Tests to look after you and your baby
The most important thing to remember is that around 9 out of 10 pregnancies and births are normal. The tests during pregnancy are simply there to help ensure that any problems are caught as early as possible, giving your baby and you the best care during pregnancy. Some of them might sound a bit complicated but these really are all standard routine tests:
Amniocentesis tests
Chorionic villus sampling
Glucose tolerance tests
Blood tests
Urine tests
Amniocentesis test (Optional)
Usually carried out around the 15-18 week stage of pregnancy this diagnostic test looks to see whether your baby has Down’s Syndrome or other chromosomal problems. You’re more likely to be offered this test if you’re over 35, have given birth to a child with any particular conditions or if you or your partner has a family history of genetic abnormalities.
You’ll also be offered this test if there’s any concern from the blood tests results of the nuchal translucency scan.
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 takes around 25 minutes and you should have the results within a fortnight.
It’s a good idea to take things easy for a couple of days after the test and to make sure you have help looking after any other children if you have them.
Amniocentesis is generally fairly safe and many women find that the benefits of the test (providing a diagnosis of possible abnormalities in their baby) outweigh any danger of complications. There is some risk associated though, with 1-2% of women developing complications afterwards that can result in a miscarriage – so in order to make an informed decision, its best that you talk it through with your health care professional.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is usually offered in the first trimester as an alternative to an amniocentesis test. The main difference is that it cannot detect spina bifida. It’s normally offered to women over 35 who have a family history of genetic diseases or who have already had another child with a problem. 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.
Once you’ve had the test, you’ll need to take it easy for a couple of days. And as with an amniocentesis, a CVS test carries a tiny risk of miscarriage, so it’s important to discuss any questions or concerns with your health care professional before you go ahead.
Post-polycose glucose screen
During the second half of pregnancy (around 28 weeks) you will be screened for gestational diabetes which occurs in 4 – 6% of pregnancies. This simple blood test involves drinking 50 grams of glucose around 1 hour prior to the test and will detect whether you have gestational diabetes or not. 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. Those most at risk will tend to have a family history of diabetes, be over 35, overweight or obese and may have had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy. It is also more common for mums-to-be who are Australian Indigenous, Maori, Polynesian, South Asian (Indian), Middle Eastern and other Asian groups.
Many mums-to-be are able to control gestational diabetes with a healthy diet and exercise, and regular blood tests. Occasionally, insulin injections will be necessary.
Blood tests
During your pregnancy you can expect to have quite a few blood tests. There’s no need to worry, they’re all completely routine. They check:
- Iron levels: If they’re low you may feel tired and lethargic, which is normal in pregnancy. Increasing your consumption of well cooked red meat, iron rich foods and vitamin C may give you a boost or foods such as cooked spinach if you are a vegetarian (although note the iron is not as well absorbed as the iron in meat). If a change of diet isn’t enough to make a difference, you can be prescribed iron tablets so you don’t become anaemic. 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.
- German measles (also known as rubella): You were probably given injections as a child to immunise you against German measles. However, if blood tests reveal that you aren’t immune, you’ll know you need to avoid anyone who has the measles because it could harm your baby. A Rubella vaccination will be recommended after your baby is born.
- Other diseases: Your blood will be tested for hepatitis B and syphilis as both can be harmful to your unborn baby. You may also be offered a test for HIV / AIDS, it’s up to you whether you accept it. There’s no reason to worry about these tests – the results are confidential and are carried out so that your baby’s health can be taken care of.
- Toxoplasmosis (optional): This is a parasite that’s spread through cat faeces; and from meat that hasn’t been properly cooked, and can be harmful to your unborn baby. Toxoplasmosis is not routinely tested for but talk to your health care professional if you feel your baby could be at risk.
Urine tests
Your urine will be tested routinely during pregnancy for:
Protein in your urine can be a sign of infection or if accompanied with other symptoms, may indicate pre-eclampsia. This is a condition that can be serious for both mums and babies. Your health care professional can give you more information or you can read about pre-eclampsia here.
- Urinary tract infections can give you problems in pregnancy if left untreated. A urine test will detect any signs of infection and they can then be easily treated with antibiotics.
- Glucose in your urine may indicate a high sugar diet or could just be that you have recently eaten sugary foods. If you repeatedly have glucose in your urine, it can be a sign of gestational diabetes which can be a problem for mother and baby but is easily treated with simple changes to diet and exercise habits.