Pregnancy tests are important for the obstetrician to monitor the baby’s development and health, as well as a woman’s health, as this directly interferes with the pregnancy. Thus, at all appointments, the doctor evaluates the weight, blood pressure and waist circumference of the pregnantness, and indicates certain tests such as blood, urine, gynecological and ultrasound tests.
In addition, in some cases, especially when the woman is older than 35, the doctor may recommend more tests, as pregnancy at that age may have more risks associated with it. For this reason, follow-up is most often done and a biopsy of coral villlosities, amniocentesis and cordocentesis may be performed for example.
- More tests are usually done during the first trimester of pregnancy.
- As it is essential to monitor a woman’s health during the first few weeks of pregnancy.
- From the second trimester of pregnancy.
- Fewer tests are required.
- With more focused on monitoring the baby’s development.
Tests indicated during pregnancy are designed to assess the health of the baby and the pregnant woman and monitor the baby’s development. In addition, through the tests requested by the obstetrician, it is possible to identify if there are changes related to the baby or if there are risks during pregnancy or at the time of delivery. The main tests to be done during pregnancy are:
The blood formula aims to provide information about a woman’s blood cells, such as red blood cells and platelets, in addition to the body’s defense cells that are also identified in this test, leukocytes. Thus, from the blood formula, your doctor can check for infections and if there are signs of anemia, for example, and the use of supplements may be indicated.
This blood test is used to check the mother’s blood type and Rh factor, either positive or negative. If the mother has an Rh-negative factor and the baby has a Rh-positive factor inherited from the father, when the baby’s blood comes into contact with the mother’s blood, the mother’s immune system will produce antibodies against it, which can cause a second pregnancy. the newborn’s hemolytic disease. Therefore, it is important that this test is performed during the first trimester of pregnancy, as, if necessary, precautionary measures can be taken to avoid an oversized immune response.
Fasting blood glucose is important to verify the risk of developing gestational diabetes, and it is important to be done during the first and second trimester of pregnancy, and to monitor the treatment and control of diabetes, for example, if the woman is already diagnosed. .
In addition, between week 24 and 28 of gestation, your doctor may indicate the TOTG test, also called an oral glucose tolerance test or glycemic curve test, which is a more specific test for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes. . Understand how TOTG is done.
Some infections with viruses, parasites or bacteria can be transmitted to the baby during childbirth or interfere with its development, as in some cases they can cross the placenta. In addition, for women with chronic infectious diseases, such as HIV, it is important for a doctor to regularly monitor the virus in the body and adjust medication doses, for example.
Therefore, the main infections to be evaluated during tests during pregnancy are:
These tests should be performed in the first trimester and repeated in the second and/or third trimesters of pregnancy, according to the obstetra’s advice. In addition, in the third trimester of gestation, between week 35 and 37 of gestation, it is important that the woman get the Streptococcus agalactiae test of group B, which is a bacterium that is part of the vaginal microbiota of the woman. However, depending on the amount, it may pose a risk to the baby at the time of delivery. See how the test is performed to identify group B strep.
The urine test, also known as SAA, is important for identifying urinary tract infections, which are common during pregnancy. In addition to SAA, the doctor also indicates that a uroculture is performed, especially if the woman reports symptoms of infection, from this test it is possible to identify which microorganism is responsible for the infection and, thus, it is possible for doctor to indicate the best treatment.
The recommendation is that the ultrasound be done every trimester of pregnancy, according to the obstetra’s advice. In addition to conventional ultrasound, a morphological ultrasound can also be performed, allowing you to see the baby’s face and identify diseases. Find out how the morphological ultrasound exam is performed.
In addition to tests normally reported by your doctor, gynecological tests may also be recommended to evaluate the intimate area. Preventive examination, also called Pap smears, may also be recommended and is designed to detect changes in the cervix that may indicate cancer, for example. Therefore, performing these tests is important to avoid complications in women.
If your doctor finds that this is a high-risk pregnancy, it may indicate that more tests are being done to assess the level of risk and therefore indicate measures that may reduce the risk of pregnancy and possible complications for the mother and baby. High-risk pregnancies are more common in women over the age of 35, with a higher likelihood of miscarriage or complications.
Eggs may experience certain changes that increase your baby’s risk of genetic syndrome, such as Down syndrome. However, not all women who became pregnant after age 35 have complications during pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum, with an increased risk in obese, diabetic or smokers.
Tests your doctor may order include
These tests are important because they can be used to diagnose important changes that can be treated so that they don’t affect fetal development. However, despite all the tests, there are diseases and syndromes that are only discovered after the baby is born.