IMPORTANCE OF

PRENATAL CHECK UPs

AND THE TESTS THEY
NEED TO UNDERGO
BEFORE BIRTH
MILLABAS, ALLYSA R.
MAPA, DAISY MAE M.
CLUTARIO, TIFFANY
 PRENATAL CARE IS KEY FOR A
HEALTHY PREGNANCY
Finding out you are pregnant is exciting news, often followed by many
questions about what to expect and what comes next. Whether you are a first-
time mom, or have multiple children, seeking prenatal care early in pregnancy
is key to a healthy pregnancy for you and your baby.
KEY POINTS
1. Prenatal care is medical care you get during pregnancy. At each
prenatal care visit, your health care provider checks on you and your
growing baby. 
2. Call your provider to schedule your first prenatal care checkup as
soon as you know you’re pregnant.
3. Getting early and regular prenatal care can help you have a healthy
pregnancy and a full-term baby.
4. Go to all your prenatal care checkups, even if you’re feeling fine.
 What is PRENATAL
Care?
Prenatal care is the healthcare you
receive while pregnant. Regular
prenatal care throughout your
pregnancy helps to catch potential
concerns early and reduces the risk
of pregnancy and birth
complications.
● You can expect to see your healthcare provider often and regularly
throughout your pregnancy. Typically, you will be scheduled for
your first prenatal appointment when you are at least 8 weeks
pregnant. For pregnancies without complications, prenatal visits are
usually scheduled as follows:
 Up to week 28: 1 prenatal visit a month
 Weeks 28 to 36: 1 prenatal visit every 2 weeks
 Weeks 36 to 40: 1 prenatal visit every week

● Your doctor will want to see you more often if you had any
preexisting health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure
before you became pregnant, if you are over the age of 35, or if
problems develop during your pregnancy.
WHAT IS PRENATAL CARE AND
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
1. Prenatal care is medical care you get during
pregnancy. At each visit, your health care
provider checks on you and your growing baby.
Call your provider and go for your first prenatal
care checkup as soon as you know you’re
pregnant. And go to all your prenatal care
checkups, even if you’re feeling fine.
1. Getting early and regular prenatal care can help
you have a healthy pregnancy and a full-term
baby. Full term means your baby is born
between 39 weeks (1 week before your due
date) and 40 weeks, 6 days (1 week after your
due date). Being born full term gives your baby
the right amount of time he needs in the womb
to grow and develop.
• Don’t be afraid to talk to your provider about personal
things. Your provider needs to know all about you so she
can give you and your baby the best care. She asks lots of
questions about you, your partner and your families. Your
medical information and anything you tell her are
confidential. This means she can’t share them with anyone
without your permission. So don’t be afraid to tell her about
things that may be uncomfortable or embarrassing, like if
your partner hurts or scares you or if you smoke, drink
alcohol, use street drugs or abuse prescription drugs.
• Prenatal care helps decrease risks during pregnancy and
increases the chance of a safe and healthy delivery. Regular
prenatal visits can help your doctor monitor your pregnancy and
identify any problems or complications before they become
serious.

• Babies born to mothers who lack prenatal care have triple the
chance of being born at a low birth weight. Newborns with low
birth weight are five times more likely to die than those whose
mothers received prenatal care.
Prenatal care ideally starts at least three months before you begin
trying to conceive. Some healthy habits to follow during this period
include:
■ quitting smoking and drinking alcohol
■ taking folic acid supplements daily (400 to 800 micrograms)
■ talking to your doctor about your medical conditions, dietary
supplements, and any over-the-counter or prescription drugs that
you take
■ avoiding all contact with toxic substances and chemicals at home or
work that could be harmful During Pregnancy
■ Once you become pregnant, you’ll need to schedule regular
healthcare appointments throughout each stage of your pregnancy.
How often do you go for prenatal care checkups?

