Pregnancy is a period in a woman’s life that requires much more testing than usual. They are not limited to gynecological examinations only. It is important to follow your pregnancy screening schedule. Performing tests at various stages of pregnancy will allow you to monitor the development of the fetus and detect possible pathologies.
Pregnancy tests – when
You are surely wondering when you will need to do your first pregnancy tests. The home test can be considered the first of these pregnancy. It is he who detects the hormone that indicates the development of the embryo. Remember that a negative test result does not necessarily mean that you are not pregnant. To be sure, it is best to perform two tests at intervals of several days. The next stage is a visit to the gynecologistwhich will confirm that you are pregnant. When to do it? Ideally as soon as possible after the test. The physician should take a smear for cytology and a culture from the genital tract. The next step is execution ultrasound examinations. This can be done between the 6th and 8th week of your last period. Before that, an ultrasound may not yet detect pregnancy. With this test, your doctor will check the location of your pregnancy and find out if it is single or multiple.
Pregnant examinations – obligatory
During pregnancy, blood counts and urine cultures are performed many times. This is basic pregnancy testing. The execution is very important a glucose load test. It is recommended around 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. Vaginal culture is also mandatory. Additionally, some doctors refer you for thyroid hormone tests. However, it is not obligatory. She always does when she is pregnant a carrier test HIV and HCV, as well as testing for toxoplasmosis. Sometimes the doctor also refers you to prenatal tests. They are used to determine the risk of having a baby with congenital diseases. However, these tests are not reimbursed for every expectant mother. They can only be counted on by women who are at risk – including those over 35.
Pregnancy tests – additional
These obligatory tests are already able to confirm our belief that the child is developing properly. Some, however, decide to perform additional tests. However, there is no need to overdo it with their amount. If we do not know whether it makes sense to perform a given test, it is worth asking a doctor about it. The doctor himself will order additional tests, if for example, he suspects cystic fibrosis or another disease included in the metabolic group. Usually, they will issue a referral for amniocentesis. This test can also help detect genetic defects, such as Down’s syndrome. Additional tests are waiting for the mother in whom the doctor suspects hypertension. Then a Doppler examination is performed. It shows the blood flow in the blood vessels. If the doctor suspects that the fetus may have genetic defects, he or she will refer to a trophoblast biopsy.