In a woman’s life, pregnancy is a wonderful phase. There is a complete transformation in your life. You transform into a mother from a woman. A lot of rules and regulations also come along with pregnancy that you have to follow. In your womb, the baby will properly grow and develop if you follow these rules. Some of these are not taking alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes, eating a healthy diet and not lifting heavy weight. You must also take regular pregnancy tests from a reputed diagnostic centre, which are necessary to ensure the overall well-being of the baby. There are three phases or trimesters in pregnancy and its associated tests. They are called the first trimester, the second trimester and the third trimester.

First Trimester Pregnancy Tests

The following are the different types of pregnancy tests performed in the first semester:

  1. Blood Tests:

    A series of blood tests are done to identify your blood type, Rh factor, look for anemia and immunity to various diseases. As your hCG levels aid in supporting the pregnancy, they must be monitored on a regular basis.

  2. Urine Tests:

    The proper functioning of your kidneys is very important during pregnancy. A gynecologist will recommend you to undergo urine tests at regular intervals. The functionality of the kidneys and liver is checked by a urine test. It also looks for potential signs of threat.

  3. Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing:

    Once you have completed your 10 months into the pregnancy, the non-invasive prenatal test is usually done. It is a cell-free fetal DNA test. The relative amount of free fetal DNA present in your bloodstream is measured from blood samples.

  4. Chorionic Villus Sampling:

    The women who are above 35 years of age and have a family history of some specific pregnancy-related diseases are recommended to undergo this test from a reliable medical laboratory. A broad range of genetic defects can be diagnosed by this test.

Second Trimester Pregnancy Tests

The following are different types of pregnancy test ordered in the second trimester:

  1. Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein (MSAFP) and Multiple Market Screening:

    Gynecologists highly recommend this test, though this is an optional screening test. The amount of alpha-fetoprotein present in the body is measured by the MSAFP test. For supporting the pregnancy, this protein is made by the fetus. Possible threats are indicated if the levels are abnormal.

  2. Ultrasound:

    After you enter the 20th week of your pregnancy, the first ultrasound is generally ordered. The gynecologist specifically orders a sonogram. The due date of delivery and a number of factors can be verified by this test.

  3. Glucose Screening:

    Between the 24th and 25th week of the pregnancy, a glucose test is usually done from a pathology lab. To monitor acquired diabetes, it is done and is also highly important. A number of adverse effects in pregnancy can happen if induced diabetes is not controlled. To control the issue, this test helps a lot.

  4. Amniocentesis:

    Between the 15th and the 18th week of pregnancy, this particular test is done, especially for those women who are above 35 years of age and having issues related to genetic disorders. There is a major role of this test in the detection of neural tube defects and genetic disorders.

  5. Fetal Doppler Ultrasound:

    Images of blood flow are produced and whether or not the flow of blood to the placenta and fetus is normal is determined by this test.

  6. Fetoscopy:

    In viewing the fetus, this test helps. Some kind of diseases and defects that other tests may fail to identify can be detected by fetoscopy.

Third Trimester Pregnancy Tests

  1. Group B Streptococcus Screening:

    You will be asked to furnish vaginal and rectal swabs during this test in diagnostic centres for the detection of group B strep bacteria. It is one of the leading causes of many life-threatening infections in newborn, though 30% of it is present in all women.

  2. Electronic Fetal Heart Monitoring:

    During the course of pregnancy, at the time of labour and once during delivery, this test is done to monitor the heart rate of the fetus and ensure everything is fine.

  3. Non-Stress Test:

    In high-risk pregnancy cases, this test is usually performed on regular basis. The baby’s heart rate is monitored by the test as it moves in the womb.

  4. Contraction Stress Test:

    In high-risk pregnancy cases, this test is also recommended. When the womb is contracted either by oxytocin or nipple stimulation, the baby’s heart rate is measured by a fetal monitor during the test. For predicting the baby’s response to labour stress, this technique is used by a gynecologist.