Pee-ce of Mind: Smart Home Test Reads Moms’ Urine

Although lots of us seem to have an aversion to urine, the truth is that our pee can tell us a lot about our health. Pregnant women in particular can benefit from regular urine analysis to ensure that their pregnancy is progressing as normal. The oddly-named “Pregnancy Control Device” from designer Luis Pedro Castanheira Almeida helps mothers-to-be keep an eye on their pee.

The small decorative device lets expectant moms take a daily urine test to check levels of proteins, ketones, bacteria and sugars – all of which can indicate problems with the mother’s health. The testing gadget can also indicate other dangerous conditions like kidney or bladder infections, pre-eclampsia and dehydration.

Luckily for the appearance-conscious mom, the device does not indicate its purpose in any way. It looks almost like a bar of soap or some other innocuous bathroom accessory. When the specimen is inserted, the decorative designs and brand name change color to indicate several possible color-coded results. A USB port lets users track and transmit results easily.

It may not seem like an entirely necessary testing device to have in the home, but the popularity of home ultrasound and heart monitor machines have proven that pregnant women want more control over their own pregnancies. Since many expectant mothers are nervous about their health and want to be constantly aware of the state of their health, home health monitors like this one are bound to become more and more popular.

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See more in Home & Personal or under Gadgets. May, 2011.