Routine Screening Tests During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an exciting time in a woman's life, but it also can be a time full of fear and uncertainty. Every pregnant woman worries about her unborn baby. Will my child be healthy? Modern medicine has made great advancements in easing our worries by providing some highly accurate screening tests. These tests are done throughout pregnancy to detect any signs of disability or genetic abnormalities. Each test serves a different purpose, but they all ultimately help prepare families who will welcome special needs children. And more often than not, they ease the worries of families who are expecting babies that are in perfect health.

During the first trimester, doctors do a screening for Down syndrome. This test is one of the most pleasant because it is done with the help of ultrasound. Women can see their babies for the first time while the technician does a quick check for excess fluid behind the baby's neck. This is often called "nuchal fold thickness". During the ultrasound, the technician will take several pictures and measurements of this area. After the ultrasound, you will be asked to have some blood drawn in the lab. This blood test checks for high levels of plasma protein A and hCG, two hormones produced by the baby that travel into mom's bloodstream. The combination of these tests gives doctors a good idea of whether the pregnancy is progressing normally. Any abnormalities in the test results do not automatically mean that your baby will have Down syndrome, but your doctor will probably suggest more invasive tests to be sure.

Your next round of tests happens during the second trimester. Doctors will do another simple blood test (are you over your fear of needles yet?) called a Triple Screen. This test will detect and measure three hormones produced by baby and passed into mom's blood stream. Some doctors also test for a fourth hormone as well, but unless you have previous risk factors for genetic abnormalities, the triple screen in standard. Once your results are in, you doctor will look for any suspicious measurements. Elevated levels can suggest a neural tube defect such as spina bifida. Abnormally low levels can suggest a risk for Down Syndrome or other chromosomal defects. This test cannot effectively diagnose a birth defect, but it can alert your doctor to an elevated risk. The Triple Screen has a pretty high rate of false positives. According to Dr. Heidi Murkoff, renowned pregnancy researcher and writer, "Only 1 or 2 out of 50 women with abnormally high readings will eventually prove to have an affected fetus." This information can be comforting in case your Triple Screen has suspicious results.

These are currently the only routine tests that all doctors perform. If either of these screenings raise suspicion, then your doctor will give you the option to do further tests, such as Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) or Amniocentesis. Both of these procedures carry serious risks for preterm labor, bleeding, or miscarriage, so talk about your options carefully before making any hasty decisions.

Regardless of what your prenatal screenings show, don't be discouraged by negative results. Remember that tests are not perfect and doctors are not always right. Continue to take care of yourself and your baby. The only way to truly know if your baby is healthy is to wait until after the birth. Most of the time, you will be joyfully counting ten perfect little fingers and ten perfect little toes.

*Source:
What to Expect When You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway; Workman Publishing Company