Once you are pregnant, you will be bombarded with a multitude of tests you can have to ensure the well being of your baby.

Blood Tests

The first tests you will be offered are what are known as routine blood tests. These are normally carried out at booking and will consist of taking blood to find out your blood group, your iron levels and whether or not you are immune to Rubella.

Blood is also taken for what is known as a venereal disease screen, particularly looking for active syphilis, which is extremely harmful to babies but early detection means it can be treated to prevent infecting the foetus.

Hepatitis B is also tested for with a blood test. If found then extra care will have to be taken when baby is born to prevent transmission, and keep baby well.

An HIV test is now offered to pregnant women. It is possible to reduce the risk of HIV transmission to a baby. This would mean having a caesarean section firstly, and secondly not breast feeding.

Blood Pressure

Your blood pressure will be checked at all your antenatal

visits. Some women find that their blood pressure increases in pregnancy and this will be treated if necessary.

Urine Test

You will be asked to bring a sample of urine with you each time you attend clinic. It will be tested to make sure that there is no glucose or protein present which can be indicators of problems developing.

Palpation

When you visit the midwife she will ask you to lay on a couch so that she can feel your uterus and see how your baby is growing. From around 28 weeks she will also make a note of how your baby is lying.

While doing the examination she will also listen in to baby’s heartbeat.

Dating Scan

Depending on where you live you could be offered a dating scan. This is an ultrasound scan carried out at 12 weeks.

The purpose of this is to confirm your due date is correct by measuring the size of your baby, that the pregnancy is viable and whether you are carrying more than one! This scan could also detect any abnormalities with the baby. The most uncomfortable part of this scan is the

need for a full bladder. A full bladder pushes your uterus above your pelvic bone making the scan possible.

There is no real evidence that scans are harmful for your baby, and since ultrasound has been used since the 1950’s with no major problems it is reasonable to assume it to be safe.

Nuchal Fold Scan

Between 10 and 14 weeks of pregnancy you may be offered a Nuchal Translucency scan. This scan measures the thickness of fluid at the back of the foetal neck. Increased thickness could be an indicator of chromosomal problems such as Downs Syndrome. Some areas may only offer you this scan if you are over a certain age, as the risk of a Downs baby increases as you get older.

Barts Test

The next test is at around 16-18 weeks of pregnancy and is known as the triple, quadruple or Barts test. This is a blood test that looks at the levels of Alpha fetoprotein in your blood. The level of Alpha fetoprotein found in your blood is related to how many weeks pregnant you are. Levels too high or too low are an indicator for downs syndrome or neural tube defects i.e. Spina Bifida.

Anomaly Scan

At around 20 weeks you will be offered an Anomaly Scan also known as a detailed scan. 

This scan will confirm that your baby is growing well and is the correct size for your date of delivery.

The Sonographer will also look at your baby’s skull, face, heart, spine, limbs and various internal organs. Many abnormalities can be discovered during this scan.

Your care package can change depending on your situation. You may require more blood tests or scans than mentioned above.

Its important to remember that all the above are screening tests.  This means that they will only give you a risk factor of something being wrong. They cannot give you definite answers, only clues. For example, the Barts test and nuchal fold will only put you in a high risk or low risk group of having a downs syndrome baby. If you are high risk, would you want to go ahead with a full diagnostic test, and if that test came back as positive for Downs Syndrome, what would you do? Fortunately, the majority of babies are born healthy and well. So try to relax!