Author -Dr Preety Aggarwal

MBBS, DGO, DNB,

Medical Director (Gurgaon)- Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Antenatal Maternal and Fetal Screening

Antenatal tests are an important part of your pregnancy journey as these tests ensure that you and your baby are healthy throughout your pregnancy. According to Dr Preety Aggarwal, MBBS, DGO, DNB, Medical Director (Gurgaon)- Obstetrics and Gynaecology,  some tests are recommended for everyone while some tests are only recommended for some women who are at a greater risk of a particular condition. Before starting your pregnancy journey, make sure that you discuss these tests with the best pregnancy doctor in Gurgaon. 

What are Antenatal Tests?

Antenatal tests are screening tests and scans that are required to check your and the health of your baby. These tests are particularly important as they are designed to assess the chances of you or your baby having a medical condition. If the best pregnancy doctor in Gurgaon notices a high risk on the screening test, additional diagnostic tests will be conducted to ascertain the condition.  

Which Antenatal Tests are Conducted During Pregnancy? 

Different types of antenatal tests are conducted at different times during pregnancy, including blood tests, urine tests, ultrasound scans, and other tests. It includes: 

1. Screening Tests 

These are conducted to assess if your baby is likely to have a health condition. Screening tests can help you decide if you want to have a diagnostic test. If the best pregnancy doctor in Gurgaon suspects high-risk, a diagnostic test will be conducted. 

2. Diagnostic Tests 

Once a screening test is done, a diagnostic test is conducted to ascertain if your baby has a health condition. Moreover, diagnostic tests also indicate some risks for your baby including miscarriages.  

3. Blood Pressure Check 

The best pregnancy doctor in Gurgaon will conduct a blood pressure check to ensure you do not have preeclampsia. Preeclampsia refers to high blood pressure occurring after the 20th week of pregnancy. It can lead to serious problems. Hence, blood pressure must be monitored. 

4. Urine Test 

A urine test will be conducted to check for infections including kidney or bladder infections. Moreover, a high amount of protein in the urine may also be a sign of preeclampsia. 

5. Blood Tests 

A blood test will also be conducted to check for certain infections including syphilis, hepatitis B or HIV. Furthermore, a blood test is also used to find out your blood type and Rh factor to check for anaemia. This is important to safeguard the health of the baby. 

6. Foetal DNA Testing 

A foetal DNA test checks your blood for your baby’s DNA. The DNA is evaluated for certain genetic conditions including Down’s syndrome. It also ascertains if your baby has a birth defect or not. 

7. Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) 

This diagnostic test is also conducted to check if your baby has any genetic condition. In this test, a tissue from the placenta is checked at 10-13 weeks of pregnancy. The test will usually be conducted if you have a family history of genetic conditions. 

8. Ultrasound 

An ultrasound uses sound waves to picture your baby inside the womb. This is done to ensure that your baby is growing correctly. 

9. Maternal Blood Screening 

This is another screening test that checks your blood to see if your baby is at risk of birth defects. The test is usually conducted at 15-22 weeks of pregnancy. 

Antenatal maternal and foetal screening is important to ensure that the pregnancy is safe. It also checks if the baby and mother are not at risk or if the baby may develop any genetic condition. The tests should be conducted at certain time intervals. To create a pregnancy plan, you can consult Dr Preety Aggarwal  at the Motherhood Hospitals.