The necessary tests in pregnancy

 Pregnancy control can cause some anxiety for the expectant mother. In recent years, scientific studies recommend performing fewer tests on healthy women and reserving the technology for risk cases.

In public health, the visits of the obstetrician usually alternate with those of the midwife  (with variations according to the autonomous communities). In private medicine, check-ups are usually done by the gynecologist" target="_self. But what tests are necessary during pregnancy?

The first visit

A complete medical history is taken to find out if there were previous pregnancies and how they were, to rule out diseases and allergies, and to find out if the future mother smokes, takes medications or is exposed to toxins or excessive stress at work. It is also advisable to know what the father's health is like his age, and if she works with toxic substances that she could bring home on her clothes.

A cytology is done if it has not been done in three years, an examination of the breasts and another of the legs to rule out varicose veins.

A first analysis is performed, which includes serology (to see if there are antibodies to syphilis, rubella, AIDS, hepatitis B, and toxoplasmosis), blood group and Rh, hematology (red blood cells, leukocytes...) to see if there is anemia and biochemistry. : glucose, cholesterol...

A urine culture is ordered to rule out an infection without symptoms, which should be treated to prevent damage to the kidney or increase the risk of premature birth.

Maternal education usually begins: with diet, exercise, hygiene, sexual relations... and it is recommended to visit the dentist.

Week to week

You can now hear the baby's heartbeat with a trumpet and measure the height of the fundus of the uterus.

A new prenatal diagnostic ultrasound is performed: the baby is measured and its organs and limbs are looked at in detail to rule out malformations.

On all visits

The tension and weight are checked. In some places, a quick urine test is done, with a strip, to rule out infections, and measure proteins...

The doubts and symptoms of the future mother are discussed. This is almost the most important thing: talking about what she is experiencing helps her calm down and know that her pregnancy is normal.

From 16-18 weeks of pregnancy, the baby's heartbeat is heard at each check-up, with the traditional trumpet or with an electronic device.

When is amniocentesis recommended?

At the first medical visit, the woman is informed about the possibilities of prenatal diagnosis in the first trimester, using blood tests and measuring the neck of the fetus at the 12-week ultrasound to calculate the risk of the baby having Down syndrome or other chromosome alteration. This diagnosis is very useful to rule out congenital anomalies in pregnant women under 35 years of age (for whom amniocentesis is not recommended).

Amniocentesis is only recommended when there is a history of hereditary diseases or the woman is at high risk due to the result of prenatal diagnosis or age.  It consists of extracting a small amount of amniotic fluid to analyze the fetal cells floating in it.