The Ins and Outs of Prenatal Tests

Screening tests, diagnostic tests, blood tests, ultrasounds—the 40 weeks of pregnancy can be jam-packed with doctor visits, depending upon your health history, your prenatal provider and your preference. Read on to learn a little more about what to expect.

Regular medical checkups throughout your pregnancy can head off complications you or the baby may face. Most prenatal visits consist of checking your baby’s heartbeat, your blood pressure and your weight. Early on, your doctor might suggest prenatal testing.

Testing, testing…

Screening tests, such as ultrasounds, tell you how likely you and your baby are to have certain medical conditions.

Diagnostic tests diagnose health disorders, such as Down syndrome. Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) are examples of diagnostic tests.

Some other common tests include:

• Blood test—Checks iron, blood type, blood sugar levels, presence of measles antigens, HIV and other diseases.
• Urine test—Checks sugar and protein levels.
• Ultrasound—Shows how the baby is developing.
• Glucose screening—Screens for gestational diabetes.
• Group B streptococcus test—Checks for a bacterial infection that can be harmful to newborns.

Depending upon your health history and age, your doctor might suggest:

• Amniocentesis or CVS—Detects chromosome abnormalities, neural tube defects and genetic disorders.
• First trimester screen and triple screen—Identifies risk for chromosomal abnormalities.
• Cordocentesis—Takes a sample of the baby’s blood to detect abnormalities.
• Quad screen—Similar to the triple screen, but also tests for Inhibin-A to assess a baby’s risk of Down syndrome.

Routine versus required

Many prenatal tests are recommended based on your age, health history, previous test results or family history. But they are all optional. You should feel comfortable talking with your Riverview Health provider about your prenatal care. He or she can explain prenatal tests and help you weigh the pros and cons for your situation.

Has it been a while since your last check-up, or do you need a new physician? Call us at 317.565.0535 to request an appointment.

Sources: ACOG.gov, AmericanPregnancy.org, CDC.gov, WomensHealth.gov