After verification of your Pregnancy, your physician will notify you to get First Trimester Screening and Tests done at Your First Prenatal Visit. Broadly speaking, these prenatal tests are ordered to diagnose any existing risk to Pregnant women. And, Baby’s Health and Chromosomal Condition.
Sometimes, we thought that doctors are suggesting these tests, only for the sake of making money, but it’s not true. During the pregnancy period, we give more importance to the diet of a mother. In the same way, these prenatal screenings and tests are equally important for the good health of the Baby and Mother.
First Trimester Screening
1 # Down Syndrome (trisomy 21): Down’s syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes developmental and intellectual delays in Babies.
2 # PAPP-A: It is used in screening tests for Down syndrome.
3 # Nuchal Translucency Scan (NT):
NT is a sonographic prenatal screening scan to detect cardiovascular abnormalities in a fetus. It is also used in screening tests for Down syndrome.
4 # Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG):
HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy in large quantities by the placenta. If, the HCG level does not get double in a few days after confirming the pregnancy, then the chances of having a miscarriage increase.
The First Trimester Screening must be done when you’re between 11 and 14 Weeks Pregnant
First Trimester Tests
1 # General Test
- Pregnancy Test (HCG): It’s a very First Urine Test, you have to go forward, to confirm your Pregnancy.
- RBC antibody screen: An RBC antibody screen is a blood test to screen an individual’s blood for antibodies directed against red blood cells (RBC).
- Pap Test: The Pap test is an extremely good test for finding cancer cells and cells that might become cancerous. It’s used to screen a woman’s cervix for cancer, pre-cancerous changes, inflammation, and some sexually transmitted diseases.
- HPV Testing: HPV is a virus that can cause cervical cell changes. A test that collects cells from your cervix to check for abnormalities or the presence of cancer. It’s normally done with a Pap test.
- Complete Blood Count (CBC): A complete blood count (CBC) is a test that measures the cells that make up your blood like red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It’s a blood test used to evaluate overall health conditions and to detect any disorders like anemia, infection, and leukemia.
2 # Selective Tests for Checking any Risk to Pregnant Woman
Below are the other Tests, your doctor may refer, to in case, he suspects any Health or Developmental Issues with Mother or Baby’s Health Condition.
- Hemoglobin A1C: The HbA1c target for women with diabetes. And pregnant ladies who are a risk of having Diabetes are referred to get this Test done regularly. To see if their levels are staying within range.
- TSH Thyroid: This test is recommended for ladies who already have Thyroid or are at risk of having Thyroid.
- TORCH screen: The TORCH screen is a group of blood tests done for detecting any infections in pregnant women that may pass on to a fetus during pregnancy
3 # Selective Tests for Fetal Abnormalities
- Cell-free fetal DNA: It is also used to check any risk of chromosome disorder in a fetus, such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21, trisomy 18, trisomy 13).
- Chorionic Villus Sampling: It’s not a regular test and it’s only offered to women who are at an increased risk of having a baby with certain chromosomal or genetic abnormalities. especially, it’s recommended for a pregnant woman who is 35 years of age or older.
Source from Wikipedia, labtestsonline