Many women complain that taking tests during pregnancy takes a lot of time and effort. Indeed, the expectant mother needs to undergo many tests. However, a timely examination allows you to monitor the course of pregnancy and timely identify abnormalities in the development of the fetus and problems with the woman’s health. Many pathologies, if found out about them in the early stages, can be eliminated with the help of competent therapy, which increases the chance of a normal pregnancy and delivery without complications. What tests need to be taken during pregnancy?
List of tests during the first trimester of pregnancy (0–14 weeks)
Women are required to register with the antenatal clinic before 12 weeks. At the initial appointment, the gynecologist will conduct an examination, collect anamnesis and prescribe blood tests:
- General.
- Biochemistry.
- For antibodies of classes M, G to rubella viruses, herpes, cytomegalovirus, and toxoplasma (TORCH panel).
- Coagulogram.
- For blood type, Rh factor.
- For syphilis, hepatitis B and C, HIV.
- For sugar, for glucose tolerance.
- Double test (PAPP-A + hCG). Allows you to detect pathologies such as Edwards, Patau, and Down syndromes.
In addition, you will need to undergo a urine test, PCR for chlamydia, gonococci, mycoplasma, and microscopic examination of vaginal discharge.
Why is this necessary?
How to do it right
Experts tell us how an expectant mother should eat properly, what myths about pregnancy should not be believed, and how to quickly get ready for the maternity hospital.
Getting up early and taking tests on an empty stomach, sitting in queues, ultrasound examinations, examinations and measurements seem to many women to be useless procedures that take too much time and effort.
If they feel normal, some expectant mothers try to avoid even planned examinations
.
But all the data that is collected during pregnancy is needed by the doctor for only one purpose - so that your pregnancy goes well and you give birth to a healthy baby. Including those without genetic abnormalities. Take your trips to the antenatal clinic not as a severe necessity, but as a manifestation of your care
for your unborn baby, which begins even before his birth. After all, many hidden problems with your or his health can only be detected by test results.
What additional tests can be prescribed during pregnancy?
In the second and third trimesters, additional blood tests may be ordered to determine the following characteristics:
- glucose tolerance (also called “sugar tolerance”),
- ferritin content,
- homocysteine level.
This is done in order to prevent pregnancy complications or eliminate them in time.
Glucose tolerance indicates the likelihood of developing gestational diabetes. This test is prescribed in case of elevated glucose levels in the general blood test and such indirect signs as edema and sudden weight gain.
Ferritin is one of the indicators of the body's supply of iron, since in the second and third trimesters the need for iron increases sharply and women develop anemia. Typically, doctors focus on the hemoglobin level, and the ferritin level is monitored if the prescribed iron supplements do not have an effect when the hemoglobin level is low. True, it often turns out that women do not take them due to the development of side effects - cutting pain in the abdomen, vomiting, constipation. In this case, to prevent anemia and increase hemoglobin levels, it is necessary to switch to taking liposomal iron, for example, as part of the Pregnoton Mama complex (more information about the product can be found here).
Homocysteine is a substance that requires vitamin B9 to be utilized. Its blood level indicates a woman's ability to absorb folic acid. Both vitamin B9 deficiency and excess homocysteine are dangerous - it increases the risk of fetal development disorders, has a bad effect on the cardiovascular system of the woman herself, and can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Approximately 5-11% of women lack the enzymes that convert folic acid into its biologically active form, methyltetrahydrofolate. To insure against such a situation, it is better to immediately choose a drug to take during pregnancy that contains vitamin B9 in the form of methyltetrahydrofolate, for example, the above-mentioned Pregnoton Mama.
What examinations are performed during pregnancy?
- Examination of the mammary glands, assessment of the degree of hair growth, electrocardiography (at the first visit).
- Screening expert ultrasound examination (at 11, 12 weeks of pregnancy).
- Measurements of abdominal circumference and pelvic size (at 13 weeks of pregnancy).
- Determination of weight, measurement of heart rate and blood pressure (during each visit).
- Measuring the height of the uterus with a gravidogram (at 20 weeks of pregnancy).
- Listening to the fetal heartbeat (at 25 weeks of pregnancy).
- Bimanual, two-handed examination of the uterus on a gynecological chair (at 12, 16, 17, 18, 30 and 36 weeks of pregnancy).
- Ultrasound examination of fetal development (at 10-12, 18-20, 26-28, 32-34 weeks of pregnancy).
If necessary, the doctor may prescribe a microscopic examination of the uterus (colposcopy) or non-invasive prenatal diagnostics (detection of Down, Patau, Edwards and Turner syndromes).
Other examinations
Test results alone do not allow us to form a complete picture of the health status of the woman and child. Therefore, pregnant women are prescribed other examinations:
- Ultrasound. A woman will have three ultrasound screenings: at 10–14, 20–24, 32–36 weeks.
- ECG. This needs to be done when a woman registers.
- CTG (cardiotocogram) is performed weekly from 32 weeks. CTG shows fetal heartbeat and movement, uterine contractions.
- Doppler study. Conducted at 30–32 weeks. Allows you to understand whether the baby receives enough oxygen and nutrients through the placenta.
Examination by specialized specialists is no less important. In the first trimester, you need to visit an otolaryngologist, dentist, ophthalmologist, endocrinologist, and also a therapist. In the third trimester, there will be a second consultation with a therapist and an ophthalmologist - their conclusion is important, for example, when determining the method of delivery (natural birth or cesarean section).
Throughout pregnancy, it is necessary to visit a gynecologist: once every 3 weeks in the first trimester, once every 2 weeks in the second, once a week in the third.
