What tests to take for a pregnant woman: list, schedule, transcript of results

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 22:35

The primary task of a woman who found out about her pregnancy should be to contact a gynecologist. This is necessary in order for the doctor to register the pregnant woman. It is recommended to register up to 12 weeks. In the future, the gynecologist will prescribe to the pregnant woman all the necessary tests and examinations. A bypass sheet is necessarily issued, in which it will be written in detail about which pregnant woman to be tested and which specialists need to be visited. In the future, the gynecologist will refer the woman for further examinations.

What tests do pregnant women take when registering?

Every woman sooner or later thinks about having a baby. And then she found out she was pregnant. What tests to take? Which doctor is better to go to? These and many other questions she begins to ask her loved ones and herself.

In fact, the tests at registration for all women and in all hospitals are standard. In addition to the examination at the first visit, the doctor also interviews the woman. This makes it possible to know in detailabout the state of he alth of the pregnant woman and, if necessary, prescribe additional tests for her.

After the first visit to the gynecologist, the pregnant woman takes the first tests. Which of the many tests should be taken, the doctor tells her, and writes out a referral for each. From this moment on, a period of strict observance of all prescriptions and appointments of a specialist begins for a woman.

First of all, during the first visit, a visual examination of the pregnant woman is carried out. Her initial body weight is measured, the body mass index is calculated, the mammary glands are examined and the degree of hairiness is assessed. This allows the doctor to assess the condition of the woman and calculate the prognosis for weight gain. Depending on the amount and density of hair on the body of a pregnant woman, the doctor draws a conclusion about the level of her hormonal background. The specialist will measure the weight and examine the breasts throughout the pregnancy.

After the examination, the gynecologist takes a smear from the pregnant woman and sends it for a cytological examination. The need for this analysis is to exclude the presence of inflammatory processes that may occur due to urogenital infections, erosion or the formation of malignant cells.

Also, after the first visit to the gynecologist, a pregnant woman must donate blood to determine her group and Rh factor. This analysis will help determine the likelihood of a Rh conflict between mother and child. In addition, knowing the blood type of a pregnant woman, doctors will be able to quickly provide her with emergency assistance in case of blood loss by transfusing donor blood. InIf the woman has a negative Rh factor and her husband has a positive Rh factor, the expectant mother will have regular tests for Rh antibodies.

Donating blood after the first visit to the gynecologist provides for:

• complete blood count;
• blood glucose test;
• blood chemistry;
• blood test for toxoplasmosis;
• blood test for RW (Wassermann reaction), for HIV, hepatitis B and C;
• coagulogram (analysis of the blood coagulation system);
• ferritin blood test.

In order to exclude the presence of worms in the body of a pregnant woman, a fecal analysis is performed. Also, feces are examined to assess the processes of digestion, the work of the gastrointestinal tract and to identify inflammatory processes in the colon and rectum of a woman.

Studying the heart rate of a pregnant woman and diagnosing malfunctions in the work of the heart is carried out by conducting an electrocardiogram.

To exclude sexually transmitted diseases, a pregnant woman is examined for sexually transmitted infections. This examination can be carried out both in the hospital at the place of registration, and in the dermatological dispensary.

Also, a pregnant woman will need to pass a general urine test for protein.

Regular pregnancy checkups

What tests should a pregnant woman take at each visit to the gynecologist? There is only one - a urine test. But the examinations that a woman in position should undergo at each visit to the doctor are a whole list.

Beforein total, each visit to the gynecologist begins with the measurement of blood pressure, as well as the pulse. Thus, the doctor controls the condition of the woman and, in case of any deviations from the norm, will be able to prescribe an additional examination in time.

In addition, the body weight of the expectant mother is regularly measured. Excess weight may indicate the presence of edema, and a decrease in severe toxicosis, which can threaten the child with a deficiency of the elements necessary for development.

Also, at each appointment, the specialist measures the size of the pelvis, the circumference of the abdomen and the height of the fundus of the uterus. Thanks to these indicators, the growth rate of the uterus and the child is estimated.

