Tests that are Perform during Pregnancy Routine Checkup
You may also be offered an ultrasound scan. It is very common for a scan to be done in early pregnancy (around 12-14 weeks) and perhaps another later on.
The main reasons for a scan are:
- to help date the pregnancy;
- to check for more than one baby;
- to check the baby’s growth and development;
- to monitor the placenta
Ultrasound is increasingingly efficient at -diagnosing abnormalities, notably spina bifida and Down’s syndrome. Practices vary, but if you want your partner there he should he able to accompany you, and you may be offered an instant photograph of the scan, although you will probably have to pay for it.
Depending on your age and your family’s medical history, you may also be offered other tests. If you are nor, and would like them, ask.
1. The nuchal scan
Done at 11-13 weeks, an ultrasound scan measures the thickness of the nuchal pad (fluid) in the baby’s neck. A thicker than average pad may indicate abnormal chromosomes, so you may be offered an amniocentesis.
2. The AFP (alphafetoprotein) test
This is done at 16-18 weeks. A blood sample is checked for high or low levels of AFP, which may be associated with spina bifida or Down’s syndrome. An ultrasound scan can rule out or confirm the diagnosis.
3. The triple test
Sometimes called the Bart’s test or serum screening, this is done at about 15 weeks. A blood sample is tested for chemicals that help to calculate the risks of Down’s syndrome or spina bifida. You may then be offered a diagnostic scan or amniocentesis.
4. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
This is done at around 10-1 / weeks and involves removing a tiny frond of the tissue that forms the placenta and examining it for chromosomal abnormalities, especially Down’s syndrome.
5. Amniocentesis
Carried out at around 18 weeks, amniocentesis involves having a needle inserted in your abdomen to draw off a sample of amniotic fluid. The sample is then checked for abnormalities, especially Down’s syndrome, but also spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis and haemophilia. It will also determine the sex of the baby: if you do not want to know, say so.
6. Getting the results
None of these tests is perfect. Both CVS and amniocentesis carry a small risk of miscarriage and any test could increase your anxiety (although, since the results usually show that there is nothing to worry about, some women are more reassured by them). None of the tests offers a totally certain diagnosis and even routine ultrasound has its critics.
If a test shows that your baby is likely to have an abnormality, you may want to consider a termination. You should be given a chance to talk this through before you have the test. Even if you know you could not consider a termination, you may want the time to prepare for having a baby with special needs.
Depending on where you live, your ethnic origin and family history, you may also be offered other, less common tests. You should be given the chance to discuss the associated risks and benefits before you decide whether to go ahead.
Dreaming of the future
I love being pregnant ( at least from what I have experienced so far) and if it’s gonna be as smooth sailing as my first 4 months then I could say I’d like to stay pregnant forever 
.
Since I am pregnant, I already started fantasizing of setting up our own playground in our backyard. I am sure if we have a playground it would encourage my kid(s) to be active. I also read somewhere that children exposed to nature instead of city buildings and streets did better when they were tested for attention and concentration. I want my children to be connected with nature, be an explorer, find the hole in a log that they can use as a special hiding place for their special item. I want them to chase butterflies and dragonflies in the afternoon.
When I was little I love playing outside with my cousins and to be honest that was the best childhood memory I have and I want my kids to have that too. I know this will be a great investment because the kids will never get tired of playing outside.
Anyway, back to planning for our playground…some of the things I would like to have in the playground we will be setting up are wooden swings, see saws, climbing frames. I would also like to have a tree house but maybe that should come later when the kids are around 8 or 10 years old. I am already picturing my Marces visiting us at the farm with their whole family. I am sure their kids would love to play at the playground. They would have so much fun they wouldn’t want to leave our place.
Oh it’s so nice to plan and dream about the future…
Help this pretty baby
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. When a hernia is not repaired, it may become strangulated. When strangulation occurs, there is a danger that part of the intestine be caught in the hernia cutting off blood supply to the tissue. Also, when a bowel obstruction occurs, it leads to severe pain, vomiting, nausea and inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas. Although Hernia happen to boys mostly, girls can also experience it.
We can help raise the expenses needed for Bella’s operation by purchasing a blog review from her Mom, Mommy Rubz. A blog review from her PR3 blog. The review is consist of 150 words (all positive) with 2 links (home page link) and an image of the header or screen shot of the blog to be reviewed. One link with the blog title as the anchor text and the other link is on the image.
Please send an email to (pehcats@gmail.com) with the url of the blog you want Ruby to review….and will reply with the url of the post and the paypal id where you can send the payment and if you are generous enough, you can even add more to the $10 price… will be waiting for your email!