Remember that when carrying a child, it is important not only to undergo prescribed studies and tests in a timely manner, but also to carefully follow the recommendations of doctors. Thus, women are advised to pay attention to nutrition, avoid stress, and walk in the fresh air more often.
THIS IS NOT AN ADVERTISING. THE MATERIAL WAS PREPARED WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF EXPERTS.
Doctor's visit schedule during pregnancy
Finally, I need to say about the calendar of visits to the doctor, which is compiled individually for each expectant mother. This takes into account various factors, ranging from the woman’s health status to family history. In early pregnancy, visits to the doctor usually occur less frequently, approximately once every three weeks. Later the visits become more frequent. Before giving birth, you must come for an appointment every week. The plan of visits to your gynecologist must be followed - this is not a whim of the doctor, but the responsibility of any woman planning to become a mother.
Tests when planning pregnancy
When planning a pregnancy, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends screening for infectious agents that can lead to various complications of pregnancy in the mother, developmental defects and diseases of the child. This group includes the so-called TORCH infections, infections of the urogenital tract (including STIs - sexually transmitted infections), viral hepatitis, HIV infection.
In most TORCH infections, the threat is posed by primary infection during pregnancy, especially in the early stages. The infection can lead to premature termination of pregnancy, congenital anomalies of the fetus, and various complications in the newborn.
- Serological diagnosis of TORCH infections (screening)
- Serological diagnosis of TORCH infections (standard)
- Serological diagnosis of TORCH infections (extended)
- Serological diagnosis of infections when planning pregnancy
- Determination of the IgG avidity index for Toxoplasma
Urogenital infections occupy a leading place in the structure of human infectious pathology and belong to the group of reproductively significant infections, being one of the main causes of impaired human reproductive function. The most common infections of the reproductive organs are sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Screening for urogenital infections is mandatory when planning pregnancy.
- Florocenosis + NCMT + microscopy
- The causative agent of syphilis, quality. antibody determination
Among the tests when planning pregnancy, screening for viral hepatitis and HIV infection is mandatory.
- Human immunodeficiency virus, quality. total determination of antibodies to types 1 and 2 of the virus and p24 antigen
- Hepatitis C virus, quality. total antibody determination
When planning a pregnancy, the expectant mother needs to be sure that her body is ready for the fairly high stress associated with pregnancy. In addition, you need to undergo a laboratory examination to identify the most common chronic diseases and pathological conditions. Therefore, the list of tests when planning pregnancy includes a set of “general clinical” studies:
- Laboratory examination
- Biochemical examination (standard)
- General urine analysis (with sediment microscopy)
- Hemostasis system (screening) (APTT, thrombin time, prothrombin+INR, fibrinogen, antithrombin III)
Mandatory tests when planning pregnancy include determining the blood type and Rh factor. Taking into account the possible Rh conflict (the partner has a negative Rh factor, and the partner has a positive Rh factor), both future parents should take this test. If you know about a possible Rh conflict in advance, then you can develop a treatment regimen in advance.
- Determination of blood group and Rh affiliation
The CMD laboratory also offers complexes of tests for expectant parents, which include analysis for reproductively significant infections for men and general clinical examinations, blood group and Rh factor, analysis for infections, as well as genetic studies for women (advanced version of the analysis)
- Future mom
- Expectant mother (extended)
- Future dad
- Future dad (extended program)
Based on the test results obtained, when planning pregnancy, it is possible to carry out preventive measures, and, if necessary, treat one or both future parents. The results of tests when planning a pregnancy enable specialists to determine how to best prepare for pregnancy, successfully conceive, carry and give birth to a healthy baby.
Additional instrumental studies
In addition to laboratory tests, the following instrumental studies are carried out in the first trimester of pregnancy:
- Ultrasound of the fetus. It is carried out twice. At a period of 4-7 weeks, the fact of pregnancy is instrumentally confirmed, since visualization of the fetus on ultrasound is a reliable sign of it. Ultrasound at 10-14 weeks is necessary for early diagnosis of possible abnormalities in fetal development.
- An ECG is an important way to diagnose possible abnormalities in the mother's heart. If they are present, the necessary therapy is prescribed and the plan for managing pregnancy and childbirth is adjusted.
When you receive a pack of different directions for research, do not put it off for a long time. Remember that this is not a whim of a medical professional, but an important event that is carried out in the interests of the mother and child.
What tests should a pregnant woman take?
- The first and very important is a clinical blood test. Using it, the gynecologist can see whether a woman has inflammatory processes, whether she needs to prescribe a diet, and whether there are any threats to pregnancy. Blood for this test is taken from a vein.
- The second and no less important biochemical urine test. The results of this test show whether a pregnant woman has signs of diabetes. The level of urea reflects the state of the liver and kidneys.
- The next one is an analysis of the Rh factor group; this test is necessary to monitor the condition of the expectant mother, and to provide timely assistance during childbirth, if necessary. The Rh factor must also be determined in the father of the child.
- Urinalysis - taken regularly, before each visit to the doctor. Urine is examined for protein, glucose, and the presence of salts. If protein is found in the urine, and the pregnant woman also suffers from edema and high blood pressure, this may indicate kidney complications. If the analysis shows the presence of glucose, then it is best to go on a diet for a while.
- Smears from the vaginal microflora will allow you to check whether the pregnant woman has any infections or fungi.
- One of the important and basic tests is to detect syphilis, hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV infection.
These tests must be taken not only during registration, but throughout the entire pregnancy. Some of them fail several times, and some constantly, it all depends on how easy or difficult it is for the woman to bear the period of bearing a child.
