# Is my wife pregnant? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 2, 2002, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401 "2002-04-02T16:10:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mudpupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@mudpupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mudpupper)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/1 "2002-04-02T16:10:45Z")
Dopers, I need your help. My wife loves getting into April Fool’s Day and loves to carry on any charade for days to weeks. Well, as expected she announced that she is pregrant. She produced a positive pregancy test and everything. I honestly don’t believe it and she refuses to take another test while I’m around the house. Does any one know of a way to produce a fake a pregnancy test? I found sugar and cornstarch under the bathroom sink. Could she use this stuff to fake a normal home pregnancy test? Knowing my wife she would just love to be really pregnant and have me thinking for weeks that it is joke. Plus it’s getting past that time of the month and I’m starting to second guess things. Mudpupper ---
**Author:** ![Anahita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9a28c/32.png) [@Anahita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anahita)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/2 "2002-04-02T16:43:15Z")
I’m pretty sure sugar and corn starch cannot replicate the hormones that exist in a woman’s urine when she’s pregnant. She’s either a mommy or she got a pregnant friend to do wee on the stick to trick you. ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/3 "2002-04-02T16:46:29Z")
What type of pregnancy test was it? Could it be something as simple as a felt-tip pen, or a little dye? Heh-heh. Your wife sounds like a cruel woman. I like that. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/4 "2002-04-02T16:47:10Z")
She also could have gotten several home pregnancy tests and ran them until she got a false positive. The hormone tested is usually hCG, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/5 "2002-04-02T16:52:53Z")
If not real it’s still _not_ a joke. This is a heart attack serious test by her to guage your reaction. You’re kidding yourself if you think it’s anything else. Do **not** say anything, even in jest, that would not accurately reflect your opinion if she was really pregnant. Having said that, if it is a joke, it a pretty awful and manipulative way to treat your spouse. There are certain things that should not be joked about and this is one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/6 "2002-04-02T17:03:31Z")
and I’m terribly sorry about any marital difficulties this causes you. In my defense, she told me she was on the pill and I pulled out, but these things happen. [sub]Now that’s a joke![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/7 "2002-04-02T17:26:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mudpupper \* > \*\* > she refuses to take another test while I’m around the house. \*\* From this, I think it’s fair to assume that she’s faking it. What other reason is there for refusing to take another test while you are around? If it were me, I would go along with the joke. Insist that she see an obstetrician right away. If she smokes or drinks, throw away all her cigarettes and booze. Since it’s your kid, you have every right to do these things in an aggressive manner. (Of course you should do these things anyway even if it’s not a joke.) Eventually, she’ll have to 'fess up. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/8 "2002-04-02T23:31:04Z")
I would take her to do the doc for a real test to confirm it. If she wont do it, you know shes joking. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/9 "2002-04-02T23:39:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*I would take her to do the doc for a real test to confirm it. If she wont do it, you know shes joking. \*\* She should simply have an _exam_ by a doc. She shouldn’t have to _do_ him. But good point, Handy. If she’s not making an appointment for prenatal care right away, something’s wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/10 "2002-04-02T23:44:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > \*\*(…), if it is a joke, it a pretty awful and manipulative way to treat your spouse. There are certain things that should not be joked about and this is one of them. \*\* Aw, c’mon. If my girlfriend did it, I wouldn’t deem it funny either. But if you’re married & all and want children anyway? It’s not the end of the world as I know it. ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/11 "2002-04-02T23:56:13Z")
In all seriousness a false positive home pregnancy test is very rare - either the hCG is there or it isn’t. Some medications might introduce enough of the hormone into the bloodstreem or urine stream to produce a false positive, but those are medications she’d be taking if you all were trying to get pregnant but couldn’t. My guess? April Fools Joke. Twiddle ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/12 "2002-04-03T00:11:38Z")
Either the recommended Dr.'s exam _or_ puking, crying and finding fault in everything you do over the next 5-weeks will finally settle it once and for all. If it does turn out to be a rabbit killer, congrats! If on the other hand it’s bogus, my assumption is she has a unique sense of humor (which kinda put a S.E.G. on my face). That also means turn about is fair play. My suggestion if it turns out to be bogus; post a topic question on _great retributionary pranks_ which you can pull on her in 364 more days. ---
**Author:** ![tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/13 "2002-04-03T00:57:20Z")
As a taker of many pregnancy tests (being a tramp comes with some hazards) I can tell you that most pregnancy tests will read positive after 10 minutes. That’s why you have to look at it before 10 minutes to make sure you get the right result. If she took the pregnancy test 10 minutes before she showed you, it might not be legit. ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/14 "2002-04-03T03:58:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JohnBckWLD \* > \*\*My suggestion if it turns out to be bogus; post a topic question on _great retributionary pranks_ which you can pull on her in 364 more days. \*\* [Hijack] Hi honey I went to go get a vasectomy since we only wanted one child. He didn’t do it though because I was already sterile… or Honey did you take one of the propecia in the asprin bottle… or You’re pregnant and I have measles, got what a week this is going to be. ---
**Author:** ![mudpupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@mudpupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mudpupper)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/15 "2002-04-03T16:32:18Z")
All, In case anyone is interested. The wife is pregnant. She just wanted to me think that it was an April Fool’s joke. I’m just wondering how I can introduce some bizarre humor to get even. But on the bright side, we’re both excited to add to the clan. Mudpupper ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/16 "2002-04-03T16:38:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mudpupper \* > **I’m just wondering how I can introduce some bizarre humor to get even.** Do NOT pull a _Buffalo Bill_ and ask “Who’s the father?” 😃 Congratulamations! ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/17 "2002-04-03T16:41:09Z")
Congrats, **mudpupper**! Your wife is pure evil! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/18 "2002-04-03T19:49:39Z")
Hey congrats and I wish you an easy and quick 9 (10) months! ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/19 "2002-04-03T20:18:03Z")
So if it’s a girl, will you name her April? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2002, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401/20 "2002-04-03T20:58:20Z")
Congratulations to you and Mrs. Pupper! (And good luck to the babypupper… his/her childhood is going to be very interesting) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-wife-pregnant/101401.md?page=2)