It all begins with a pregnancy test. Once you take a pregnancy test and it turns out positive, you officially enter your first trimester. The wellbeing and health of both your baby and you are of utmost importance during pregnancy. In each trimester your doctor will prescribe a set of tests and scans to rule out possible risk factors and to ensure that your baby is growing normal. Here are some of the common tests and scans for the first trimester:
1. Your first prenatal visit
As soon as your pregnancy is confirmed, you need to fix an appointment with your Gynecologist. This will be your first official check-up and your doctor will do a thorough physical examination including a pelvic examination. She will ask you many questions regarding …show more content…
A gel will be applied on your tummy and a small hand-held probe or transducer will be moved over your skin to get the views of your baby.
5. First trimester screening
First trimester screening uses a combination of ultrasound scans and blood tests to find out particular chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, trisomy 21, trisomy 18 and cardiac disorders. The first trimester screening may be done alone or in combination with other tests. Normally it involves one ultrasound scan called Nuchal Translucency scan or NT scan and two maternal serum blood tests, namely Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein Screening (PAPP-A) and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin or beta-hCG.
Nuchal Translucency scan (NT): Nuchal Translucency scan is performed between the period of 11 weeks to 13 weeks plus 6 days. It is not an invasive test, but uses ultrasound to measure the collection of fluid under the skin at the back of a baby’s neck. Accumulation of this fluid will be more in babies who have abnormalities. However, this screening test cannot give you a definite diagnosis; it can only estimate the risk of your baby having Down syndrome or other chromosomal or genetic
1. Your first prenatal visit
As soon as your pregnancy is confirmed, you need to fix an appointment with your Gynecologist. This will be your first official check-up and your doctor will do a thorough physical examination including a pelvic examination. She will ask you many questions regarding …show more content…
A gel will be applied on your tummy and a small hand-held probe or transducer will be moved over your skin to get the views of your baby.
5. First trimester screening
First trimester screening uses a combination of ultrasound scans and blood tests to find out particular chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, trisomy 21, trisomy 18 and cardiac disorders. The first trimester screening may be done alone or in combination with other tests. Normally it involves one ultrasound scan called Nuchal Translucency scan or NT scan and two maternal serum blood tests, namely Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein Screening (PAPP-A) and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin or beta-hCG.
Nuchal Translucency scan (NT): Nuchal Translucency scan is performed between the period of 11 weeks to 13 weeks plus 6 days. It is not an invasive test, but uses ultrasound to measure the collection of fluid under the skin at the back of a baby’s neck. Accumulation of this fluid will be more in babies who have abnormalities. However, this screening test cannot give you a definite diagnosis; it can only estimate the risk of your baby having Down syndrome or other chromosomal or genetic