Key prenatal health tests

• April 26, 2024

It is the obligation of expectant mothers periodically attend prenatal consultations to ensure that the development of the baby is correct and the woman's health is under control.

From the first consultation the doctor will request routine urine tests Y blood ; the first one asks for each visit that is made to the doctor, while the second one is done at least a second time during the pregnancy.

At each prenatal visit the doctor will review the heartbeats of the baby with a device known as Doppler Around of the week 20 the abdomen is measured, this to verify the growth of the product.

What do the doctor's blood and urine tests tell you?

1. Presence of viruses. They are looking especially for Hepatitis B, sexually transmitted infections, HIV
2. Antibodies They show whether or not they are immune to rubella, chickenpox, and other diseases that can cause birth defects if the mother gets it for the first time during pregnancy
3. Anemia. Makes the mother feel particularly tired and may increase the risk of premature birth
4. Blood type. It includes the Rh factor of red blood cells, because those women who do not have the factor need to undergo treatment to protect the baby from a dangerous blood problem
5. Bacteria in the urine. To detect infections in the urinary tract, because although most are asymptomatic can spread and reach the kidneys where it represents a great danger to both mother and baby
6. Sugar levels. To detect any signs of diabetes
7. Proteins in the urine. They look for infections and high blood pressure, in case any anomaly is detected, other tests will be ordered

and Ultrasound?

From the sixth week It is feasible to obtain the first image that will remain in the memory of the parents forever, that of a new human being.

This technique allows to verify the concordance of the calculated age of the baby by the real one, besides that it allows to study its heart rate, as well as know the location, size and discard the presence of aphysical nomalías of the baby. It also allows to know the amount of amniotic fluid in the uterus and the location of the placenta.

Between week 16 and 20 it is possible to determine the sex of the fetus , later in pregnancy, the ultrasound will help to plan the type of delivery that is most advisable for the mother, whether natural or cesarean.

Usually requested 3 ultrasound Although in some cases they may be more; It really depends on what the doctor considers necessary to keep a good follow-up of the baby

If pregnancy is considered rule l and the results allow to locate it within the low risk conditions, the expectant mothers must present themselves at least to 5 consultations throughout the pregnancy. Ideally, schedule each 30 days and from the eighth month each 15 days Y weekly during the last month.

Video Medicine: Prenatal Screening: Is It Right for You? (April 2024).