Your healthcare provider can normally get a thorough medical history from you. It will include details concerning your menstrual cycle, contraceptive use, allergic reactions, past pregnancies, and otherdiseases. In order for your medical doctor to appropriately handle your pregnancy, it is vital that you disclose even delicate information similar to abortion and use of drugs. If you were unable to discuss these with any of your family members, you can request that you talk to your doctor in private. The essential thing is to rule out any hazards or possible issues in the course of your pregnancy.

Health care providers conduct a lot of exams in order to determine that you are not having a high risk pregnancy. Here’s a list of the typical tests ordered by your doctor during the first check up:

Physical Exam – Your physician will check your blood pressure, height and weight. Apart from assessing your all round health, your doctor can also particularly assess your heart, lungs and breasts.

Pelvic Examination – A Pap smear is done to check for cervical cancer and other sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and chlamydia. A bimanual internal exam is also carried out to determine the size of the uterus and pelvis. That may lead to a slight discomfort but it is important in checking for abnormalities in the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Complete Blood Count – This test is carried out to look for infection, presence of anemia and to determine clotting ability.

Serologic Test for Syphillis – Syphillis need to be treated early in pregnancy to stop fetal damage. The deformities may vary from bone and tooth deformities to nerve and brain damage. 

Blood Typing – This is important simply because pregnant females with bleeding tendencies must have blood ready in case of emergencies.

Maternal Serum for Alpha-Fetoprotein (MSAFP) – This test is vital in determining neural tube and abdominal flaws in the fetus. It is normally conducted at 16 to 18 weeks of gestation.

Rubella – This test is performed to screen for immunity against German measles. A lot ofPeople in America are immune against rubella since vaccinations are given during childhood. If you didn’t get the vaccine, avoid people with this disease. Though it may be rare, it cancause very serious problems for your child. 

Antibody Titers for Hepatitis B (HBsAg) – That test is applied to screen for Hepatitis B, which may be transmitted to the fetus through childbirth.

Varicella – This test is applied to check for immunity from chickenpox. This test is usually requested for women who have no background of the disease. An exposure in the course of pregnancy may have dangerous effects to the child. 

Urinalysis – Physicians need to test your urine to check for kidney disease and bladder infections. That test can additionally detect high levels of sugar which may indicate diabetes. Bladder infections are typical amongst expecting women, and if left untreated, it may trigger complications for the child. 

Indirect Coombs’ Test – This could determine if Rh antibodies are present. An Rh factor is a protein on the surface of the blood cells that set off an immune system response. If a woman is Rh negative and her spouse is Rh positive, the infant’s blood type may not match, and it may trigger Rh incompatibility. The incompatibility could trigger the mother’s body to develop antibodies that may be harmful to the baby. Therefore, an injection of Rh immune globulin (Rhogam) during the 28th week of pregnancy is necessary. This injection is also given in the event of bleeding during pregnancy and after delivery of the infant. 

HIV Test – That  test in pregnancy is optional, but it is advisable because it lets a HIV positive female to begin therapy with Zidovudine (AZT). AZT may decrease the risk of the infant developing the disease. Females who possess a background of using intravenous drugs, and who have several sex partners are encouraged to undergo testing. That may be a very important but it is certainly not mandatory, so females have the right to refuse testing.

Genetic Tests – Your physician may also request genetic assessments to ascertain illnesses that can be handed to the infant as a result of defective genes. Health professionals would typically prescribe it depending on your medical background and ethnic background. People of Mediterranean descent, Blacks, French Canadians and Jews have a higher risk of having Tay-Sach’s disease, sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.

Prenatal care is a really good step in ensuring a very healthy pregnancy.Though the first visit may call for a lot of exams, these are requested so one can have the greatest possible care through pregnancy. The next  prenatal visits may not be as lengthy as the first one however, every visit is equally important. A pregnant womanmust work closely together with her physician to be sure of a healthy pregnancy.

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