After 27 weeks of pregnancy, a woman should undergo cardiotocography at every appointment, which measures the baby's heartbeat and fixes the movements of the fetus. And from week 32, a non-stress test will be performed at each visit to the doctor, which will determine how active the fetus is.

Urine tests

Starting from the moment of registration and until the very birth, a woman needs to take a urine test during each visit to the gynecologist. The answer to the question: “What urine test should a pregnant woman take?” presented above. It is necessary to regularly take urine for a general analysis. This will enable the specialist to assess how the kidneys are functioning and detect protein in the urine. Persistently elevated levels of protein in the urine can lead to hospitalization of a pregnant woman.

In addition, if necessary, the gynecologist can issue a referral for bacteriological examination of urine.

Testsblood

Many expectant mothers are concerned about what blood tests pregnant women take during their childbearing years. In addition to the fact that when registering, she donates blood for a number of tests, she will need to repeat them in 9 months. The table contains all the blood tests that the expectant mother will need to pass (with the exception of those that were submitted during registration):

p/p	Name of analysis	Time	Reason for holding
1.	Overall analysis	18, 28, 34 weeks	Detection of possible anemia, allergies and inflammation
2.	Glucose test	22nd week	Detecting predisposition to diabetes
3.	Biochemical analysis	20th week	Diagnosis of the state of internal organs, metabolism, the study of enzymes and trace elements of the body
4.	Testing for toxoplasmosis	20th week	Identification of a possible disease of toxoplasmosis
5.	Wassermann test, HIV, hepatitis B and C	28, 36 weeks	Excluding the presence of syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis
6.	Coagulogram	18, 28, 34 weeks	Determining the level of blood clotting
7.	Ferritin test	30th week (as indicated)	Identification of possible anemia and elevated ferritin levels, indicating the presence of kidney failure
8.	D-dimers	30th, 38th weeks	Identification of the risk of blood clots
9.	Glucose tolerance test	26-28 weeks (individual)	Diagnosis of latent diabetes mellitus

Related studies

In addition to the above tests and studies, a pregnant woman undergoes many more. Which tests to take for a pregnant woman, and which ones are not necessary, is decided by the gynecologist leading the expectant mother. However, there are mandatory activities, these include:

• Bimanual study. It is carried out at 17, 30 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. In its process, the doctor feels the uterus, determines its size and, if present, detects tumors.
• Smear from the urethra. It is carried out at the 26th and 36th weeks to study the microflora and identify possible inflammation of the vagina.
• Ultrasound. It must be done every two months. The time of the appointment is determined by the gynecologist, based on theresearch. During ultrasound, the diagnosis of anomalies or fetal defects is carried out, the term is specified, the general development is assessed, its parameters are measured, the state of the placenta is examined.

Doppler. If the expectant mother has questionable results of the non-stress test and cardiotocography, she is referred for a fetal blood flow test

For women at risk, the doctor may prescribe additional studies. If no abnormalities are found during pregnancy, a woman visits a doctor once a month in the first trimester, twice a month in the next, and visits become weekly in the last trimester.

Basic rules for testing

Regardless of what tests a pregnant woman takes, for the correctness of their results, she must adhere to certain rules:

1. Blood sampling is carried out in the morning, it is strictly forbidden to eat before it.
2. Blood for biochemical analysis is taken in the same way as the general one, however, at least 8 hours must pass from the moment of eating.
3. Urine for analysis is collected in a sterile jar. Before collection, it is necessary to wash the external genitalia without using disinfectants.
4. It is recommended to take a smear for analysis no earlier than 30-36 hours after sexual contact and 2-3 hours after going to the toilet. In order for the study to be more accurate, it is not necessary to wash the external genitalia.
5. Fresh stools andplace them in a sterile jar. It should be handed over on the day of collection.

A doctor should tell you how to take tests for a pregnant woman.

Deciphering urine tests

During a urinalysis, specialists measure the following indicators:

• white blood cell count;
• amount of protein;
• presence of ketone bodies;
• sugar level;
• number of bacteria;
• flora.

