sent me to blood colection for lab tests. They took around 6/7 tubes of blood! I know one is for HIV test and another one is to find out the blood type.
When I asked the nurse why they were taking so much she said that a lot of the tests are performed in different labs.. that's why they need to send the blood in different tubes... but she didn't say what they want to know.
Does anybody know what else they will be checking for? I'm a first time mom and want to learn a lot of things! They will check for your hcg level, hepatitis B, to see if you are immune to rubella (if your vaccinations are up to date you will be), HIV, blood type and an antibody screen (especially important if you are Rh negative), hemoglobin, a screen for syphilis called either RPR or VDRL), and I think that's about it.
They may, depending on what week you're in, have also drawn some of the genetic screens like the quad screen or alpha-fetoprotein test, which are NOT diagnostic tests that would say "yes" your baby has genetic problems, but what they tell is if there are certain markers present that indicate your pregnancy might be at a higher risk or likelihood of having genetic issues. But I think you would have known if they drew these, because they usually have to obtain consent for these particular tests. Well, I know one of mine was to check progesterone, and another was a sickle cell screening, but they don't do that one on everyone. They took 8 from me. Down syndrome or other chromosome problems
brain or spinal cord defects (also called neural tube defects), such as spina bifida (the spine has not closed normally) and anencephaly (all or part of the brain is missing)
a failure of your baby's abdomen to close, so that the intestines are held in a sac outside the abdomen
a defect in the esophagus (food pipe)
kidney problems
severe skin problems.
These blood screening tests detect:
95% of cases of anencephaly
80% of serious cases of spina bifida
60% or more of the cases of Down syndrome.
Blood type, Rh factor, and antibody screening
Complete blood count
Rubella (German measles) immunity
Hepatitis B testing
Syphilis screening
HIV testing
I think that may be it. But not sure. Blood type, Rh factor, and antibody screening
At your first prenatal visit, your practitioner will check your blood to see whether it's type O, A, B, or AB, and whether it's Rh-negative.
If you're Rh-negative, you'll get a shot of Rh immunoglobulin at least once during your pregnancy, as well as after delivery if your baby turns out to be Rh-positive. This shot will protect you from developing antibodies that could be dangerous during this pregnancy or in future pregnancies. (Note: If your baby's father is also Rh-negative, your baby will be too, so you won't need the shot.)
Your blood will also be checked for any unusual antibodies that may affect your pregnancy.
Complete blood count
A complete blood count will tell your practitioner if you have too little hemoglobin in your red blood cells (a sign of anemia) and, if so, whether it's likely to be the result of iron deficiency.
If you're iron deficient, your practitioner will recommend that you take iron supplements and eat more iron-rich foods, such as lean meat.
The test also counts your platelets and white blood cells. (An elevated number of white blood cells could indicate an infection.)
Rubella (German measles) immunity
This test, called a rubella titer, checks the level of antibodies to the rubella virus in your blood to see whether you're immune. If you were to develop rubella during your pregnancy, it could lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious birth defects.
Most women are immune to rubella, either because they've been vaccinated or had the disease as a child.
If you aren't immune, you'll need to avoid anyone who has the infection and forgo travel to foreign countries where the disease is still endemic. (Fortunately, rubella is rare in the United States.)
Although you can't be vaccinated while you're pregnant, you should get the vaccine after you give birth to protect future pregnancies.
Hepatitis B testing
Many women with this liver disease have no symptoms and can unknowingly pass it to their baby during labor or after birth. This test will reveal whether you're a hepatitis B carrier.
If you are, your practitioner will protect your baby by giving him injections of hepatitis B immunoglobulin as well as the standard hep B vaccine right after birth. All members of your household should be tested and vaccinated if you're a carrier.
Syphilis screening
This sexually transmitted infection (STI) is relatively rare today, but all women should be tested because if you have syphilis and don't treat it, both you and your baby could develop serious problems. In the unlikely event that you test positive, you'll be given antibiotics to treat the infection.
HIV testing
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and a host of other organizations recommend that all pregnant women be tested for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. If you test positive for HIV, you and your baby can get treatment that will help maintain your own health and greatly reduce the chance that your baby will become infected with the virus.
Other blood tests
All women should be offered first-trimester screening for Down syndrome and some other chromosomal abnormalities. This generally involves a blood test as well as an ultrasound to measure the baby's nuchal fold.
Your caregiver may recommend some other blood tests for genetic disorders, depending on your situation and preferences. Some of these, like the test that determines whether you're a cystic fibrosis carrier, may be offered to you even if you're not in a high-risk category.
And that's not all. If you're not sure whether you've ever had chicken pox or been vaccinated against it, some practitioners will test to see if you're immune. If you're at high risk for diabetes, a glucose challenge test might be done at your first visit.
Unless there's a problem that needs to be addressed right away or you're particularly concerned about a certain test, your practitioner will generally wait until your next appointment to review your test results with you. |
