A Guide To Test And Scans During Pregnancy

When you get pregnant, it’s not just your belly that’s changing.. As the body develops and undergoes changes, so does your mind. There are oodles of emotions you experience once you are pregnant. You feel excited and happy, eager to hold your little one in your loving arms. But amidst the rush of various emotions and the thrill of embracing motherhood, a mommy-to-be needs to take good care of herself so that she can give her best to the baby.

With pregnancy comes numerous visits to the doctor. Just so you know, in the latter stages of pregnancy, the frequency of these visits will increase. In case you’re wondering that going to the doctor is a bad thing, you’re absolutely wrong.

All the tests and scans that the doctors perform have only one basic purpose- monitoring your baby’s growth inside your womb. It is essential that you get these scans done so that you’ll be able to address any abnormality in your baby’s development in the early stages. Keep in mind, all the tests and scans will give you an idea of the different aspects of development.

Here are a bunch of tests and scans that you need to take during your pregnancy:

1. Dating and viability scan
It is usually done in early pregnancy between the 6th to 9th weeks. Through this scan you’ll be able to understand and know if the baby is in the correct position inside the uterus. You’ll also be able to listen to your baby’s heartbeat, which is one of the signs that the pregnancy is ‘viable’. It helps to identify your due date even if you’re unsure about how far into pregnancy you are. In case you have bleeding or spotting, this scan will help in finding the cause. . Also, it shows the number of babies you’re carrying.

2. Combined first trimester screening
Nowadays we believe that problems in pregnancy must be picked up as early as possible. This includes both baby problems as well as mum problems. This test combines some blood tests and ultrasound to achieve just that. It is done between 11 to 13 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy. You will be amazed to see how much your baby has developed at this early stage in pregnancy. This test is done by a qualified fetal medicine expert who will look for any structural problems in the baby, signs of Down syndrome as well as give you information regarding what are the odds of developing high blood pressure and/or fetal growth restriction later in pregnancy. The advantage of knowing these risks is that in case you do fall into the ‘at risk’ category, your doctor can prescribe medicine to prevent these complications from happening. In addition, it’s a joy to get the first glimpse of your little one jumping around in your tummy.

3. Anomaly Scan
This is the most common scan which is done in the second trimester. It is done between the 18-20th week of pregnancy. It shows how your baby is growing in your womb. It gives you an insight of the baby’s developing internal organs and it can also detect whether there is any birth defect in your baby. Majority of birth defects can be picked up on ultrasound. This scan will also tell you the exact amount of amniotic fluid in your sac and the positions of the umbilical cord and the placenta.

4. Doppler Scan
This is an important scan which is done during your third trimester. It is a type of ultrasound which will help you determine your baby’s health. It measures the weight of your baby and blood flow in the body of the baby. This helps to show whether your baby is getting all the oxygen and nutrients they need through the placenta.

5. Fetal Monitoring
This is a method to check your baby’s heartbeat rate to ensure that the baby is well. The baby’s heartbeat is recorded on a sheet of paper (like an ECG for an adult). The rhythm and heart rate and changes in these along with baby’s movements are checked in order to see if the conditions within the womb are favorable and if the baby is getting enough oxygen.
Now that you know of the various tests and scans, ensure you speak to your doctor about the other scans and tests you require.

Have a happy and safe pregnancy!