![]() ![]() ![]() If you and your doctor agree that it is warranted, they will perform an amniocentesis to look for certain genetic defects. Learn more about the diagnosis of birth defects by visiting the CDC website. While many parents would like to know their child’s risk of certain birth defects in advance, some would rather not undergo this kind of testing before the birth of their child. You should note that screening and diagnosis for birth defects during pregnancy is optional. Some of the birth defects that can be found with screening tests include: Moms who are at high risk include older mothers and those with a family history of genetic disorders. Your doctor may suggest genetic screening during pregnancy if you are in a high risk group. Some genetic conditions can be found before birth. Over the next few hours, you’ll give more blood samples so your doctor can study the levels of glucose in your blood. For this type of testing, you’ll need to fast on the day of testing (only drinking water). If your glucose challenge test shows high levels of blood glucose, your doctor will ask you to come in for a glucose tolerance test. In addition to routine tests and screenings during pregnancy, there are a few other tests that your doctor may ask you to take, depending on your risk factors and the results of your screening tests. To learn more about common tests done during pregnancy, check out this FAQ sheet from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. If levels of glucose in your blood are high, your doctor will ask you to have a glucose tolerance test. One hour later, you will give a blood sample and your doctor will send the sample to a lab. In the glucose challenge test, you’ll need to drink a sugar mixture. This helps your doctor know if you may need more tests to look at your risk of gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy. Glucose challenge tests are commonly done during pregnancy to see how your body uses glucose (sugar). Urine tests look for markers like blood cells, glucose (sugar), and proteins. The doctor will test the sample in the office or send it to a lab. Urinary TestsĪt most prenatal visits, your doctor will ask for a urine sample. Abdominal Ultrasoundĭuring an abdominal ultrasound, the healthcare worker puts gel on the belly and glides a small sensor over the gel to get pictures of the baby. The wand is placed in the vagina to get pictures of the cervix, uterus, and baby. It uses a small ultrasound sensor in the shape of a wand that is coated with a slippery gel. Transvaginal ultrasound is usually done in early pregnancy. There are also two main ways of giving ultrasounds: transvaginal and abdominal ultrasounds. 4D imaging lets the doctor see a constantly updated 3D image to make a “video” of the baby as he or she moves. 4D Ultrasoundįour dimensional ultrasound is the latest advance in ultrasound imaging for pregnancy. This can be helpful for screening and diagnosis of certain conditions during pregnancy. ![]() The image gives data on the width, height, and depth of features in the images. 3D UltrasoundĪ three dimensional ultrasound uses a special machine. They take “flat” pictures of your uterus, cervix, and the baby. Two dimensional ultrasounds are the most common ultrasound tools. Depending on the machines and training your hospital has, and the individual needs of your pregnancy, you may get one or more types of ultrasound tests during your pregnancy. There are a few types of ultrasound techniques: 2D, 3D, and 4D. Ultrasounds are a common kind of screening test for pregnant moms. Your doctor will read the test reports and share this data with you. The lab will send your sample to a bigger lab to look at the levels of markers and hormones. For a blood test, your doctor will send an order to a phlebotomy (blood) lab, where a technician will take samples of your blood. Throughout your pregnancy, your doctor may order routine blood tests to measure the progress of your pregnancy, your health, and the health of your baby. When it’s time for the baby’s birth, the nurse or doctor will strap a monitor to your belly to measure the baby’s heart rate. External Fetal MonitoringĪt every prenatal visit, your doctor will use a fetoscope (a type of stethoscope) to measure your baby’s heartbeat. Learn more about the stages of pregnancy here. Many prenatal tests are specific to the first, second, or third trimester of pregnancy. These are low-risk tests that can be easily done in your doctor’s office or health clinic. Several types of pregnancy tests are routinely given to pregnant moms. What Kinds of Routine Tests Are Performed During Pregnancy? ![]() Here we explain the most common tests during pregnancy, what prenatal tests are used, and how testing is performed. ![]()
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