9 Mar 2022 | 6 min Read
Sudeshna Chakravarti
Author | 799 Articles
Regular screening tests for each trimester are essential for prenatal care. You will be advised by your OB/GYN to take these tests, as they help track the progress of your pregnancy throughout the gestational period.
These tests are routinely performed and are quick, painless, and beneficial for both the mother and baby. In addition to this, your doctor may recommend some other special tests to determine developmental anomalies or other complications.
Here’s all that you need to know about the prenatal tests you will undergo during the first trimester of your pregnancy.
Prenatal testing refers to the series of medical assessments that an expecting mum has to undergo throughout her gestational period. These tests include ultrasounds, blood tests, vaginal swabs, invasive and non-invasive genetic tests, and electronic fetal monitoring.
These routine tests help your doctor understand your and your baby’s health. Some of these tests are performed in every pregnancy. They analyse the baby’s development progress and check if you are in good health to hold the baby till delivery.
There are also other optional screening tests, which you can opt for, if you are at risk of some compilation. These optional tests help determine if your baby has any congenital disabilities or genetic abnormalities.
In case there are certain health conditions that run in your family, do ensure to mention them to your genetic counsellor. The specialist can help you identify if there are any possible birth defects that can have an impact on your or the child.
There are two types of prenatal testing. They are categorised as:
If results are above or below a set measure, they are deemed positive for further testing. There are no risks involved in undergoing screening tests.
There are certain prenatal tests that are commonly performed during pregnancy:
In addition to these tests, the doctor will also determine your weight during every prenatal checkup to understand if your weight gain is ideal.
The following is the list of tests performed in your first trimester, which is from week zero to week 13:
This test is done by collecting your blood sample using a syringe or needle and submitted to the lab for testing. There are no risks involved in this test, other than the discomfort of bruising and pricking from the injection.
Pregnant women over the age of 35 are usually recommended to undergo genetic screening tests. This is because the risk of chromosomal abnormalities increases with advancing age. The usual tests that your doctor may recommend include chorionic villus sampling, cell-free DNA testing, amniocentesis, anatomy ultrasound, and nuchal translucency screening.
Always ensure to get your prenatal tests done on time as they help determine your and your child’s safety. Also remember, that the number of tests performed or the frequency of ultrasounds can vary from one woman to another, depending on their health condition.
Do consult your doctor for any other specific tests that you need.
A
Suggestions offered by doctors on BabyChakra are of advisory nature i.e., for educational and informational purposes only. Content posted on, created for, or compiled by BabyChakra is not intended or designed to replace your doctor's independent judgment about any symptom, condition, or the appropriateness or risks of a procedure or treatment for a given person.