Pregnancy: The Three Trimesters

Prenatal Care Throughout the Three Trimesters

The best prenatal care attainable ensures both the well-being of the mother and the unborn child.

If you think you might be pregnant, schedule a consultation with your doctor to talk about prenatal care. The number of visits you'll require depends on numerous factors, including your own health and your doctor's preferences.

Prenatal checks are necessary to identify any potential problems, resolve any issues, and monitor your baby's growth and development. You could require additional prenatal care if you already have a medical condition, such as diabetes, or if there are complications throughout your pregnancy.

In a healthy pregnancy, appointments are scheduled around significant milestones and testing. During visits, your doctor will also provide you with critical information regarding the status of your pregnancy and assist you in getting ready to give birth.

Prenatal Tests

The most typical prenatal tests are described below, along with information on how often they occur and what to anticipate throughout the trimesters:

• Genetic Carrier Screening

  • When is it done: Prior to or during pregnancy
  • How it works: A blood test is performed to determine whether you carry a genetic alteration that could increase the chance of a genetic problem in your unborn child. Cystic fibrosis and spinal muscular atrophy are two disorders that are routinely checked for.

• Prenatal Screening

Prenatal screening combines two blood tests, which are carried out at various stages of pregnancy:

Test one – NIPT:

• When is it done: 10 weeks or later
• Cell-free DNA screening, also known as noninvasive prenatal testing, or NIPT, is carried out to ascertain a baby's risk for Down syndrome and two other syndromes, trisomy 18 and trisomy 13, as well as other genetic conditions. It can also foretell the sex of your unborn child.

Test two – Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MASFP) screening

• When is it done: Between 15 and 21 weeks of pregnancy
• A maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MASFP) screening is performed to determine the likelihood of abnormalities of the spine (neural tube defects) or abdomen (abdominal wall defects).

• Nuchal Translucency 

  • When is it done: Between 12 and 14 weeks of pregnancy
  • How it works: An abdomen ultrasound analyzes the volume of fluid behind the baby's neck to check for structural issues including heart abnormalities as well as certain genetic diseases. A greater likelihood of chromosome abnormalities, birth malformations, and genetic diseases is indicated by the presence of extra fluid there.

• Chronic Villus Sampling

  • When is it done: Between 10 and 13 weeks of pregnancy
  • How it works: To check for any chromosomal or genetic problems, a small sample of the placenta is removed and submitted for analysis.

• Amniocentesis 

  • When is it done: Between 16 and 22 weeks of pregnancy
  • How it works: The procedure involves the physician taking a tiny sample of the amniotic fluid encircling your unborn child. Genetic examination of the fluid can detect neural tube defects as well as chromosomal or genetic problems.

• Early Fetal Anatomy Examination 

  • When is it done: Between and 14 weeks of pregnancy
  • How it works: A nuchal translucency ultrasound is one of the numerous physical characteristics of your baby's body that is examined during the first trimester ultrasound. For high-risk patients, such as those who are expecting a child with a suspected abnormality, got high-risk results on a genetic screening test, or had a previous pregnancy with fetal abnormalities, it is typically advised.

• Anatomy Ultrasound (Level 2)

  • When is it done: At or around 20 weeks of pregnancy
  • How it works: Your healthcare provider looks at several parts of your baby's body, such as the heart, brain, spine, limbs, and some other organs. The placenta, uterus, and cervix are also evaluated during the anatomy ultrasound examination.

• Glucose Tolerance Test 

  • When is it done: Between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy
  • How it works: The test detects the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. Gestational diabetes, a kind of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy and necessitates monitoring, may be indicated by an excessively high blood sugar level.

Other tests include fetal monitoring for the baby’s heartbeats and uterine contractions and Group B step testing for potential infections that may be fatal if left untreated.

To ensure a seamless pregnancy, it remains essential to attend all prenatal appointments in a timely fashion and follow your doctor’s recommendations. Remember, each woman is unique and experiences the trimesters differently. Hence, your ultimate source of credible information remains your healthcare provider.