In your opinion, why should prenatal testing be routine for all pregnant women?
Prenatal care is recommended for all women who are pregnant and who are thinking of becoming pregnant. Prenatal care ensures healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. When a woman is thinking about becoming pregnant she should consult with a doctor so she can start by having right type of vitamin, she might need some immunization and some other test. We all should adopt a healthy behavior but when you are thinking about becoming pregnant or are already pregnant you should take special care of yourself. Healthy behavior includes proper diet, physical activity and proper weight gain. Pregnant women should go for a routine checkup every month or as health care provider advice, regular prenatal checkups let you know how your baby is doing and can identity problems before hand. It’s always best to educate yourself about all the prenatal test and checkups so you know what to expect.
Prenatal care is very important it can help identify any problems that a pregnancy might have. I will give you my example; when I was pregnant I was diagnose with gestational diabetes. I was able to control my diabetes very well and the reason was I had prenatal care. Imagine if I didn’t seek prenatal care than there was no way of knowing about my gestational diabetes and I wouldn’t have any care of my diet and it would result in risking my health and my baby’s health. Due to my routine checkups and required test that is a part of prenatal care a problem can be identify and be solved within time before any major health risk.
Prenatal care can identify several different things for example health problem in mother that can affect the baby’s health, growth of baby every month such as heart rate, size, sex and, position in the uterus. It can also identify the chance that baby has certain congenital, genetic or chromosomal problems. There are several tests that are performed during each trimester. First trimester includes ultrasound test for fetal nuchal translucency and two maternal serum blood tests which can identify risk for chromosomes abnormalities.
First trimester screening image. (http://www.chop.edu/export/system/galleries/images/hospital/conditions/first-trimester-screening-161393.gif)
Second trimester tests includes Alpha-fetoprotein screening (AFP). If the blood test is abnormal AFP can detect spina bifida, Down syndrome and other chromosomal disease. Other test includes amniocenteses, chronic villus sampling, fetal monitoring and, glucose tolerance test.
Chorionic villus sampling (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. Third trimester test includes Group B Streptococcus (GBS) and, abdominal and transvaginal ultrasound.
GBS is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus agalactiae. Not all babies who are exposed to the bacteria will become infected. Above Image displays Vaginal Bacteria Spreading to Fetus. For more detail information about these test visit http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/pregnant/tests.html.
Susmani,
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog and how informative it is. The pictures really help in giving an idea on the information you are giving us. I was unaware of those types of tests that have to be done and in all honesty it kind of sounds like a stressful situation to me. I don't have kids so I have never had to go through pregnancy and all the testing. However, I realize that is what is important for not only the mother but for the baby as well. I know that if I was in that position I would just have to suck it up because I would want what is best for my baby. I am glad to hear that you got your gestational diabetes taken care of and it did not effect your baby, I assume. We are so lucky to have the care providers we do that ensure not only the mothers are healthy but babies as well. More women need to take advantage of all the tests and information provided to them and be aware that problems and risks can happen if they do not have a good relationship with their care provider.
-Sarah Petersen
Hi Susmani,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog. It was very informative. I would have liked to read about physical activity during pregnancy because there are a lot of misconceptions about that topic. Although I think it is healthy to run and be active such as doing yoga, I also feel it is important to monitor yourself and your heart rate for the safety to the mother and infant. What I do not agree with, is how a lot of mothers and women in general do not think physical activity is necessary. Some clarity on what is safe and healthy would have been a good point in your prenatal care blog. Otherwise, I really enjoyed reading it and looking at the diagrams!
Sara Abbasi
Dear susmani
ReplyDeletethe picture on your blog is very educational and informative. your personal experience to find out about gestational diabetic is a good example about the benefit of prenatal testing. in poor and developing countries women do not have access to these kind of prenatal testing and their children suffer from child birth defect. A lot of mothers also died from complication of child birth.