Ante Natal Tests
There are tests you can ask for during pregnancy. Sometimes these tests can be stressful but they also provide you with reassurance about the health of your baby.
Antenatal Tests
Group B Strep (GBS) – Around one third of all women will carry this bacteria without knowing it and it is the most common cause of life-threatening illness in newborn babies. If this infection is transferred to your baby during labour it can cause blood poisoning, pneumonia, meningitis and can lead to death. You can request this test and if you are found to be carrying the infection you will be given antibiotics during labour to reduce the risk for your child.
Rhesus Negative– If your blood group is rhesus negative, as around 15% of the population are then there could be problems if your baby’s blood group is rhesus positive as your body will produce antibodies because it sees the baby as an invader. If this happens it will cause anaemia and jaundice. There is a simple injection available to prevent this happening so make sure your blood is tested prior to or during pregnancy.
Nuchal Translucency (NT) Scan– This is the test commonly sued to assess if you baby may have Downs Syndrome. Nuchal translucency is a collection of fluid under the skin at the back of your baby’s neck. You can ask for a scan at around 13 week’s pregnancy with which the fluid can be measured. Babies who have down syndrome may have increased levels of this fluid. This test givesonly an indication however if fluid levels are found to be above average then a diagnostic test can be performed to confirm the outcome. Tests can include a Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) or an amniocentesis test.
12 week scan – During this scan basic measurements of your baby will be taken in order to calculate how many weeks old your baby is. You can ask for a print out of your baby scan to show your family.
22 week scan – This is a detailed scan during which various measurements will be taken to ensure that your baby is developing correctly. It is possible during this scan to work out the sex of the baby so you will need to decide if you want to know or not.
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