Should You Consider Back-up Prenatal Testing?During your first visit to the OB-GYNE, you will be given a list of standard laboratory procedures and examinations to undergo. The most common ones to expect is a first-trimester ultrasound, where your doctor gets a visual of the growing fetus and your uterus; a Doppler exam, which tells your doctor if your baby’s heart beating as it should; a urinalysis, to detect any protein, which could mean you are at risk for gestational diabetes, or bacteria, which indicates possible UTI or STD; and a blood test to confirm your blood type, know your baseline values, and confirm the pregnancy. Aside from these tests, parents today are encouraged to undergo more screening exams like blood biochemistry and nuchal translucency, more commonly referred to as NT test. These two tests are 85% accurate in determining the presence of any chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus, such as Down syndrome. These two tests are also commonly done in conjunction with a very detailed ultrasound exam. Many experts say that the effectiveness of this trio, ultrasound-biochemistry-NT test depends largely on the expertise and skill of the person performing the test. Because of this, many expectant parents are advised to undergo secondary, or back-up tests, especially if the risks of having a child with chromosomal abnormalities are high. Another reason for back-up tests like alphafetoprotein screening and chorionic villus sampling is because while the above mentioned tests detect chromosomal errors, they cannot detect neural tube defects in the first trimester. AFP can detect neural tube abnormalities like spina bifida. AFP is offered around the sixteenth week of pregnancy, whereas CVS, which can detect chromosomal defects, is done around the 11th to 13th weeks. Amniocentesis is a test with similar functions – it is performed between 15 and 20 weeks. It can detect both neural tube and chromosomal problems in the fetus. Read more of our articles on the first trimester
First Trimester Emotional and Physical Needs Read about the other trimesters |