Tests to look after you and your baby
The most important thing to remember is that more pregnancies and births are straightforward than not! While all maternity
care tests are on offer to you, you always have the right to refuse one. However the tests during pregnancy are simply there to help ensure that any problems are caught as early as possible, giving you and your baby the best care during pregnancy. It is important to make an informed decision regarding your antenatal care so do discuss all the tests on offer with your health care professional first before reaching any decision.
Some of them might sound a bit complicated but these are all considered standard tests that may be offered to women:
Amniocentesis test (Optional)
This test is usually carried out around the 15-18 week stage of pregnancy. This diagnostic test is more likely to be offered
if you’re over 35 or if your health care professional has any concerns.
Before the amniocentesis 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 abdomen is cleaned and a fine needle passed into the uterus. 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 mums say that the test is more uncomfortable than painful and feels similar to period pain. It only takes around 25 minutes and you should have the results within a fortnight.
It’s important to be aware that there are risks associated with this procedure, such as potentially causing a miscarriage, so
do talk with your health care professional about this before hand.
It’s a good idea to take things easy for a couple of days after the test, so try and get some help looking after any other children if you have them.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is usually offered in the first trimester as an alternative to an amniocentesis test. It’s normally offered to women over 35 or if your health care rofessional has any concerns. The test takes about half an hour to
complete and is a bit more painful than an amniocentesis. It involves taking a sample of chorionic villi cells, which are found on your placenta.
There are certain risks associated with this procedure so do talk with your health care professional about this before hand.
Once you’ve had the test, you’ll need to take it easy for a couple of days. It’s important to discuss any questions or concerns regarding these tests with your health care professional before you go ahead.
Post-polycose glucose screen
This test is carried out during the second half of pregnancy (around 28 weeks).
This simple blood test involves drinking 50 grams of glucose around 1 hour prior to the test. If the glucose level in your
blood is too high then your health care professional will request another test – a G.T.T. or glucose tolerance test.
Blood tests
During your pregnancy you can expect to be offered quite a few blood tests. There’s no need to worry, they’re all considered routine. This will include:
- Iron levels: If they’re low you may feel tired and lethargic, out of breath or generally unwell. Increasing your consumption of well cooked red meat, and iron rich foods alongside vitamin C (which helps iron absorption!) may give you a boost or foods such as cooked spinach if you are a vegetarian (although note the iron in vegetables is not as easily absorbed as the iron in meat). If a change of diet isn’t enough to make a difference, you can be prescribed iron tablets. 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. Your blood is tested regularly during pregnancy for antibodies.
Other tests may also be carried out, but your health care professional will talk to you about these.
Urine tests
Your urine will be tested routinely during pregnancy for:
- The presence of protein in your urine which gives information about how your kidneys are working.
- Glucose, although it is possible to have small amounts of glucose in your urine during a routine urine test this may be
dependent on what you ate shortly before doing the test.