Most pregnant women can follow a schedule like this:

 Weeks 4 to 28 of pregnancy. Go for one checkup every 4
weeks (once a month).
 Weeks 28 to 36 of pregnancy. Go for one checkup every 2
weeks (twice a month).
 Weeks 36 to 41 of pregnancy. Go for one checkup every
week (once a week).
● If you have complications during pregnancy, your provider
may want to see you more often.
● Your partner or support person (a friend or someone from
your family) is welcome at your prenatal checkups.
 How can you get ready for your first prenatal care
checkup?
Be ready to talk with your provider about: 
● The first day of your last menstrual period (also called LMP). Your
provider can use this to help find out your baby’s due date.
● Health conditions you have, like depression, diabetes, high blood
pressure, and not being at a healthy weight. Conditions like these can
cause problems during pregnancy. Tell your provider about your family
health history. This is a record of any health conditions and treatments
that you, your partner and everyone in your families have had. Use the
March of Dimes Family Health History Form and share it with your
provider. If you have a record of your vaccinations, take it to your
checkup. A vaccination is a shot that contains a vaccine that helps
protect you from certain harmful infections.
 How can you get ready for your first prenatal care
checkup?
● Medicines you take, including prescription medicine, over-the-counter medicine,
supplements and herbal products. Some medicines can hurt your baby if you take
them during pregnancy, so you may need to stop taking it or switch to another
medicine. Don’t stop or start taking any medicine without talking to your provider
first. And tell your provider if you’re allergic to any medicine. You may be allergic to a
medicine if it makes you sneeze, itch, get a rash or have trouble breathing when you
take it.

● Your pregnancy history. Tell your provider if you’ve been pregnant before or if
you’ve had trouble getting pregnant. Tell her if you’ve had any pregnancy
complications or if you’ve had a premature baby (a baby born before 37 weeks of
pregnancy), a miscarriage or stillbirth. Miscarriage is when a baby dies in the womb
before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Stillbirth is when a baby dies in the womb after 20
weeks of pregnancy.
 How can you get ready for your first
prenatal care checkup?

● Smoking, drinking alcohol, using street drugs and abusing

prescription drugs. All of these can hurt your baby. Alcohol includes
beer, wine and liquor. Street drugs are illegal to use, like heroin and
cocaine. Abusing prescription drugs means you use them differently
than your provider tells you to. This means you take more than your
provider says you can take, you take it with alcohol or other drugs or
you use someone else’s prescription drugs.
How can you get ready for your first prenatal care
checkup?
● Stress you feel. Stress is worry, strain or pressure that you
feel in response to things that happen in your life. Talk to
your provide about ways to deal with and reduce your
stress. High levels of stress can cause complications during
pregnancy.

● Your safety at home and work. Tell your provider about

chemicals you use at home or work and about what kind of
job you have. If you’re worried about abuse during
pregnancy and ask about ways you can stay healthy and
safe at home and work.
What happens at your first prenatal care checkup?

● Your first checkup is usually the longest because your

provider asks you lots of questions about your health. At
your first prenatal care checkup, your provider:

● Gives you a physical exam and checks your overall health.

Your provider checks your weight and height to figure out
how much weight you should gain during pregnancy.
 What happens at your first prenatal
care checkup?
● Checks your blood, blood pressure and urine. Blood tests can tell your provider if
you have certain infections, like syphilis, hepatitis B and HIV. Your provider also
uses a blood test to find out your blood type and Rh factor and to check for
anemia. Anemia is when you don't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry
oxygen to the rest of your body. Rh factor is a protein that most people have on
their red blood cells. If you don’t have it and your baby does, it can cause Rh
disease in your baby. Treatment during pregnancy can prevent Rh disease. Blood
pressure and urine tests can help your provider diagnose a serious condition called
preeclampsia. This is a kind of high blood pressure that can happen during
pregnancy. Having too much protein in your urine may be a sign of preeclampsia.
Urine tests also can tell your provider if you have a kidney or bladder infection or
other conditions, like diabetes.
 What happens at your first prenatal
care checkup?
• Gives you a pelvic exam and a Pap smear. Your provider
checks the pelvic organs (pelvis and womb) to make sure
they’re healthy. For the Pap smear, your provider collects cells
from your cervix to check for cancer and for infections, like
chlamydia and gonorrhea. The cervix is the opening to the
uterus (womb) that sits at the top of the vagina.

