In 1350 women urinated on wheat and barley seed to see if they were pregnant.  She could urinate on the seeds for several days, “If the barley grows, it means a male child. If the wheat grows, it means a female child. If both do not grow, she will not bear at all.”This was the first recorded urine-based pregnancy test. In 1963 this method was tested with “modern” medicine and 70% of the time it worked!! Can you believe how smart those Egyptians were! Geesh!

In 1976 the e.p.t (early pregnancy test) was FDA approved. By the end of 1977, it was ready for consumer use. In 1978, it was advertised in various, major women’s magazines. An article in Mademoiselle’s April issue, stated “For your $10, you get pre-measured ingredients consisting of a vial of purified water, a test tube containing, among other things, sheep red blood cells…as well as a medicine dropper and clear plastic support for the test tube, with an angled mirror at the bottom.” HUH? Serious? Sheep’s blood? i have been inspired to go on a mission to talk to women my mom’s age to get some more scoop on this one! The test took two hours, and was more accurate for positive results (97%) than for negative (80%).

It amazes me to think not until the 80’s was there really the pee on a stick kind of test. It really wasn’t even that long ago women got pain relief during labor. Maybe soon they will invent a machine to quickly get your pre-baby shape back without the pain of a strict diet or personal trainer. i can see the pitch line already, “Place the belt around your abdomen every time you are breastfeeding and within 4 week you will look even better than before you became pregnant. It’s simple, easy, and very effective.”

If you want to read the comprehensive version of the history of pregnancy tests, go to A Timeline of Pregnancy Testing.  If you are a woman who experienced the sheep’s blood version, i would love to hear about it!