What is HCG?

HCG is the hormone that is produced by the placenta during pregnancy. This hormone is what a pregnancy test detects. It stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. During a normal pregnancy, the HCG levels will steadily rise throughout pregnancy.

How soon can you find out if you are pregnant without waiting for your next period?

Go to a doctor and have a blood test.
Most home pregnancy tests cannot be taken until at least the first day you miss your period. However, one of the newer kinds does promise results a few days before your period is expected. Nevertheless, a blood test is much more accurate.

How soon can you hear a baby's heartbeat?

Detecting a Heartbeat
The baby's heart beat can be seen on an ultrasound at around 7 weeks, and if you are very slim MAY be heard on a doppler from 9 or 10 weeks.
Here is more advice and input:
· Most Heartbeats can be heard by 15/16 weeks.
· My doctor wasn't able to hear my babies until I was about 3-4 months pregnant.
· It is most generally possible to begin to hear the baby's heart beat at the beginning of your second trimester, however sometimes it is possible to hear it a couple of weeks before or after these daytes as well. It most likely depends on the size of the baby and how quickly it is growing in each individual person. I personally heard my baby's heart beat the first time at 14 weeks with my first, 13 weeks with my second and 10 weeks pregnant with my current pregnancy.
· You can start to hear the babies heartbeat through ultrasound as soon as 6 weeks into your pregnancy! A doppler can start to pick up a heartbeat at around 10-14 weeks into your pregnancy. A stethoscope can be used to hear the baby's heartbeat late in the pregnancy.
· If you have an early scan it can be seen from about 6 weeks. If listening with a doppler and you are very slim sometimes (not always) it can be heard from about 8 weeks. A midwife listening with a Pinard can hear it from about 22-24 weeks.
· You may be able to see it on an ultrasound at about 7 weeks but unless you are very thin you won't be able to hear it with a doppler until about 10 weeks, possibly later. Until 12 weeks the uterus is still in the pelvis and the heart is very small and the machine has to be pointed directly at the heart so the sound is reflected, unlike a microphone.