imagine what the final cost of all those I took. It was 15 years ago, and I think the test were more expensive at that time.

The old say, Patience is a Virtue, is so true. It can also be said that Patience is Frugal too!

PrincessPerky · #3 (**permalink**) 12-29-2004, 05:13 PM

heh, we wern't even trying, I just like to know these things, don't want to drink while pregnant, not that I tend to drink that much, and good thing is I can't afford the wine anyway!

miclason · #4 (**permalink**) 01-04-2005, 03:04 PM

I go directly to the lab and do a blood test (which can tell you within 3 days, as opposed to the urine test, which will tell at around day 8 or so...) This is what I did on the two occasions when I have been late with my period...one was negative, the other one turned out positive...

PrincessPerky · #5 (**permalink**) 01-04-2005, 05:59 PM

What lab is cheaper than a over the counter test?

miclason · #6 (**permalink**) 01-05-2005, 03:04 PM

not cheaper, but more reliable!!! I'm regular as a clock, so if I am late, something's definetely not normal!!

PrincessPerky · #7 (**permalink**) 01-06-2005, 10:58 AM

Makes sense, I am not regular or well I wouldn't know since I have been pregnant or nursing for 3 years with only 3 months of break, well this would be my 4th month, if I'm not.

shelbylovesmelby · #8 (**permalink**) 11-07-2006, 01:17 PM

I don't buy the fancy tests, I just get the ones from Dollar Tree. There are a $1 & reliable so I don't feel too guilty about wasting them. though FYI you do need your own disposable cup for this one.

I hear Princess about not wanting to drink & be pg. I had that same feeling w/ pg#1 as I was comming down w/ a super bad cold and didn't want to take any cold meds just in case as we were trying @ the time. Sure enough I had two lines & I had been so busy w/ the holidays @ the time I didn't even realize I was late

MonkeyMama · #9 (**permalink**) 11-08-2006, 12:24 AM

You apparently never heard of BAbyWishes.com. They were probably $1/each for like 5 or 10, the more you buy, less per test.

Of course I spent A LOT on tests because I had a lot of false pregnancies. I don't know how many times I had to go out and get an EPT because of mixed results. That was with my first child, I believe now that I miscarried every month at about 4 weeks until I got pregnant with my son. I think dh took to hiding the tests - I Was driving him insane. Test 10 dpo, why not 11 dpo, 12, 13, 14. FAINT Positive. Then false. Go out to get the EPT because it is more accurate - blahblah. Start over next month.

My second pregnancy I did not even test until I Was a week late. I didn't even order the babywishes test until I was late, because if I Was going to miscarry at 4 weeks again I didn't want to know. I knew I could not be trusted with a bag full of pregnancy tests. So I ordered them, a week later they still hadn't arrived, dh ran out and bought a $10 test or something when I couldn't take it anymore. LOL. Tests arrived in the mail the next day. For whatever reason I was totally in denial I was pregnant that time.

Gosh if I knew about Dollar Tree!!!

$ spent on pregnancy tests - 6 cycles trying - 2 viable pregnancies - probably $100... Plus had to pay $10 to the lab both times to confirm for my doctor. Make it $120.

You are right though. There is no way I would have tested that much at $10/test. The cheapies get you!!!

lgslgs · #10 (**permalink**) 11-08-2006, 07:12 AM

In the long run, the purchase cost of the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Charge-.../dp/0060937645 may save you the cost of a lot of pregnancy tests.

It is possibly the best book on women's reproductive health. It should let you track exactly what is going on when with your cycle - useful for birth control, fertility planning, or for choosing the best days to use a pregnancy test. Read some of the reviews on Amazon and you'll see what I mean.

If you still aren't sure about the book after looking at it on Amazon, at least get it from the library, even if you need to get it through inter-library loan. Seriously, it IS that good, and it will give you a level of understanding about the details of every part of your cycle well beyond the info you find in any other source. Being able to truly recognize which day you actually ovulated (and it can vary from month to month) will save you a fortune on repeated pregnancy checks.

The cost of this book was some of the best money I've ever spent - which is serious praise coming from this tightwad!

Lynda

Mabuisakura · #11 (**permalink**) 12-10-2006, 04:52 PM

Spent about 30 the only 6 months we were trying to get knock up. But now I know the dollar store sells them so here I come. Heck it is time to test anyway. I am BF right now but I keep forgetting to take my pill. I will let you know how much I spend!

