Blood tests during pregnancy: what you need to know
- Article reading time: 5 minutes
When you are pregnant, your doctor will recommend certain blood tests to check your health and rule out possible problems. These tests are essential to ensure your and your baby’s health throughout pregnancy.
Who needs pregnancy blood tests?
All pregnant women should have blood tests as part of prenatal care. These tests help identify any issues that could affect you or your baby and allow for early intervention and treatment if needed.
What do pregnancy blood tests check for?
At your first prenatal visit, your doctor will take a blood sample to check for various conditions, including:
– Syphilis
– Thalassemia and other types of anemia
– Thyroid function
– Hepatitis B
– Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
The laboratory will also use the blood sample to determine your blood type, Rh factor, glucose levels, cell count, and hemoglobin—the protein that carries oxygen throughout your body.
Additional blood tests during pregnancy
As your pregnancy progresses, you will have additional blood tests. These tests can detect gestational diabetes and infections and assess the risk of birth defects in your baby. Genetic testing, which is optional, is usually performed during the first trimester.
How are pregnancy blood tests performed?
Blood tests are safe for you and your baby. A technician takes a small amount of blood from your arm and then sends it to a laboratory for analysis.
Understanding your test results
If any of your test results are abnormal, your doctor will likely recommend follow-up tests. If a problem is found, prompt treatment or closer monitoring will help maintain your and your baby’s health throughout pregnancy.
Frequency of pregnancy blood tests
At your first prenatal visit, a blood test will be taken. In the second trimester, another blood test will be done to check for diabetes and reassess hemoglobin levels. If you are Rh negative, your antibodies will also be rechecked. Depending on your individual condition and preferences, additional blood tests may be performed.
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