a. How many times can I use Maybe Baby?

Your Maybe Baby can be re-used over and over. There is nothing further to buy or replace, other than the batteries, which will eventually need to be replaced.

b. Should I start using the Maybe Baby on the days just before I expect to ovulate?
Unless you have very regular cycles and are sure of the days before you ovulate we suggest using the Maybe Baby mini microscope every day so that you become familiar with your body's cycles.  Although the text book example of the fertility cycle has a 28 day cycle with ovulation on day 14 many women do not have text book cycles.  Some cycles may be longer or shorter and your day of ovulation can also vary. That's why it is recommended to chart your cycle using the Maybe Baby Fertility Chart.

c. Should the pattern cover the whole lens?

If you have covered the entire lens with your saliva sample, the pattern should also cover the entire lens.   Try to ensure the saliva is evenly covering the lens.  If you have only covered a part of the lens then only this part will display patterns.  As long as you can recognise the pattern clearly, this is enough. 

d. Is the image seen through Maybe Baby supposed to be black?

No. Our illustrations use black for clarity. In reality your patterns will be translucent grey in colour but they will be very obvious.

e. How much saliva should I place on the lens?

Your saliva sample should fully cover the lens.  The sample should be approximately the size of a 5 cent piece and should be able to completely dry in approximately 10-15 minutes.  If it's not dry after 15 minutes then you have used too much.  If it dries in under 5 minutes you have not put enough saliva on the lens.  It may take a little practice but you will get used to it. 

f.  If I leave my sample and look at it again later in the day, I get a different pattern. Which is correct?

The pattern that you see after approximately 10 minutes of drying time is the correct one. Any longer than 15 minutes may result in a contaminated and therefore inaccurate reading.

g. Can I sterilize my Maybe Baby?

There is no way to ‘sterilize’ your Maybe Baby as such. To clean it just use a soft, microfibre cloth such as a sunglasses cloth that won’t scratch the lens to ensure the lens and the slide are clean when you look through the viewfinder.

When your saliva sample is completely dry wipe the lens with the Maybe Baby cloth (or any other lint-free cloth). If necessary you can apply fresh saliva to help clean it. Never use water, alcohol swabs or any other cleaning method (see also the Maybe Baby Parts page for lens care). 

j. How do I clean the Maybe Baby cloth?

Clean the cloth with a gentle detergent and make sure it is dry before you use it again.