Prenatal Tests: What They Are and Why You Should Care

So, you're pregnant. I'll need some blood, and urine and a pap smear, pelvic exam and more blood...

Your first visit to the doctor likely contained all of that, except the extra blood. You're now in the great world of prenatal testing. None of this is fun, but hey, no one said it would be!

The Basics

Your first visit will probably be the longest and have the most tests. At every doctor visit including and after that one that one, you'll be peeing in a little cup, getting weighed and having your blood pressure checked. This is all very important for several reasons.

They check your urine for sugar and for protein because that can be a sign of trouble. Sugar can be a sign of gestational diabetes when blood sugar gets so high that it can endanger the baby. This is carefully monitored and usually mom and baby are brought through just fine.

Protien in your urine can be a sign for preeclampsia, otherwise known as toximia. If undetected and untreated, preeclampsia can develop into eclampsia, a rare and life-threatening problem. If you develop preeclampsia, you will experience swollen hands and face and high blood pressure. Treatment usually includes bed rest, medication and sometimes even early delivery of the baby.

You're weighed because weight is an indication of how far along you are and how you're doing. Your doctor probably has a chart showing the average weight gain throughout every week of pregnancy and he or she will compare your gain to that chart. If you've gained twenty pounds in two weeks, it's probably not a good thing. Likewise, if you're seven months along and haven't gained more than three pounds, that's not a good thing either.

Your blood pressure is checked because of preeclampsia like I mentioned above.

The pap smear is to check for abnormal cervical cells, a sign of cancer. You should have one every year.

The pelvic exam is to check for cysts and fibroids and basically to make sure everything is where it should be.

The blood tests are to check your immunity to German measles, your blood type, Rh factor, syphilis, blood count, hemoglobin and probably HIV as well.

Here's another screening that is practically routine: ultrasound. The ultrasound is painless and kind of neat because it gives you a picture of inside the womb. You get to see your baby for the first time.

You will have a glucose test done around the fifth month to check for gestational diabetes. It will be done earlier and more often if you are already diabetic.

A Gonorrhea culture will probably be taken on you first visit. (They'll take a large Q-tip and collect cultures from the genital area.)

A similar test for chlamydia will also be preformed.

A drug screen will be done on your urine and possibly even your blood to see if you're taking any 'recreation' drugs.

A Group B streptococcus swab will take place around 16 to 28 weeks.



Not So Basic

Amniocentesis

I am not a big fan of this procedure because it can actually cause birth defects and even a miscarriage. This is not something to be taken lightly and should only be done when absolutely necessary. Also, keep in mind that this is not 100% accurate, either.

This test is usually done between the 16th and 18th weeks of pregnancy, though it can be done as early as 14 weeks or as late as 20 weeks. It is also performed in the last trimester to assess the maturity of the baby's lungs.

The mother about to undergo this test empties her bladder and puts on an examination gown. She lays on the table with only her abdomen exposed (a refreshing change!). The doctor locates the baby and placenta via ultrasound in order to stay away from them. Ten, her abdomen is swabbed with antiseptic fluid and sometimes injected with a local anesthetic. (Since this injection is as painful as the procedure, many doctors omit it.) Then a long, hollow needdle is inserted into her abdomen through her uterus into the amniotic fluid. A little bit of the fluid is taken out for the tests. (Don't worry, it won't be missed)

The entire procedure takes about 30 minutes long. The mother will experience a few hours of cramping, but she and the baby will probably come out fine. 1 in 200 experience a complication of infection that may lead to a miscarriage.


More information to come soon!

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