Regular prenatal care includes laboratory tests. There are some of these tests that utilize blood samples, but the majority of them use urine or tissue samples from your vagina, rectum or cervix.
Prenatal tests are created with the main objective of assisting your doctor in learning how you and your unborn child are feeling during pregnancy. The various Orange Health blood tests that are accessible to expectant women include;
- pregnancy test confirmation
- routine screening exams that can evaluate the health of the mother and the infant
- Prenatal testing for diseases and infections that increase the chance of difficulties for both you and your unborn child
- High-risk pregnancy diagnostic testing
Different kinds of important lab tests during pregnancy will be required at various stages to monitor the health of the mother and unborn child. The following section discusses them in detail.
First trimester screening for pregnancy
Even though the subsequent tests are done in the early stages of pregnancy, your physician can still ask you to have the blood tests for women done at any point during your pregnancy.
Checking for Rhesus compatibility and blood types
ABO and Rh typing findings will determine the woman’s blood group and whether she is Rh positive or negative, as well as whether she is type AB, A, B, or O.
In order to know your blood type in case of circumstances like severe bleeding during childbirth, knowing your ABO blood group is crucial for pregnant women.
In order to establish whether the mother’s Rhesus (Rh) factor is compatible with the developing infant, understanding of this factor is also essential. Red blood cells (RBCs) have a hereditary protein called the Rh factor on their surface. Your RBCs must contain the protein for you to be Rh positive. Rh negative people are those whose RBCs do not contain the protein.
Complete blood count
White blood cells (WBCs), Red blood cells (RBCs), and platelets, among other types of cells, can all be counted using the complete blood count. The quantity of RBCs can identify specific types of anemia, as well as the presence of vitamin B12, iron and folate deficiencies.
Rubella antibody status
Checking for rubella antibodies during pregnancy is advised for all women. Babies infected by rubella virus infection during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy will have serious birth problems such as deafness, heart issues, eye defects, and mental retardation. If the illness appears after 20 weeks of gestation, the chance of problems diminishes.
The test’s objective is to identify pregnant women who have low immunity or have not received the recommended vaccinations and who are more likely to get rubella.
Maternal serum screening/ Dual marker test
Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-Early prenatal screening (PAPP-A) is performed, and aberrant levels are associated with an increased likelihood for chromosomal abnormalities.
The placenta produces the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the first trimester of pregnancy. Chromosome problems are linked to its aberrant amounts.
Combining the two of these tests increases the likelihood of detecting genetic birth abnormalities like trisomy 18 and Down syndrome (trisomy 21) in a developing kid.
Screening for sexually transmitted infections
Sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) can have negative effects on both you and your unborn child. Pregnant women should get checked for chlamydia and syphilis as soon as possible. Because syphilis-infected moms can give birth to stillborn children, screening is crucial.
If you are 25 years or younger, you can also have your gonorrhea status examined. Babies born to moms who have hepatitis B will become carriers and are more likely to get chronic liver diseases including liver cancer, cirrhosis, etc.
Screening in Second Trimester of Pregnancy
A second round of complete blood counts, blood group antibody testing, and glucose tolerance tests are the key components of screening during 26–28 weeks’ gestation.
Alpha-fetoprotein screening (AFP)
During pregnancy, the amount of alpha-fetoprotein in the blood is measured by this pregnancy blood test, additionally referred to as MSAFP (maternal serum AFP).
Elevated AFP levels could mean:
- Spina bifida and other open neural tube anomalies
- Down Syndrome
- complications with the fetus’ abdominal wall
- An incorrect deadline.
The triple marker test is typically recommended by the physician because it examines the levels of AFP and two pregnancy hormones, hCG and estriol, to find out if the baby has any chromosomal problems.
Test for glucose tolerance
Gestational diabetes is a transient disorder that arises during pregnancy that is diagnosed with a glucose screening health test. Despite the fact that this condition typically goes away once the baby is born, women who have gestational diabetes have an increased likelihood of getting type 2 diabetes in the future.
Due to the increased size of the babies born to moms with gestational diabetes, gestational diabetes may raise your likelihood of needing a cesarean delivery.
Urinary infection test
To rule out a sub-clinical urine infection, every pregnant woman should get a midstream urine culture performed at the beginning, second trimester, and 36 weeks of gestation.
Screening in Third Trimester of Pregnancy
GBS can spread from a pregnant mother to her unborn child during labor and is most frequently seen in the rectum and vagina of women.
GBS can cause a severe newborn infection or sepsis, even though it only affects a few babies out of every 100. In order to rule out GBS infection, a vaginorectal culture can be taken between 35 and 37 weeks of gestation.
Pregnant women can benefit greatly from prenatal screening tests as a source of information. These tests are carried out on a regular basis to assess the health of the mother and child as well as to confirm the existence of any pathological conditions.
If you are unsure if you should be checked or if you find yourself in a confused state about the pregnancy blood test name or feeling nervous, discuss your concerns with your doctor. Enjoy your pregnancy!
