Testing during pregnancy There are many tests during pregnancy. In pairs have a think about what type of tests take place during pregnancy. Brainstorm your ideas

The main types of testing are categorised into the following Routine tests Screening tests Diagnostic tests

Routine tests include: Blood tests Urine tests Height and weight Blood pressure Foetal heartbeat Medical examination. So What are these?

Blood tests This is taken to check for: Anaemia: lack of haemoglobin in the blood causing you to become tired Rubella: This can be dangerous to an unborn child, causing brain damage, blindness and deafness Blood sugar: this can indicate diabetes STIs Blood group Rhesus factor: To find out it the woman had rhesus positive or negative blood HIV: The woman can pass this on via the placenta or breast feeding.

Urine Tests This will check for: Protein (albumen): this can be a sign of infection Glucose (sugar): may indicate diabetes Ketones: May happen when a woman has excessive vomiting and may be dehydrated.

Height and weight Weight loss: baby may have stopped growing, mother may be ill. Weight gain: Sign of pre-eclampsia if excessive

Screening tests Ultrasound scans Nuchal translucency test AFP (alphafetoprotein) test Serum Screening Screening tests are a type of risk assessment, highlights the chances of having a baby with spina bifida or downs syndrome

Ultra Sound Usually at weeks and Can confirm the pregnancy date See if the baby is growing normally See how many babies there are See if the pregnancy is ectopic

Nuchal Fold Translucency test This is used with an ultra sound and measures the amount of skin on the fold of the babys neck as it is thicker in babys who have downs syndrome. This measurement is put into a computer along with the mothers age and blood tests results to work out if there is any risk of abnormality.

AFP This is a blood test usually done between 15 th and 18 th week. High AFP: could be more than 18 weeks pregnant Maybe more than one baby In rare cases, a problem with the spinal cord Low AFP: may be less than 15 weeks pregnant The baby may have downs syndrome

Serum Screening What is it? Also known as triple test or Bart’s. This is a blood test to identify the possible risk of downs syndrome.

Diagnostic tests Amniocentesis CVs (Chorionic villus sampling) Cordocentesis

Amniocentesis Usually carried out between the 15 th and 17 th week

A hollow needle is passed through the skin of the abdomen, uterus, uterus wall and amniotic sac and some amniotic fluid is drawn out. It takes place with an ultra sound. Usually offered to women over 37 due to the higher risk of carrying downs syndrome baby’s

Cordocentesis Is carried out when urgent information is needed. It is used with an ultra sound and blood is taken from the umbilical cord It detects chromosomal problems Blood diseases Rhesus factor, in which a blood transfusion is required

CVS This takes a sample of the placenta Usually available between weeks 10 and 11 Detects haemophilia and cystic fibrosis