• May give you vaccinations, like a flu shot. It’s safe to get a flu
shot any time during pregnancy. But some vaccinations are
best at certain times and some aren’t recommended during
pregnancy. Talk to your provider about what’s best and safe
for you and your baby.
 What happens at your first prenatal care
checkup?
● Tells you your due date. Your provider usually uses your LMP to
figure out your due date. But you may get an early ultrasound to
confirm that you’re pregnant and help your provider figure out your
baby’s age. An ultrasound uses sound waves and a computer screen to
show a picture of your baby inside the womb.
● Prescribes a prenatal vitamin. This is a multivitamin made for
pregnant women. Your prenatal vitamin should have 600 micrograms
of folic acid in it. Folic acid is a vitamin that every cell in your body
needs for healthy growth and development. If you take it before
pregnancy and during early pregnancy, it can help protect your baby
from birth defects of the brain and spine called neural tube defects
(also called NTDs), and birth defects of the mouth called cleft lip and
palate.
 What happens at your first prenatal care
checkup?
● Talks to you about prenatal tests. These are medical tests you
get during pregnancy. They help your provider find out how you
and your baby are doing. You may want to have certain tests
only if you have certain problems or if you’re at high risk of
having a baby with a genetic or chromosomal condition, like
Down syndrome. If your provider thinks you’re at risk for having
a baby with one of these conditions, he may recommend that
you see a genetic counselor. This person has training to help you
understand about genes, birth defects and other medical
conditions that run in families, and how they can affect your
health and your baby’s health.
 What happens at later prenatal care
checkups?
At later prenatal care checkups, your health care provider:
● Checks your weight and blood pressure. You also may get urine and
blood tests.
● Checks your baby’s heartbeat. This happens after about 10 to 12
weeks of pregnancy. You can listen, too!
● Measures your belly to check your baby’s growth. Your provider
starts doing this at about 20 weeks of pregnancy. Later in pregnancy,
she also feels your belly to check your baby’s position in the womb.
 What happens at later prenatal care
checkups?
● Gives you certain prenatal tests to check you and your
baby. For example, most women get an ultrasound at 18 to 20
weeks of pregnancy. You may be able to tell if your baby’s a
boy or a girl from this ultrasound, so be sure to tell your
provider if you don’t want to know! Later in pregnancy, your
provider may use ultrasound to check the amount of amniotic
fluid around your baby in the womb. Between 24 and 28
weeks, you get a glucose screening test to see if you may have
gestational diabetes. This is a kind of diabetes that some
women get during pregnancy. And at 35 to 37 weeks, you get a
test to check for group B strep. This is an infection you can
pass to your baby.
 What happens at later prenatal care
checkups?
● Asks you about your baby’s movement in the womb. If it’s
your first pregnancy, you may feel your baby move by about 20
weeks. If you’ve been pregnant before, you may feel your baby
move sooner. Your provider may ask you to do kick counts to
keep track of how often your baby moves.
● Gives you a Tdap vaccination at 27 to 36 weeks of pregnancy.
This vaccination protects both you and your baby against
pertussis (also called whooping cough). Pertussis spreads easily
and is dangerous for a baby.
● Does a pelvic exam. Your provider may check for changes in
your cervix as you get close to your due date.
WHAT ARE TESTS NEED TO
UNDERGO DURING
PREGNANCY OR BEFORE
BIRTHS??
Common Tests During Pregnancy

 Genetic Screening
 First Trimester
 Second Trimester
 Ultrasound
 Amniocentesis
 Chorionic Villus Sampling
 Fetal Monitoring
 Glucose
 Group B Strep Culture
 Genetic Screening

