Obstetrics

During your pregnancy, your provider may recommend a variety of screenings to help monitor your health as well as your baby’s health. These screenings help optimize your baby’s care and development.

Genetic Testing

Genetic testing during pregnancy can help diagnose some genetic disorders before birth. Your provider may recommend genetic testing if one or both of the parents have a family history of genetic disorders.

Examples of genetic disorders that can be diagnosed before birth:

• Cystic fibrosis
• Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• Hemophilia A
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Sickle cell disease
• Tay-Sachs disease
• Thalassemia

AFP Tetra Blood Test

AFP Tetra is a blood test used to help your provider identify pregnancies that may be at increased risk for open spina bifida, Down syndrome or trisomy 18. It does not diagnose birth defects, but can help identify those people with a higher risk who might benefit from additional testing.

Amniocentesis

An amniocentesis is generally offered to women between the 15th and 20th week of pregnancy who have an increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities. It is generally offered to women who will be over age 35 at the time of delivery or those who have had an abnormal AFP screening test.

Glucose Screening Test

A one-hour glucose screening test is a routine test during pregnancy that is usually conducted between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. The test checks a pregnant woman’s blood glucose (sugar) level.

An abnormal result or high glucose levels could indicate gestational diabetes.  Should this occur, a three-hour glucose tolerance test is needed.

Group B Strep Culture

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a type of bacteria found in the lower genital tract of some women.  Most often it is asymptomatic and does not cause problems for pregnant women. On rare occasions uterine infections can occur postpartum.

GBS is also the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborns, including pneumonia and meningitis. Newborn babies contract the infection from the mother’s genital tract during labor and delivery.

It is recommended by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to screen all pregnant women for vaginal and rectal GBS colonization between 35 and 37 weeks of pregnancy for certain risk factors.

The treatment of mothers with certain risk factors or positive cultures is important to reduce the risk of transmission of GBS to the baby. Babies whose mothers receive antibiotic treatment for a positive GBS test are 20 times less likely to develop the disease than those without treatment.

Obstetric Ultrasound

An obstetric ultrasound is a diagnostic tool that uses sound waves to produce pictures of a baby or fetus in a pregnant woman. It is not harmful to the baby and is the preferred method in monitoring a pregnancy.

When are ultrasounds performed during pregnancy?

Ultrasounds may be done at various times throughout pregnancy for several reasons:

First Trimester

• To establish the due date
• To determine the number of fetuses and identify placental structures
• To diagnose an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage
• To examine the uterus and other pelvic anatomy
• To detect fetal abnormalities (in some cases)

Second Trimester

• To confirm the due date
• To determine the number of fetuses and examine the placental structures
• To assist in prenatal tests, such as an amniocentesis
• To examine the fetal anatomy for abnormalities
• To check the amount of amniotic fluid
• To examine blood flow patterns
• To observe fetal behavior and activity
• To measure the length of the cervix
• To monitor fetal growth

Third Trimester

• To monitor fetal growth
• To check the amount of amniotic fluid
• To conduct the biophysical profile test
• To determine the position of the fetus
• To assess the placenta

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