Being Pregnant
Home Pregnancy Test Keepsake: Cute or Weird?
Did you save your home pregnancy test? According to the makers of e.p.t. pregnancy tests, 67% of us do.
I saved mine for years and then tossed it in a ruthlessly unsentimental cleaning binge. I sort of wish I still had it, or some other Proustian passport back to the moment I first saw one… and then two lines emerge in that little white square space.
Life really did change in that instant. I had no idea what it would change into, of course. But a line (or two in this case) had been crossed. Amazing that such a huge moment in our lives takes place in the bathroom.
I don’t remember jumping for joy. I didn’t cry. I just felt stunned and thrilled and perhaps a little dizzy, though maybe that was the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone kicking in. Of course I ran to my ob/gyn who immediately told me to go home and call back in six weeks.
The good folks at e.t.p. were so moved by the idea of millions of women saving their urine-soaked sticks, they’ve come up with a cute keepsake accoutrement: It’s a purple, satin string purse perfectly sized to hold the stick. They will send it out to customers for free with proof of purchase.
According to the e.p.t survey of 800 moms, the top three keepsakes are: ultrasound photos, items from the delivery day (wristbands, blanket, footprint) and home pregnancy tests, in that order. In some ways it might seem a little gross to hang on to old urine. But there’s a poignancy to including a dried up bodily fluid alongside the sonograms and tiny footprints. Pregnancy is a very fluid time, after all… and one that will involve many more– far less meaningful–trips to the bathroom.
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[...] expectant parents keep their pregnancy test stick than you might think. So some marketer got smart and created a keepsake case for that [...]
Keepsake Case for Pregnancy Tests and More | Strollerderby commented on Jun 23 10 at 4:42 pm[...] There’s now a keepsake case for positive home pregnancy tests. Because if anything deserves a pretty satin satin string purse, it’s a urine-soaked stick. (I’m totally getting one.) [Babble] [...]
Being a Prude Could Kill You. More at Eleven. | The Laughing Stork with Candy Kirby | Parenting, Family, Pop Culture & Gravity-Defying Baby Poop commented on Jun 25 10 at 3:09 amLucky commented on Jun 23 10 at 2:13 pmI saved my first one for a while, but the lines faded so I tossed it. *sigh* I did keep their umbilical cord stubs though. My stepdaughters think it’s pretty cool. :)
Jennifer commented on Jul 01 10 at 10:41 amLast line: “far less meaningLESS”? Does anyone proofread this stuff before it gets posted?
ceridwen commented on Jul 01 10 at 11:04 amActually, no. We do not have proofreaders here at our blog. We try our best to post clean copy but sometimes we miss a word or get something wrong. Apologies for the error. I will make a correction.
Mandy commented on Jul 20 10 at 9:15 pmA few years ago, when I was trying to conceive a friend of mine mentioned that she still had the pregnancy test from her then 5 year old daughter. I thought it was a little gross. When I did finally get pregnant, I was afraid to throw it out during the pregnancy because I was superstitious that something would happen to the pregnancy. I told myself I would throw it out when she I had an ultrasound, and then when she was born… just to be on the safe side I kept pushing it back. Then, after she was born I was so scared that I would lose her even though she was perfectly healthy. For some reason I was afraid that throwing it out would jinx everything. She is almost two and I have finally gotten rid of it… after I started back on my anxiety meds ;)
Anyway, I had no idea that so many women kept theirs. In fact I was too embarrassed to ask my friends if they still had theirs – or even post about it on a message board that I frequent.
Interesting post.
Samantha commented on Jul 24 10 at 4:48 pmI tossed mine as soon as my husband and I were done looking at it. I did take a picture of it, but there was no way I was keeping something that I peed on.
Jessica commented on Aug 17 10 at 9:47 pmI’m with Samantha. I took a picture and that was that. Hell, I’m drowning in kid stuff over here already – last thing I need is more plastic stuff hanging around!
Emily commented on Sep 06 10 at 8:57 amOurs is still laying on the bathroom counter – well, on the unused toothpaste holder that hangs on the wall. When the words faded, I was so disappointed. But I came back later in the day to find the words bright and new. Hubby had cut the words off the box and stuck them on the slot. They fit just perfect. 37 weeks now and I’m not sure how to throw it away.
Christy commented on Sep 13 10 at 12:36 pmI did my frist test on sept 11, 2001 i was on the phone with my husband because i was at work when i took the test, i had thought i was but just wanted to make sure. I still have it to this day the lines are still clear a little discolored but it is in his baby book in a ziplock bag. we carried around with us for three weeks before we decided to put it up. for safe keeping.
Mary commented on Sep 21 10 at 9:21 amI kept all 7 of mine from my 5 yr old daughter. It took many years to get pregnant. I wanted to relish every bit of it. On a sadder note, I also kept the 2 tests for the baby boy that I miscarried in April. I can’t really look at them yet. But they are one of the few reminders that he ever really existed in the first place. I will keep all of them forever.
Kendra S. commented on Sep 28 10 at 9:14 pmI kept mine from my first pregnancy. My son was born in November 2003. In April 2004, I used the stick to play a prank on my husband on April Fools Day. Our baby was only 4 months old, so I thought he would freak out. He was so happy and excited. When I told him it was April Fools he was really disappointed. I told him was CRAZY!! Anyway, your post reminded me of this experience. Just thought I’d let everyone know there are fun uses for those saved tests ;)
Taylor commented on Oct 13 10 at 10:04 amI am pregnant with our first child. I still have my first HPT, and I’ll probably keep it indefinitely in a little box I’ve started putting the baby’s mementos in. I don’t get the big deal. The part I peed on has a cap on it, and I rinsed the whole thing in warm water. I love looking at it every once in a while.