Many genetic abnormalities can be diagnosed before birth. Your doctor or midwife may recommend
genetic testing during pregnancy if you or your partner has a family history of genetic disorders. You
may also choose to have genetic screening if you have had a fetus or baby with a genetic abnormality.
●Examples of genetic disorders that can be diagnosed before birth include:

 Cystic fibrosis
 Duchenne muscular dystrophy
 Hemophilia A
 Polycystic kidney disease
 Sickle cell disease
 Tay-Sachs disease
 Thalassemia
 First Trimester Prenatal Screening Tests

First trimester screening is a combination of fetal ultrasound and maternal blood

testing. This screening process can help determine the risk of the fetus having
certain birth defects. Screening tests may be used alone or with other tests.
●First trimester screening includes:

 Ultrasound for fetal nuchal translucency. Nuchal translucency screening uses

an ultrasound to examine the area at the back of the fetal neck for increased
fluid or thickening.
 Ultrasound for fetal nasal bone determination. The nasal bone may not be
visualized in some babies with certain chromosome abnormalities, such as
Down syndrome. This screen is performed using an ultrasound between 11
and 13 weeks gestation.
  Maternal serum (blood) tests. These blood tests measure two substances found in the
blood of all pregnant women:
o Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A. A protein produced by the placenta in
early pregnancy. Abnormal levels are associated with an increased risk of
chromosomal abnormality.
o Human chorionic gonadotropin. A hormone produced by the placenta in early
pregnancy. Abnormal levels are associated with an increased risk of chromosomal
abnormality.
When used together as first trimester screening tests, nuchal translucency screening and
maternal blood tests have a greater ability to determine if the fetus might have a birth
defect, such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21) and trisomy 18.
If the results of these first trimester screening tests are abnormal, genetic counseling is
recommended. Additional testing, such as chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, cell-
free fetal DNA or other ultrasounds, may be needed for an accurate diagnosis.
 Second Trimester Prenatal Screening Tests

 Second trimester prenatal screening may include several blood tests called multiple markers.
These markers provide information about your potential risk of having a baby with certain
genetic conditions or birth defects. Screening is usually done by taking a sample of your blood
between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy (16 to 18 weeks is ideal). The multiple markers include:
 AFP screening. Also called maternal serum AFP, this blood test measures the level of AFP in
your blood during pregnancy. AFP is a protein normally produced by the fetal liver that is
present in the fluid surrounding the fetus (amniotic fluid). It crosses the placenta and enters your
blood. Abnormal levels of AFP may indicate:
o A miscalculated due date, as the levels vary throughout pregnancy
o Defects in the abdominal wall of the fetus
o Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities
o Open neural tube defects, such as spina bifida
o Twins (more than one fetus is producing the protein)
 Estriol. This is a hormone produced by the placenta. It can be measured in maternal blood or urine to
be used to determine fetal health.
 Inhibin. This is a hormone produced by the placenta.
 Human chorionic gonadotropin. This is also a hormone produced by the placenta.

Abnormal test results of AFP and other markers may mean that additional testing is needed. An
ultrasound is used to confirm the milestones of your pregnancy and to check the fetal spine and other body
parts for defects. An amniocentesis may be needed for an accurate diagnosis.
Since multiple marker screening is not diagnostic, it is not 100 percent accurate. It helps determine who
in the population should be offered additional testing during pregnancy. False-positive results may indicate
a problem when the fetus is actually healthy. On the other hand, false-negative results indicate a normal
result when the fetus actually does have a health problem.
When you have both first and second trimester screening tests performed, the ability of the tests to
detect an abnormality is greater than using just one screening independently. Most cases of Down
syndrome can be detected when both first and second trimester screenings are used.
Ultrasound

 An ultrasound scan is a diagnostic

technique that uses high-frequency
sound waves to create an image of
the internal organs. A screening
ultrasound is sometimes done during
the course of your pregnancy to
check normal fetal growth and verify
the due date.
 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 (this is the most accurate way of determining 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)
 Midtrimester (also called the 18- to 20-week scan)

