Tests to look after you and your baby
The most important thing to remember is that around 9 out of 10 pregnancies and
births are normal. The tests during pregnancy are simply there to help ensure that
any problems are caught as early as possible, giving your baby and you the best
care during pregnancy. Some of them might sound a bit complicated but these really
are all standard routine tests:
Amniocentesis tests
Chorionic villus sampling
Glucose tolerance tests
Blood tests
Urine tests
Amniocentesis test
Usually carried out around the 15-18 week stage of pregnancy this diagnostic test
looks to see whether your baby has Down’s Syndrome or other chromosomal problems.
You’re more likely to be offered this test if you’re over 35, have given birth to
a child with any particular conditions or if you or your partner has a family history
of genetic abnormalities.
You’ll also be offered this test if you have a high risk result from blood tests or the
nuchal translucency scan.
Before the test is performed, you will have an ultrasound scan to check your baby’s
position, the placenta and to confirm your dates. Then the skin over the womb is
cleaned and a fine needle passed into the womb. A sample of the amniotic fluid that
surrounds your baby is removed with a syringe and sent for testing. The position
of the baby and the needle are monitored carefully during the scan by ultrasound.
Many moms say that the test is more uncomfortable than painful and feels similar
to period pain. It takes around 25 minutes and you should have the results within
a fortnight.
It’s a good idea to take things easy for a couple of days after the test and to
make sure you have help looking after any other children if you have them.
Amniocentesis is generally fairly safe and many women find that the benefits of
the test (providing a diagnosis of possible abnormalities in their baby) outweigh
any danger of complications. There is some risk associated though, with one in 200
women developing complications afterwards that can result in a miscarriage – so
in order to make an informed decision, it’s best that you talk it through with your
doctor.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is usually offered in the first trimester as an
alternative to an amniocentesis test. The main difference is that it cannot detect
spina bifida. It’s normally offered to women over 35 who have a family history of
genetic diseases or who have already had another child with a problem. The test
takes about half an hour to complete and is a bit more painful than an amniocentesis.
It involves taking a sample of choronionic villi cells, which are found on your
placenta.
Once you’ve had the test, you’ll need to take it easy for a couple of days. And
as with an amniocentesis, a CVS test carries a tiny risk of miscarriage, so it’s
important to discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor before you go ahead.
Glucose tolerance tests
During the second half of pregnancy you may be screened for gestational diabetes
which occurs in 2 to 3 moms-to-be out of 100. Those most at risk will tend to be
over 35, obese and may have had it in a previous pregnancy. It is also more common
for moms to be who are Indian, Afro-Caribbean or from the Middle East. This simple
blood test will detect whether you have gestational diabetes or not.
Many moms-to-be are able to control gestational diabetes with a healthy diet and
exercise programme. Occasionally, insulin injections will be necessary.
Routine blood tests
During your pregnancy you can expect to have quite a few blood tests. There’s no
need to worry, they’re all completely routine. They check:
• Iron levels: If they’re low you may feel tired and lethargic. You can try adding
spinach and red meat to your diet to give you a boost and if a change of diet isn’t
enough to make a difference, you can be prescribed iron tablets so you don’t become
anaemic. As your levels can change during pregnancy you’ll be tested again around
the 28 week mark.
• Your blood group and Rhesus factor: Your doctor needs to know your blood group
for medical records and also whether your blood is Rhesus positive (RH+) or Rhesus
negative (RH-), as both blood types are incompatible. If your blood is RH- and you’re
carrying a baby who is RH+, there is a possibility your body could produce antibodies
to fight the RH+ blood cells. This could affect your baby later on in your pregnancy.
By knowing in advance which blood group you are, your doctor can minimise the chance
of any potential problems happening.
• German measles (also known as rubella): You were probably given injections as
a child to immunise you against German measles. However, if blood tests reveal that
you aren’t immune, you’ll know you need to avoid anyone who has the measles because
it could harm your baby.
• Other diseases: Your blood will be tested for hepatitis B and syphilis as both
can be harmful to your unborn baby. You’ll also be offered a test for HIV / AIDS,
it’s up to you whether you accept it. There’s no reason to worry about these tests
– the results are confidential and are carried out so that your baby’s health can
be taken care of.
• Toxoplasmosis: This is a parasite that’s spread through cat’s poo and meat that
hasn’t properly cooked, and can be harmful to your unborn baby. Toxoplasmosis is
not routinely tested for but talk to your doctor if you feel your baby could be
at risk.
Urine tests
Your urine will be tested routinely during pregnancy for:
• Protein in your urine can be a sign of infection or contamination or if accompanied
with other symptoms, may indicate pre-eclampsia. This is a condition that can be
serious for both moms and babies. Your doctor can give you more information or you
can read about
pre-eclampsia here.
• Urinary tract infections can give you problems later in pregnancy if left untreated
but some don’t tend to have any symptoms. A urine test will find them and they can
then be easily treated with antibiotics.
• Glucose in your urine may indicate a high sugar diet or could just be that you
have recently eaten sugary foods. If you repeatedly have glucose in your urine,
it can be a sign of gestational diabetes which can be a problem for mother and baby
but is easily treated with simple changes to diet and exercise habits.