What optional tests a pregnant woman can take during her pregnancy.
During the nine months that a woman is pregnant there will be hundreds of questions that she will need to answer. Are you breast or bottle feeding ? Will you use cloth or disposable diapers? Do you know if you are having a boy or a girl ? While you might not be ready to answer all of the questions asked, there are some important decisions that you will need to make concerning your growing fetus.
Your OB-GYN will ask you if you want certain tests to be performed. These are all optional except for one blood test done in the beginning of your pregnancy. That routine blood test checks your sugar level, determines blood type, immunities, infections and checks for anemia. Doctors will also push for you to be screened for gestational diabetes, usually around the middle of your pregnancy.
The gestational diabetes screening test checks for any tendency toward diabetes. This is important for those women who have a family history of diabetes, gained a lot of weight or had an extremely large baby in a previous pregnancy.
Now not everyone wants the optional prenatal tests performed. There are risks, although minimal. But the chance of harming or losing the fetus is not a chance some parents are willing to take.
It is recommended that certain women have prenatal tests performed. These women include those who :
- are close to forty years old
- have a family history of disease
- have had unsuccessful pregnancies
- have other children with birth defects
- have been exposed to something toxic or any other substance that your doctor feels is harmful
It is important that each family decides for itself whether or not they want the prenatal tests performed. Your doctor will inform you, not push you unless you fall into one of the catagories above. Weigh each decision and choose which is best for you. If you have already decided that you will have your baby no matter what possible defects, then these tests are not for you. These are more important to parents who do not want a special needs baby.
The following prenatal tests are optional :
AMNIOCENTESIS
WHAT? Amniotic fluid is extracted and examined to determine the sex, condition and level of maturity of the fetus.
WHEN? Usually between the 14th and the 20th week.
HOW? A long, hollow needle is inserted through the abdominal wall into the uterus and a small amount of fluid is extracted.
EFFECTS? Cramping, spotting, fluid leakage, in rare cases infection and miscarriage.
ULTRASOUND
WHAT? Sound waves are used to show a picture of the fetus to determine the date conception occurred, the condition and location of the fetus, and to answer other common questions during pregnancy.
WHEN? Usually anytime from the first month to the birth.
HOW? Internally-a probe is inserted into the vagina; externally-transducer is moved over the abdomen.
EFFECTS? No known risks or side effects known.
FETOSCOPY
WHAT? A mini-telescope is inserted into the amniotic sac to view and photograph the fetus.
WHEN? Usually sometime after the 16th week.
HOW? Tiny incisions are made in the abdomen and uterus. An ultrasound is used to guide the scope into the sac.
EFFECTS? miscarriage
CHORIONIC VILLUS SAMPLING (CVS)
WHAT? Villi cells are taken to detect birth disorders. Defective genes or chromosomes are looked for.
WHEN? Usually between the 10th and the 13th week.
HOW? A needle is inserted into the abdominal wall, then a narrow needle is inserted through the first needle. The narrow needle is inserted 10-20 times, each getting a sample of the villi.
EFFECTS? Bleeding, fatigue, possible limb deformities in the fetus, miscarriage and abortion based on misinformation.