 To confirm the due date (a due date set in the first trimester is rarely changed)
 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
●How is an ultrasound scan performed?
 Two types of ultrasounds can be performed during pregnancy
 Abdominal ultrasound. In an abdominal ultrasound, gel is applied to your abdomen. The
ultrasound transducer glides over the gel on the abdomen to create the image.
 Transvaginal ultrasound. In a transvaginal ultrasound, a smaller ultrasound transducer is
inserted into your vagina and rests against the back of the vagina to create an image. A
transvaginal ultrasound produces a sharper image than an abdominal ultrasound and is often
used in early pregnancy.
 Amniocentesis

An amniocentesis involves taking a small sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds the fetus.
It is used to diagnose chromosomal disorders and open neural tube defects, such as spina bifida.
Testing is available for other genetic defects and disorders depending on your family history and
the availability of lab testing at the time of the procedure.
● Who is an ideal candidate for amniocentesis?

An amniocentesis is generally
offered to women between the 15th
and 20th week of pregnancy who
have an increased risk of
chromosomal abnormalities.
Candidates include women who will
be over age 35 at the time of delivery
or those who have had an abnormal
maternal serum screening test.
An amniocentesis involves inserting a long, thin needle through your
abdomen into the amniotic sac to withdraw a small sample of amniotic fluid.
The amniotic fluid contains cells shed by the fetus, which contain genetic
information. Although specific details of each procedure may vary, a typical
amniocentesis follows this process:
 Your abdomen will be cleansed with an antiseptic.
 Your doctor may or may not give a local anesthetic to numb the skin.
 Your doctor will use ultrasound technology to help guide a hollow needle
into the amniotic sac. He or she will withdraw a small sample of fluid for
lab analysis.
You may feel some cramping during or after the amniocentesis. Strenuous
activities should be avoided for 24 hours following the procedure.
Women who are pregnant with twins or other higher-order multiples need
sampling from each amniotic sac to study each baby. Depending on the
position of the baby and placenta, amount of fluid, and woman’s anatomy,
sometimes the amniocentesis cannot be done. The fluid is then sent to a
genetics lab so that the cells can grow and be analyzed. AFP is also measured
to rule out an open neural tube defect. Results are usually available in about
10 days to two weeks, depending on the lab.
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)?

 CVS is a prenatal test that involves taking a sample

of some of the placental tissue. This tissue contains
the same genetic material as the fetus and can be
tested for chromosomal abnormalities and some
other genetic problems. Testing is available for other
genetic defects and disorders, depending on your
family history and the availability of lab testing at
the time of the procedure. Unlike amniocentesis,
CVS does not provide information on open neural
tube defects. Therefore, women who undergo CVS
also need a follow-up blood test between 16 and 18
weeks of pregnancy to screen for these defects.
CVS may be offered to women with an increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities or who
have a family history of a genetic defect that is testable from the placental tissue. CVS is usually
performed between the 10th and 13th week of pregnancy. Although exact methods may vary, the
procedure involves the following steps:
 Your doctor will insert a small tube (catheter) through your vagina and into your cervix.
 Using ultrasound technology, your doctor will guide the catheter into place near the placenta.
 Your doctor will remove some tissue using a syringe on the other end of the catheter.
Your doctor may also choose to perform a trans abdominal CVS, which involves inserting a
needle through your abdomen and into your uterus to sample the placental cells. You may feel
some cramping during and after either type of CVS procedure. The tissue samples are sent to a
genetic lab for growth and analysis. Results are usually available in about 10 days to two weeks,
depending on the lab.
Women with twins or other higher-order multiples usually need sampling from
each placenta. However, because of the complexity of the procedure and the
positioning of the placentas, CVS is not always feasible or successful with
multiples.
Women who are not candidates for CVS or who did not get accurate results
from the procedure may require a follow-up amniocentesis. An active vaginal
infection, such as herpes or gonorrhea, will prohibit the procedure. In other
cases, the doctor may take a sample that does not have enough tissue to grow in
the lab, generating incomplete or inconclusive results.
 Fetal Monitoring