Leukocyte count

Normal is the number of leukocytes from 0 to 3-6 in the field of view. An elevated level of white blood cells may indicate inflammation in the kidneys, bladder, urethra. In the presence of a slight inflammation, their number can increase by 1.5 times, but if they are 2-3 times more than normal, this indicates a serious disease, such as pyelonephritis. Pregnant women are the most susceptible to this disease. The reason for this is the infection in the kidneys against the background of squeezing them by the growing uterus. Sometimes a slight increase in white blood cells indicates that a thorough toilet was not carried out before collecting urine for analysis.

Protein

The norm of indicators of urine analysis does not provide for the presence of protein in it. However, 0.033 g/L is acceptable, and 0.14 g/L when using very sensitive equipment.

Often, protein can appear due to loads or stress. Also, the presence of protein in the urine of a pregnant woman can lead to the development of pyelonephritis, proteinuria and latetoxicosis.

Presence of ketone bodies

Ketone bodies are highly toxic substances that can appear in the urine of a pregnant woman with certain diseases. In the first trimester, they may be present in the analysis due to early toxicosis. If a woman was diagnosed with diabetes before she became pregnant, then ketone bodies may indicate the onset of an exacerbation.

What tests should a pregnant woman take to determine the reasons for the ingress of ketone bodies into the urine, the doctor determines based on the clinical picture.

Glucose levels

It has already been mentioned above what tests pregnant women need to take to determine the level of sugar in the urine.

The slight presence of sugar in the analysis of the expectant mother does not pose any threat. It is believed that the mother's body begins to produce more glucose to fully provide for the child.

However, if the sugar level in the urine test is high, this may be a sign that a woman is developing diabetes mellitus during pregnancy. In order to clarify the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes a blood glucose test and a glucose tolerance test.

Presence of bacteria

If bacteria are found in the urine of a pregnant woman, but the level of leukocytes is not elevated, then we can say that she has developed cystitis. In cases where a woman has no complaints, this condition is called asymptomatic bacteriuria.

When the presence of bacteria is accompanied by an increase in white blood cells, the most common cause is a kidney infection.

Sowing on flora

When there are bacteria in the urine of a pregnant woman, the doctor often prescribes a urine culture to determine her sensitivity to antibiotics.

Thanks to this analysis, you can find out the type of bacteria and their sensitivity to medicines. As a result of such a study, the specialist will be able to prescribe an effective medicine that will lead to a quick recovery.

Deciphering the complete blood count

During a blood test, experts determine:

1. Hemoglobin level (normal - 120-150 g/l). With a decrease in the level, iron deficiency anemia develops, hyperhydration (blood thinning). Elevated hemoglobin develops due to smoking, dehydration and erythremia.
2. Leukocyte count. Normally, the leukocyte count does not exceed 4-9 x 109/liter. An increase in the level indicates the presence in the body of an infection, a purulent or inflammatory process, tissue injury and malignancy. However, high white blood cells in the last trimester and during lactation are normal.
3. The level of red blood cells. The number of red blood cells in the range of 3.5-4.5 x 1012/liter is considered normal. The cause of an increase in the level of red blood cells (erythrocytosis) may be the development of a malignant neoplasm, Cushing's disease, treatment with drugs containing corticosteroids. A decrease in the level of red blood cells occurs against the background of anemia, blood loss, treatment with diuretics, etc.
4. The number of platelets. Normally, the blood of a pregnant woman should contain 150-380x109 /l. If their number decreases, then this indicates a violation of the blood's ability to coagulate. Heavy bleeding during labor can result.

What tests should a pregnant woman take if they deviate from the above indicators, the specialist decides and writes out the appropriate referral.

Biochemical analysis

During a biochemical blood test of a pregnant woman in the laboratory, the following indicators are examined:

• amount of protein;
• lipid metabolism;
• glucose;
• number of enzymes;
• presence of bilirubin;
• micronutrient supply.

After studying the results of the study, the doctor informs their expectant mother and, if necessary, explains what tests the pregnant woman needs to take to clarify the diagnosis.