Our Pregnancy Progress Blood Test is a quantitative test for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as it measures the actual hCG levels in your blood. HCG is a sensitive marker that can detect a pregnancy earlier than over-the-counter urine tests. Higher than normal hCG levels can also indicate that you are having twins, although this will need to be confirmed by an ultrasound scan. This test also measures your progesterone levels, which prepare your uterus for pregnancy by thickening it. Your progesterone levels should typically stay elevated throughout your pregnancy.

HCG is made in the cells of the placenta (the organ that surrounds your baby), and it rises rapidly in the early stages of pregnancy, peaking at around ten or eleven weeks. HCG levels will double every 48 - 72 hours in a healthy pregnancy.

HCG tells your body you are pregnant and maintains the production of the hormones progesterone and oestrogen, which are essential for your baby.

The early stages of pregnancy are an important time as your body begins forming a baby. The first trimester is 12 weeks from the first day of your last period. You go through significant physical and hormonal changes during this time, and your baby grows faster than at any other stage of pregnancy. This can be an exciting yet uncertain time, particularly if it is your first pregnancy or if you have experienced previous miscarriages. The risk of miscarriage is higher in the first three months, and an early test can help you see if your pregnancy is progressing as it should in the early stages.

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