During late pregnancy and labor, your doctor may want to monitor the
fetal heart rate and other functions. Fetal heart rate monitoring is a
method of checking the rate and rhythm of the fetal heartbeat. The
average fetal heart rate is between 120 and 160 beats per minute. This rate
may change as the fetus responds to conditions in the uterus. An abnormal
fetal heart rate or pattern may mean that the fetus is not getting enough
oxygen or indicate other problems. An abnormal pattern also may mean
that an emergency cesarean delivery is needed.
Using a fetoscope (a type of stethoscope) to listen to the fetal heartbeat is the most basic type of
fetal heart rate monitoring. Another type of monitoring is performed with a hand-held Doppler
device. This is often used during prenatal visits to count the fetal heart rate. During labor, continuous
electronic fetal monitoring is often used. Although the specific details of each procedure may vary,
standard electronic fetal monitoring follows this process:
 Gel is applied to your abdomen to act as a medium for the ultrasound transducer.
 The ultrasound transducer is attached to your abdomen with straps so it can transmit the fetal
heartbeat to a recorder. The fetal heart rate is displayed on a screen and printed onto special
paper.
 During contractions, an external tocodynamometer (a monitoring device that is placed over the
top of the uterus with a belt) can record the pattern of contractions.
On occasion, internal fetal monitoring is needed to provide a more
accurate reading of the fetal heart rate. Your bag of waters (amniotic
fluid) must be broken and your cervix must be partially dilated to use
internal monitoring. Internal fetal monitoring involves inserting an
electrode through the dilated cervix and attaching the electrode to the
scalp of the fetus.
 Glucose Testing

Glucose testing is used to measure the level of sugar in your blood.

A glucose challenge test is usually conducted between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Abnormal
glucose levels may indicate gestational diabetes.

●What is involved in a glucose challenge test?

The initial one-hour test is a glucose challenge test. If the results are abnormal, a glucose tolerance test
is needed.

●How is a glucose tolerance test performed?

You may be asked to only drink water on the day the glucose tolerance test is given. Although the
specific details of each procedure may vary, a typical glucose tolerance test includes the following steps:
 An initial fasting sample of blood will be drawn from your vein.
 You will be given a special glucose solution to drink.
 Blood will be drawn at various times over the course of several hours to measure the glucose levels
in your body.
 Group B Strep Culture

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a type of bacteria found in the lower genital

tract of about 20 percent of all women. While a GBS infection does not usually
cause problems in women before pregnancy, it can cause serious illness in
mothers during pregnancy. GBS may cause chorioamnionitis (a severe infection
of the placental tissues) and postpartum infection. Urinary tract infections
 caused by GBS can lead to preterm labor and birth or pyelonephritis and sepsis.
GBS is the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborns,
including pneumonia and meningitis. Newborn babies contract the infection
during pregnancy or from the mother’s genital tract during labor and delivery.
 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends
screening all pregnant women for vaginal and rectal GBS
colonization between 35 and 37 weeks gestation. 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.

 Certain lab tests are part of routine care during pregnancy. Some of
these tests are done with a blood sample. Others use a urine sample or
a sample of tissue taken from your vagina, cervix, or rectum. These
tests can help find conditions that may increase the risk
of complications for you and your fetus. Many problems found by
these tests can be treated during pregnancy.
What tests are done early in pregnancy?

●Several routine lab tests are done early in pregnancy, including:

o Complete blood count (CBC)

o Blood type and Rh factor
o Urinalysis
o Urine culture
●Also, pregnant women typically are tested for specific diseases and infections early in
pregnancy, including:

o Rubella
o Hepatitis B and hepatitis C
o Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
o Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
o Tuberculosis (TB)
 What does a complete blood count test for?

