PREGNANCY ADVICE (continued)

SCREENING TESTS DURING PREGNANCY

Throughout your pregnancy, your doctor will monitor you and your baby by performing a number of prenatal tests. The most common tests are:

• Alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) – Blood drawn between the 16th and 18th week of pregnancy will be tested to determine any increased risk of Down’s Syndrome or neural tube defects.

• Amniocentesis – Offered to women over the age of 35 or who have a family history of genetic abnormalities, a sample of the amniotic fluid is obtained by inserting a needle through a woman’s abdomen into the amniotic sac. Cells from the fluid are studied to determine any chromosomal abnormality.

• Glucose Loading Test – A blood test is performed after drinking a flavored glucose drink. This test, which is administered between the 26th and 28th week of pregnancy, screens for gestational diabetes.

• Group B Streptococci (GBS) – GBS is fairly common in pregnant women. A culture from the vagina and rectum may be taken during the last trimester to determine whether are not you are positive for the bacteria. If you are determined to be GBS positive, you will be administered antibiotics during labor.

• HIV Testing – It is recommended that all pregnant women be screened for exposure to the HIV virus. You will need to sign a consent form prior to this test.

• Non-Stress Test – During the third trimester, a non-stress test may be performed. By following the baby’s heartbeat for 30 minutes, this test determines the well-being of both the baby and the placenta.

• RHOGAM – At your first prenatal appointment, you will be tested to determine your blood type. If you are RH negative, you will be given an injection of RHOGAM at 28 weeks. After delivery, if your baby is RH positive, you will be given another injection of RHOGAM. This will prevent contamination of maternal blood with fetal RH positive cells. Failure to treat this condition could complicate future pregnancies.

• Sickle Cell, Taye Sachs, and Thalassemia Testing – Infants can be born with these conditions if their parents are carriers. Blood testing of both parents can determine whether the baby is at risk.

• TB Testing – Women who are at high risk to exposure to Tuberculosis should be screened for the disease in the 16th week of pregnancy.

• Ultrasound – This is a diagnostic test using sound waves to produce an image of a fetus before birth. While this test is commonly used to determine the gender of a baby, it also can help assess fetal growth, some physical abnormalities, and causes of bleeding.

COMMON PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS

Pregnancy places additional physical demands on every woman. It can exacerbate existing conditions, and new health issues may develop. It is always best to be in good shape before you become pregnant. However, even in the best of circumstances, some women will develop complications that will require close medical supervision. The following are a few of the most common pregnancy complications:

Pregnancy induced hypertension or preeclampsia generally occurs after the 20^th week of pregnancy and affects approximately 7 percent of all pregnancies. Symptoms of preeclampsia are protein in the urine, swelling of the face and hands, and sudden weight gain. At each prenatal visit, your doctor will screen for preeclampsia.

Risk factors for preeclampsia are:

• Advanced maternal age (over 40)

• Carrying multiple fetuses

• Having a history of high blood pressure

• Having diabetes

• African American ancestry

• Pregnant for the first time.

If the condition is diagnosed, it may be treated with bed rest and/or medication. If the blood pressure fails to respond to treatment, delivery of the baby may be the only solution.

Gestational Diabetes is when a woman becomes diabetic during pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones can change the way insulin works in some women, resulting in higher glucose levels. Women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes have a substantially higher rate of eventually developing diabetes later in life.

Risk factors for gestational diabetes are:

• Being obese

• Advanced maternal age (over 40)

• Having a family history of diabetes

• Hispanic, Native American, or African American ancestry

Women with mild gestational diabetes might be prescribed a special diet and exercise program. Severe gestational diabetes may be treated with insulin. If diabetes isn’t controlled, the baby may be born with low glucose levels, too many red blood cells, jaundice, and breathing problems. As well, the additional sugar in the mother’s blood can lead to a condition called macrosomia. Babies with macrosomia are overly large, weighing ten pounds or more.

Vaginal Bleeding during pregnancy can be caused by a variety of factors. Bleeding during pregnancy is something to be taken seriously and should be evaluated by your doctor. In most cases, bleeding subsides, and the baby is born without any problem. However, sometimes bleeding is a symptom of a serious problem.

In early pregnancy, some women have spotting when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. This is a normal occurrence, and many women mistake this for a menstrual period.

Heavy bleeding during the first trimester may be a sign of miscarriage, especially when accompanied by cramping in the lower abdomen.

During the second and third trimester, light bleeding may be caused by inflammation of the cervix. This is a minor problem. Heavy bleeding indicates a possible problem with the placenta.

While bleeding is common during pregnancy, it is important to notify your doctor right away.

Preterm Labor is labor that begins before the end of the 37^th week of pregnancy. Almost one in ten pregnancies is born preterm. Growth during the last weeks of pregnancy is vital to a baby’s health. Preterm babies are sometimes born before they have completely developed resulting in problems such as learning disabilities, breathing difficulties, and poor vision and hearing.

Preterm labor is linked to:

• Multiple pregnancy (carrying more than one fetus)
• Incompetent cervix or uterine fibroids
• Infection in mother Preeclampsia (pregnancy induced hypertension)
• Mother’s use of drugs or alcohol during pregnancy

Signs of preterm labor are:

• Increased watery discharge (with or without blood or mucus)
• Pelvic pain or pressure
• Backache Abdominal cramping
• Uterine contractions Ruptured membranes (gush of water)

 

 

 

 

 

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