PRENATAL BLOOD TEST - PREGNANCY BLOOD TEST
When you are pregnant, it is very happiness. This is the beginning of the journey.
The important things to do is doing the blood test of first prenatal visit.
The result of your blood test will give the information for your doctor to do
next action if needed.
Among other things, routine prenatal tests can determine key things about the
mother's health including:
- The blood type
- Whether she has gestational diabetes
- The immunity to certain diseases
- Whether she has a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or cervical cancer
All of these conditions can affect the health of the fetus. Prenatal tests
also can determine things about the fetus' health, including whether it's one
of the 2% to 3% of babies in the United States that the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says have major congenital birth defects.
This is some test that pregnant woman should do at first prenatal visit :
1. Blood type, Rh factor, and antibody screening
At your first prenatal visit, your practitioner will check your blood type (types
O and A are the most common; types B and AB are less so) and find out whether
your blood is Rh-negative. If you're Rh-negative, you'll get a shot of Rh immunoglobulin
at least once during your pregnancy as well as after delivery if your baby turns
out to be Rh-positive. This will protect you from developing antibodies that
could be dangerous during this or later pregnancies. (Note: If your baby's father
is also Rh negative, you won't need the shot.) Your blood will also be checked
for any unusual antibodies that may affect your pregnancy.
2. Complete blood count
A complete blood count will tell your practitioner if you have too
little hemoglobin in your red blood cells (a sign of anemia) and if so, whether
it's likely to be the result of iron-deficiency. If you're iron-deficient, your
practitioner will recommend that you take iron supplements and eat more iron-rich
foods, such as lean meat. The test also counts your platelets and white blood
cells. (An elevated number of white blood cells can be a sign of infection.)
3. German measles (rubella) immunity
This test, called a rubella titer, checks the level of antibodies to
the rubella virus in your blood to see if you're immune. Fortunately, most women
are, either because they've been vaccinated against it or had the disease as
a child. If you aren't immune, you'll need to avoid anyone who has the infection,
because if you develop rubella during your pregnancy, it can lead to miscarriage,
stillbirth, or serious birth defects. (You can't be vaccinated while you're
pregnant, but you should get the vaccine after you give birth to protect future
pregnancies.) Fortunately, rubella is rare in the United States.
4. Chicken pox immunity
If you're not sure whether you've ever had chicken pox or been vaccinated
against it, some practitioners will also test you for immunity. Chicken pox
can cause complications if you get it during pregnancy.
5. Hepatitis B testing
Many women with this liver disease have no symptoms and can unknowingly
pass it along to their baby during labor or after birth. This test will tell
you if you're a hepatitis B carrier. If you are, your practitioner will protect
your baby by giving him injections of hepatitis B immunoglobulin as well as
the standard hep B vaccine right after birth. All members of your household
should be tested and vaccinated if you're a carrier.
6. Syphilis screening
This sexually transmitted infection (STI) is rare today, but if you
have syphilis and don't treat it, both you and your baby can develop serious
problems. In the unlikely event that you test positive, you'll be given antibiotics
to treat the infection.
7. HIV testing
Counseling and testing for the human immunodeficiency virus is recommended
for all pregnant women. If you test positive, you and your baby can get treatment
that greatly reduces the chance that your baby will be infected with the disease.
8. Cervical tests (also called Pap smears) check for:
- STDs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea
- cervical cancer
Who Should Do Prenatal Tests?
Certain prenatal tests are considered routine - that is, almost all pregnant
women receiving prenatal care get them. Other nonroutine tests are recommended
only for certain women, especially those with high-risk pregnancies. These include
women who:
- are age 35 or older
- have had a premature baby
- have had a baby with a birth defect - especially heart or genetic problems
- have high blood pressure, diabetes, lupus, asthma, or a seizure disorder
- have an ethnic background in which genetic disorders are common (or a partner
who does)
- have a family history of mental retardation (or a partner who does)
However the prenatal test is very important for the healty of the mother and
also for our be born baby. If soon we know the problem with our body, we could
get the prevention for became more nasty.
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