Tests for the second trimester of pregnancy should be done between week 13 and 27 of pregnancy and are more focused on evaluating your baby’s development.
The second trimester is generally calmer, without nausea, and the risk of abortion is lower, which makes parents happier, at this stage the doctor should ask for a repeat of certain tests to make sure that everything goes well with the mother and baby.
Tests for the second trimester of pregnancy include
Measuring blood pressure during pregnancy is very important because it is possible to assess the risk of preeclampsia, which occurs when the pressure is high, which can lead to preterm birth.
It is normal for blood pressure to drop in the first half of pregnancy, but during pregnancy blood pressure returns to normal; However, pressure may increase due to an unbalanced diet or placenta malformation, for example, which can put the life of the mother and baby at risk.The only way, it’s important that your blood pressure is checked periodically.
The height of the uterus or uterine height refers to the size of the uterus, which at week 28 gestation should be about 24 cm.
Morphological ultrasound, or morphological USG, is an imaging test that allows the baby to be seen inside the uterus, this test is indicated between week 18 and 24 of pregnancy and evaluates the development of the heart, kidneys, bladder, stomach and the amount of amniotic fluid In addition, identifies the sex of the baby and can reveal heart disease and syndromes.
Learn more about morphological ultrasound
Urine tests are very important during pregnancy, as it is possible to identify urinary tract infections and thus avoid complications during pregnancy or childbirth, so it is important to have a type 1 urine test, also known as SAA, and if a change is found, a uroculture can be requested, in which the microorganisms present in the urine are controlled.
In the event of a diagnosis of urinary tract infection, your doctor may recommend the use of antibiotics, such as cefalxine, without any risk to the mother or baby.Understand how to treat urinary tract infections during pregnancy.
Blood count is also very important in the second trimester of pregnancy, as it evaluates the number of red blood cells, hemoglobins, leukocytes and platelets of the woman and thus check if she has anemia or not.
Anemia during pregnancy is normal mainly between the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, as there is a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin and an increase in the use of iron to meet the baby’s needs, but this can pose a risk to both mother and baby.Therefore, it is important to have a complete blood formula to diagnose anemia as soon as possible and thus be able to start treatment.
Learn to recognize symptoms of anemia during pregnancy
The glucose test is indicated at week 24 of pregnancy to check if the woman has gestational diabetes The glucose test requested during pregnancy is called TOTG and is performed by taking a blood sample before and after the woman has taken Dextrosol, which is a sweet liquid.
New blood samples 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes are taken after taking Dextrosol, or 2 hours of fluid intake. Blood test results are transferred to a graph for the amount of blood glucose to be observed at any given time.. Learn about the TOTG test.
VDRL is one of the tests included in prenatal care that allows to check if the mother has the bacteria responsible for syphilis, Treponema pallidum.Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can be transmitted to the baby at the time of delivery if the disease is not identified.and treated during pregnancy, there may be changes in the baby’s development, preterm birth, low birth weight or death of the baby, for example.
The toxoplasmosis test is done to check whether or not the mother has immunity to toxoplasmosis, which is an infectious disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii that can also be transmitted to people by consuming contaminated food or water.Direct contact with cats infected with the parasite.
Toxoplasmosis can be transmitted from mother to child and occurs when the woman acquires the parasite during pregnancy and does not do the proper treatment, being able to transmit it to the baby. Know the risks of toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.
The purpose of fetal fibronectin examination is to check for preterm birth and should be done between week 22 and 36 of pregnancy by collecting vaginal secretions and the cervix.
For the test, it is recommended that the woman not have genital bleeding and has not had sex 24 hours before the test.
Your doctor may recommend other tests such as urea, creatinine and uric acid, liver enzymes, electrocardiogram and MAPA for some pregnant women.In addition, urine or vaginal discharge and cervical exams may also be prescribed to identify other sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea.chlamydia. Discover the 7 most common STIs during pregnancy.
In the second trimester of pregnancy, the pregnant woman should also see the dentist to evaluate her oral health and treat cavities or other dental problems, as well as receive counseling on bleeding gums, which is very common during pregnancy.See also what tests are performed in the third trimester of pregnancy.