10 Basic Medical Tests For Pregnant Women & Why
Medical tests for pregnant women are very essential in every Pregnancy. These tests helps to identify possible problems or future complications that may pose a huge risk to the life of both Mother and child and address them appropriately.
10 Basic Medical Tests For Pregnant Women
This list of medical tests for pregnant women is not exhaustive, there may be more depending on the woman & her needs
- Blood PT
- Ultrasound Scan
- Blood Group & Rhesus status
- Genotype
- Blood Level (PCV)
- HIV screening
- Hepatitis B & C screening
- Syphillis screening.
- Blood Sugar Checking
- Urinalysis
Blood Pregnancy Test: This is important to confirm the pregnancy which you might have been suspicious of using symptoms of early pregnancy such as missed period, or to confirm the Urine tests that you have done. You can read on how to do a pregnancy test here.
Ultrasound Scan: This medical tests for pregnant women would help to confirm the location of the pregnancy. This would tell us if the pregnancy is in the womb (uterus) or if it is an Ectopic pregnancy. It also helps to confirm the viability of the pregnancy.
Blood Group & Rhesus status: This is a very essential test, especially for all first time mothers. This test ideally is one of the medical tests that should be done before marriage. However, if it wasn’t done, it is important to know the blood group & rhesus Status of the mother. This would help to know what to do the mother ever requires a blood transfusions, as well as if she needs an immunoglobulin to protect your baby, and possibly prevent future miscarriages. To understand this more, read about Rhesus Incompatibility here.
Genotype: This again, is another medical tests for pregnant women that ought to have been done before marriage. This test would help you know your genotype, especially your Haemoglobin genotype, as well as your chances of giving birth to a child with Sickle cell disease. You can read more about Genotype here.
Blood level (PCV): This test would help to tell the amount/volume of blood in your body. It would help to know if you have enough blood in your body or not, which is important for the sake of you & your unborn baby. It would also help to prevent & treat low blood (anaemia) which can harm you and your baby. Some mother’s can die on the delivery bed due to low blood volume. This is an essential test.
HIV screening: this test for the presence of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, that causes AIDS. This would ensure you know your status as well as help you to prepare and take precaution by getting the necessary medication to avoid transmitting the virus to your unborn baby, both during delivery and at breastfeeding. Read more about HIV here.
Hepatitis B & C screening: this test for the presence of the HBV & HCV viruses. This would ensure you know your status as well as help you to prepare and take precaution by getting the necessary medication to help you live a longer & more comfortable life, as well as avoid transmitting the virus to your unborn baby, both during delivery and at breastfeeding. Read more about Hepatitis here.
Syphilis screening: This helps to prevent transmission of these infections to both your child & your spouse. Syphilis can be very dangerous to the unborn baby, and can cause a lot of complications for the baby. You can read more about syphilis here.
Diabetes screening: It is essential to know your blood sugar status, so as to make the necessary lifestyle adjustment early in in the disease, so as to save yours & your baby’s life. Read more on diabetes here.
Urinalysis: This is a very important test for pregnant women. It is necessary to detect infections so that they can get treated. It can also detect substances like proteins which can help diagnose preeclampsia early on into the pregnancy and save the mothers life and possibly that of the child. Pre-Eclampsia can be a very lethal condition if nothing is done. Read more about Pre-Eclampsia here.
Whenever you or any of your friends or relatives do become pregnant, ensure that all these vital tests are done to prevent any future complications with the pregnancy.
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