What Is The Need For Different Diagnostic Tests During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is an important phase in a woman’s life, so everything is done to ensure the woman’s safety and the baby’s health at its best.

To do this, there are diagnostic tests you have to undergo to check every stage of development during pregnancy to determine possible complications.

Diagnostic and screening tests are both medical and laboratory procedures to identify any abnormalities.

A diagnostic test tells you if you or your baby has a particular existing health problem, while a screening test will tell you if you or your baby might develop a risk of developing a certain disorder or health problem during the course of the pregnancy.

Routine diagnostic tests are done to you during your first prenatal visit which includes:

1. Pregnancy test, although you have done this at home there is a need to do this to determine if you have an abnormally high count of HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) which can be a sign of a possible case of H-Mole.
2. Complete Blood Count, this test is done to determine if you have a possible anemia that should be corrected early in pregnancy. This test will also identify a possible infection as shown by an increased white blood cell count.
3. Blood type, to determine your blood type in case the need for transfusion arises.
4. Blood Test for RH factor, Rh screening is done after a history of 3 consecutive abortions to determine the need for administration of RhoGam.
5. Urine Test, to determine a possible urinary tract infection and presence of sugar or protein that could be a sign of a health risk for diabetes or eclampsia.
6. Sonogram or Ultrasound, to determine the developing placenta’s location.
7. Oral glucose tolerance Test, to determine if you have possible diabetes.
8. Screening test for HIV, Hepatitis B and other sexually transmitted diseases which you can pass on to your baby or put the baby’s health at harm.
9. Amniocentesis or Chorionic Villus Sampling may be requested by your health provider if you are at high risk of having a baby with certain health and genetic conditions like Down ’s syndrome and Trisomy 18.

These tests are done during your first prenatal visit, but this does not mean that’s all into it.

You are just one step closer, what’s important is to visit your health provider regularly during your second and third trimester for a regular physical exam, because problems that were not there at the start may later develop as you progress with your pregnancy.