A CBC counts the number of different types of cells that make up your blood. The number of
red blood cells can show whether you have a certain type of anemia. The number of white
blood cells can show how many disease-fighting cells are in your blood. The number of
platelets can reveal whether you have a problem with blood clotting.
●Will I be tested for blood type?
Yes, during the first trimester of pregnancy you will have a blood test to find out your blood
type, such as type A or type B. Also, your blood will be tested for the Rh factor.
●What is the Rh factor?
 The Rh factor is a protein that can be found on the surface of red blood cells. If your blood
cells have this protein, you are Rh positive. If your blood cells do not have this protein, you
are Rh negative.
 Why is it important to know your Rh status?

If a woman is Rh negative and her fetus is Rh positive, the woman’s body
can make antibodies against the Rh factor. These antibodies can damage the
fetus’s red blood cells. This usually does not cause problems in a first
pregnancy, when the body makes only a small number of antibodies. But it can
cause issues in a later pregnancy.
●What will happen if I am Rh negative?

If you are Rh negative, you may be given medication during pregnancy to
help prevent the development of Rh antibodies. If you are Rh negative and
have already made a certain number of Rh antibodies, you might need special
tests and monitoring throughout pregnancy. Your baby also may need treatment
after birth. See The Rh Factor: How It Can Affect Your Pregnancy to learn
more.
 What is a urinalysis?

●A urinalysis is a test of your urine for:

o Red blood cells, to see if you have a urinary tract disease

o White blood cells, to see if you have a urinary tract infection (UTI)
o Glucose, because high levels of blood sugar can be a sign of diabetes mellitus
This test also measures the amount of protein in your blood, which can be compared to
levels later in pregnancy. High protein levels may signal preeclampsia, a serious complication
that can occur later in pregnancy or after the baby is born.
●What is a urine culture?
 This test looks for bacteria in your urine, which can be a sign of a UTI. Sometimes UTIs
do not cause symptoms. Your urine will be tested early in pregnancy and later in
pregnancy. If the test shows bacteria in your urine, you will be treated with antibiotics.
After you finish treatment, you may have a repeat test to see if the bacteria are gone.
Why is testing for rubella done?

 Rubella (sometimes called German measles) can cause birth

defects if a woman is infected during pregnancy. Your blood can
show whether you have been infected with rubella or if you have
been vaccinated against this disease. If you had this infection
before or you have been vaccinated against rubella, you
are immune to the disease
●What if I’m not immune to rubella?
 Rubella is easily spread. If your blood test shows you are not
immune, avoid anyone who has the disease while you are
pregnant. There is a vaccine, but it contains a live virus and is not
recommended for pregnant women. If you have not been
vaccinated, you can get the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
vaccine after the baby is born.
 What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is a virus that infects the liver. Pregnant women who are infected
with hepatitis B or hepatitis C can pass the virus to their fetuses. All pregnant
women are tested for hepatitis B virus infection. If you have risk factors, you
also may be tested for the hepatitis C virus.
●What if I have hepatitis during pregnancy?
If you are infected with hepatitis B or hepatitis C, you might need special care
during pregnancy. Your baby also may need special care after birth. You can
breastfeed if you have either infection. A vaccine is available to protect the
baby against hepatitis B. The vaccine is given as a series of three shots, with the
first dose given to the baby within a few hours of birth.
 Why should I have tests for STIs?

STIs can cause complications for you and your fetus. All pregnant
women are tested for syphilis and chlamydia early in pregnancy. Tests
for these infections may be repeated later in pregnancy if you have
certain risk factors. You will also be tested for gonorrhea if you are 25
or younger or you live in an area where gonorrhea is common.
●What if I have an STI?
If you have an STI, you will be treated during pregnancy and tested
again to see if the treatment has worked. Your sex partner or partners
also should be treated.
 Why is it important to have a test for HIV?

HIV attacks cells of the body’s immune system and causes acquired

immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). If you have HIV, there is a chance
you could pass it to your fetus.
●What if I have HIV?
While you are pregnant, you can take medication that can greatly reduce
the risk of passing HIV to your fetus. You also can get specialized care to
ensure that you stay as healthy as possible throughout your pregnancy.
●END OF PRESENTATION
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