The Importance of Undergoing Prenatal Testing

Pregnancy can be the most beautiful thing that can happen to a lady, but it’s important to know what to do to keep the baby as healthy as possible throughout this stage. With this, expectant mothers are inspired to own regular health checkups wherever they will be assessed and tested. These prenatal tests are essential, as they'll be ready to gather further information about the mother’s health as well as her baby’s...

Your doctor could recommend many prenatal tests on the manner, and whereas you recognize they're helpful, it is important to know why. Below are some recommended prenatal procedures for pregnant women and what they may mean.

Routine prenatal testing

During your consultations with your doctor, you will have to undergo several prenatal tests that are routinely done during the first, second, and third trimesters. Some are recommended to check on your baby’s health while others simply get information about fetal development.

These routine exams include blood and urine tests that check for certain conditions, including hepatitis B, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes, anemia, and preeclampsia or high blood pressure during pregnancy. Aside from these blood tests, you may also get a pap smear or a Group B Strep screening a month before giving birth. Meanwhile, an ultrasound may be requested 2 times during your pregnancy to check how far along you are and to determine how developed the baby and his or her organs are.

Prenatal screening tests

There are certain tests that you may or may not be recommended to you, such as certain prenatal screening tests... These procedures identify whether or not your baby is at risk for certain birth defects or heritable conditions. Usually, screening tests are done throughout your 1st or second trimesters. just in case of a positive end in a specific take a look at, your doctor will discuss the option of diagnostic testing to confirm a diagnosis.

Between your 11th and 14th week of pregnancy, your healthcare provider may offer a special type of ultrasound known as a nuchal translucency ultrasound, which checks the amount of fluid accumulated at the back of your child’s neck. When the amount is higher than normal, there’s a higher risk for your baby to have Down syndrome. Another type of ultrasound that may be recommended during the 2nd trimester is a fetal anatomy survey, which provides a careful head-to-toe evaluation of the baby to check for any birth defects.

External fetal heart monitoring

Sooner in pregnancy, you may be asked to watch and count your baby’s “kicks,” however just in case your baby isn’t being active like he or she is meant to, your doctor may ask you to undergo a nonstress test, where an external fetal heart monitoring is done. The procedure involves using two flat sensors attached to elastic belts that will be wrapped around your belly. One detector can record your baby’s heart rate while another, called a toco transducer, will measure how long your contractions will last.

This screening takes a look at indicates whether or not or not your baby is receiving adequate oxygen inside the womb. just in case of a nonreactive result, further testing could also be needed.

Prenatal diagnostic tests

Prenatal diagnostic checking might precede a positive screening test, as they tell with certainty if the baby has a certain genetic condition. Such tests involve checking on the cells of the fetus or the placenta, which are obtained through procedures like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. Most of the time, the tests show a negative or normal result... however just in case of a positive one, your doctor can notify you to you in detail what the condition is about and provide options on how you can manage it.

At the End of the day, prenatal testing isn't meant to cause anxiety in expectant mothers. Rather, it's meant to check on the baby’s health and to prepare for what’s to come.

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