Jenna commented on Oct 20 10 at 12:38 pmI get rid of things I’ve peed on without exception.
Laura commented on Nov 25 10 at 9:28 pmAs I read all the of the above posts, I almost threw soda out my nose! You’re some really funny women! Thanks for making me laugh! ~~I have 1 stick, I love it! It’s in the bathroom, under the sink and near the cleaning products. For sure no one will see it there!
Rufus commented on Dec 18 10 at 3:02 pmI wanted to wear ours around my neck like a bear tooth victory talisman after we first conceived but ever-wise wife said I don’t think so.
trudy commented on Dec 23 10 at 9:38 amI have all of my kids including the doctor’s version of it from my 22 yo son. My other children are 9,8,and 4. Those tests are a special keepsake to me. I tried for all of my children except for my 4 yo.(She was my 40th birthday present:) ) So seeing those postive signs meant the world. I miss that today. But at 44, I am not ready for a 5th.
Beth commented on Jan 05 11 at 5:29 pmI’m going to take a photo of mine and then toss the pee sticks. But I have a little progression of the line getting darker so it’d be nice and maybe a bit weird to have it as a photo memory instead of as the actual test.
Nikki commented on Jan 11 11 at 12:01 pmI dont think saving your preg. test is stupid. As long as you have the cap on it and clean the rest of the stick(just incase you peed on it). maybe in a zip lock bag or something.
im trying to get pregnant so, 9 chances out of ten, i will take a picture of it and probably save it..at least for a while..
Melissa commented on Jan 20 11 at 3:29 pmI am currently 26 1/2 weeks pregnant with our first kid. And the test is still sitting on top of a bookcase in our bedroom. When I pass it on my 5th trip to pee in the middle of the night, it is a constant reminder (as if the peeing and the large gut where not) of the miracle growing inside me and where it all started. Not sure how long I’ll keep it, but I know I can’t bear to part with it until my son is out and in my arms =)
Tanya commented on Mar 01 11 at 3:32 pmI’ve kept both HPT sticks from both my pregnancies – my son was born in 2009 and my daughter in 2010. To be honest, I didn’t even think about the grossness factor! I look at them occasionally and then look at my two beautiful children and just think, “wow” THIS (the pee stick) became THIS! (my children).
To me, they are a priceless keepsake I will always hang on to (but ok, I don’t exactly keep them on public display!)
Kearsten commented on Mar 13 11 at 7:16 amOur first is gonna be 8 this year…I have the tests from her and her baby brothers test is no less important!! Not getting rid of my pee sticks!
Ethan commented on Mar 16 11 at 12:33 pmWe have ours and I’m pretty sure it was at my behest — and I am the husband. Why not keep the first signal of the best things to ever happen to you?
Mattie commented on Mar 18 11 at 9:18 pmI have mine from both my 7 year old and my 5 year old. Hopefully I will be adding a 3rd one soon. I never planned on keeping them, it just happened and now I can’t imagine throwing them away.
Farris commented on Apr 19 11 at 3:08 pmI had taken SEVERAL test’s in the 6 years that my husband and I have been together. I Paid the price for them , $11-14 for the EPT twin packs , whatever! The last time I bought a HPT I decided that I wasn’t gonna spend that much for the EPT sense my friend told me that the Family Dollar test works and only cost’s a DOLLAR! Best thing about this test, I Didn’t pee on it! It came with a cup and a dropper. The test had a little hole that I put 4 drops of pee on and BOOM , It was POSITIVE! :) I’ll never throw it away cause of the joy it brought me and I didn’t pee on it!
jaina commented on May 02 11 at 12:10 amI think I still have mine from my first(failed) pregnancy. It’s a reminder of the little guy that I know is in God’s arms in heaven. I think the ones from my son and daughter ended up in the trash after I got to hold the real thing, but I’m grateful for my little reminder of the one I lost.
andie commented on Jun 25 11 at 3:10 pmI’ve kept my two home ones so far. They’re in a little jewlery box that has nothing to do with jewelry lol. I plan on taping them into her baby book after I have her (due September 4th!) along with hospital bands, ultrasounds, etc. I don’t think it’s weird at all.. then again, I don’t find weird things weird and some normal things are weird to me!
wendi commented on Aug 21 11 at 12:35 ami dont get how it is weird. it is your pee and there is a cap on it. I will always keep mine from all the times i find out that we are going to have another miracle. Why would you not want to keep the thing that told you you were pregnant. I will put it in my daughters book someday and i will keep the one from baby #2 forever also. They were both surprises .
heather commented on Aug 26 11 at 8:09 pmwhat i dont get is people thinking their own pee is gross when let me tell you after you have kids you will be peed on, pooped on, and puked on by ur kids so how are you gonna handle that if a lil of ur own pee grosses you out?
Crystal commented on Dec 18 11 at 10:00 pmAhh, kept my first and this one’s pee test. :-) I’m putting it in a shadowbox with other memorabilia and I’ll be cool with being the weird mom who shows it to her friends later! Lol Oh yeah, I’m totally owning this.
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