Pregnancy Tests - A Must For Every Pregnant Woman

The first pregnancy test that any woman generally does is a home test. It is a very quick and flexible way of testing for pregnancy. This test can be done a little before the due date of your menstrual cycle. But the result is much more accurate if it is done a week after missing the period. These kits are easily available at any pharmacy. The tests claim that these are 99 percent accurate but many times, they can be misleading too. Make sure you read the instructions very carefully before carrying them out.

Steps

As soon as you get a positive home test, visit your ob-gyn where a series of tests would confirm the pregnancy. Besides the regular urine test, the doctor may also do a blood test. The pregnancy hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (HCG) is detected in the urine test to confirm conception.

At the first visit, your doctor will do a number of tests on you to check the overall physical assessment of your heart, lungs, and thyroid. This is to ensure that there are no infections or diseases to be passed on to the baby. If there is anything that needs extra medical attention, this is the right time to do it.

During the woman's regular pregnancy visits, the nurse or the mid wife will always checks her weight, blood pressure, and urine. In the course of time, especially at the end of the second trimester, Diabetes screening is done. If Diabetes is present, special attention is given to managing the sugar levels. Hemoglobin tests are done to determine if the pregnant woman has enough iron in her body. Some women become a little anemic as the pregnancy progresses.

Other Tests

Sometimes the doctors get a little suspicious about the growth of the fetus before its birth. A history of genetic or any other medical disorder may lead to a high risk pregnancy. At this point, the patient is advised to go for an ultrasound test. This test uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of the uterus and the fetus. There is no exposure to radiation. Some gel is applied on the belly of the pregnant woman and the transducer is moved across. You can see the images of the uterus, surrounding area, and the fetus. At the 20th week ultrasound test, the sex of the fetus can be determined provided the baby cooperates. Most times, the images of the developing fetus are given to the parents. Every time a test is performed on the woman, she should feel free to ask questions about the test.