34saving · #12 (**permalink**) 12-10-2006, 05:06 PM

A little OT -- Mabuisakura -- what pill are you on that doesn't interfere with breastfeeding? With dd1 it was 10 months before I regained fertility, but I don't think it will be that long with this one since I'm pumping instead of breastfeeding. (Chloe has a cleft palate, so she can't produce enough suction to accomplish breastfeeding in the traditional sense.) Anyway, I should probably be taking something, but I'm scared I'll lose the milk supply I worked so hard to establish . . .

TBH · #13 (**permalink**) 12-10-2006, 05:10 PM

Yeah, I just took one of those $10 ones a few weeks ago and found out afterward about the dollar store variety. It was negative, thankfully.

I'm weighing the cost of condoms over the long run vs. a vastectomy. We can buy condoms in bulk through our food co-op, which makes them really cheap, but still, who wants to use condoms forever?

Not willing to take the pill, altho I know that would be an alternative.

34saving · #14 (**permalink**) 12-10-2006, 05:17 PM

Claire -- check your insurance. Mine covers surgery of that nature . . .maybe yours does too? (I think they figure it's cheaper than paying for childbirth.)

asmom · #15 (**permalink**) 12-10-2006, 07:27 PM

LOL, it's funny you should say that. I had a pregnancy in between my two which I later miscarried. But when I first got pregnant with that one, I was so stunned that I kept buying and taking tests because I just couldn't believe it. I did like 6 of them!

Now that hubby has had his vasectomy, I never have to worry about that again.

PrincessPerky · #16 (**permalink**) 12-11-2006, 05:33 AM

34saving, They have a new pill now that is supposedly safe for BFing...I think reduced milk is a risk, but not like the old version, and the effectivness is less than the old..I think

Anyway when I had my last two they offered it, I passed, and with your pumping which is never as good as natural child, sorry, no offense, and soooo glad you are able to help your cleft palet girl get what she needs..but..the machine will never equal a strong healthy child suck for 'demanding' milk..though some have had success with pumping and the new pill, many have had their milk dry up. But then again many can't pump enough for a baby period..so it might just be kinda geneti..or something.

I never could pump so I am in awe of anyone managing to pump for the childs whole intake!

Call your OB or midwife if you want to know more about it, or google 'low dose breastfeeding pill' or 'low estrogen pill'

Though some of the googling leads to 'I took it and milk failed' some also leads to 'I took it and nothing bad happened'..like I said, milk supply ease is kinda genetic...

34saving · #17 (**permalink**) 12-12-2006, 06:14 AM

My doctor mentioned those too. As you know, the only problem is that once you know you're one of the few people whose milk supply is affected it's probably too late to get it back

. (Esp., as you mentioned, with the challenges of pumping versus the real thing.) I guess I'll probably be in the "buying lots of pregnancy tests" camp. At least I'm still taking my vitamins and I don't drink . . .

PrincessPerky · #18 (**permalink**) 12-12-2006, 06:31 AM

Did you know that getting pregnant can reduce the supply as well? once you get pregnant genetically you are kinda focusing on the new one...

dunno how you feel about alternate forms though...I hate em all myself...

34saving · #19 (**permalink**) 12-12-2006, 08:40 AM

Let's just say we're very well educated on the subject and still are looking at a fair number of pregnancy tests

In reality I think it's just a little harder since we know Chloe will be having a fairly difficult surgery about 10 months from now. The idea of Mommy having a C-section, Chloe having fairly major surgery, and a having newborn all at once . . .all we would need is Daddy's back to flare up and our (then) 4 year old would have to take over.

pearlieq · #20 (**permalink**) 12-12-2006, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by claire

I'm weighing the cost of condoms over the long run vs. a vastectomy. We can buy condoms in bulk through our food co-op, which makes them really cheap, but still, who wants to use condoms forever?

From a money perspective, the vasectomy is definitely the winner! The operation is simple and relatively cheap. And it's even cheaper if insurance covers some of it.

Figuring you're an average married couple and would have a need for condoms twice a week or so, that's about $30 a year assuming you get a pretty good bulk price of $.25 each. If you've got about 30 years to go until menopause is completely done, that would make the cost of condoms about $900, not adjusted for inflation.

While on paper that sounds cheaper than an out-of-pocket vasectomy, you'd need to figure in at least a couple of pregnancy tests per year, and very possibly a couple hundred thousand for another baby! With normal use condoms are only about 77% effective. They slip, they break, they leak, and they sometimes get forgotten or used incorrectly.

Plus, as you say, who want use them forever! It's nice to be able to be spontaneous and to not always have to stop and suit up.