Missed Period and Negative Pregnancy Test?
To miss your period and produce a negative pregnancy test can leave you feeling confused. You may be wondering if pregnancy is a possibility. Let us first assume that the test was correct and you are in fact not pregnant. It’s common for a woman’s ovulation to become irregular. There are many elements that can cause issues with menstruation besides pregnancy. If you you have missed more than 3 periods then you should consult your doctor about your concerns. Most of the time there is a simple solution to a missed period. A great way to get your body back…
Ultrasound To See Baby’s Gender
Determine Baby's Sex With Ultrasound Ultrasounds are certainly one of the better tests to have during your pregnancy - seeing the baby on the screen really brings home the miracle of a developing and ever growing baby inside your body. As your pregnancy develops and you start to get curious about your baby, one of the most common questions is "Is it a girl or a boy?" So let's take a quick look at how you can use the ultrasound to determine the sex of your baby. Of course if you don’t want to know the sex of your baby,…
Triple Screen Test
Triple screen testing goes beyond the alpha-fetoprotein test to determine if you are carrying a Down Syndrome baby. With a triple screen test your alpha-fetoprotein is tested along with your levels of hCG and unconjugated estriol, which is a form of estrogen produced by the placenta. The levels of these three chemicals in your blood may indicate an increased chance of your baby being Down Syndrome, and the test in older mothers the detection rate is about 60%, with a 25% false positive rate. How is a triple screen test performed? A sample of blood is drawn from the mother,…
Routine Visits
A Typical Prenatal Visit In most cases what happens at each prenatal visit is pretty much the same, no matter who your healthcare provider might be. Of course there may be small differences, but the general checks are all the same. Differences may include the order in which these checks are done, and some may not be completed with every visit, but overall you can expect each visit to more or less the same. What checks will be completed? Give urine There are a number of difference issues which will be checked through a urine test. Protein and glucose are…
Quad Screen
Quad Screen Pregnancy Test A quad screen test may be carried out by your healthcare provider in order to determine if you are carrying a Down Syndrome baby, and other possible pregnancy related complications, such as neural tube defects. Quad screen testing is usually completed during the second trimester of your pregnancy, with the optimal age of your fetus being 16 weeks. Once again the gestational age of your fetus is vital to calculating accurate test results. The quad screen tests are capable of detecting about 75% of neural tube defects, 80% of down syndrome babies and 60% of Trisomy,…
Non Stress Test
Fetal Non Stress Test - What Is It & Why Is It Done The Fetal Non-Stress test is a simple and non-invasive test which is usually performed once you have progressed past the 28 week mark. This test – as the name suggested – does not put your baby under any stress at all. How is a Non-Stress Test Performed? The test can take anywhere between 20 – 60 minutes to be complete. During the test you will be made to lie on your left side – sometimes with a wedge under your back that allows you to lean back.…
Group B Strep Swab
There are many different tests you will have to do during pregnancy and one that is given routinely is called a Group B Streptococcus swab. This test is very important and should not be taken lightly. It is a very quick and easy test and has life-saving results with proper treatment. How Do You Test For Group B Streptococcus? Group B Streptococcus is a type of naturally occurring bacteria that up to 40% of women normally carry in their intestinal, vaginal or rectal areas. It is not the same as the Strep you would get in Strep Throat. That is…
Glucose Tolerance Test
What Is A Glucose Tolerance Test And What Do The Results Mean? It is not uncommon for a health care provider to recommend that you have a glucose screening test between 24 and 28 weeks of your pregnancy. This test is carried out to determine if you are have a high blood sugar condition that some women get during pregnancy known as gestational diabetes. As with most screening tests it won’t give you a diagnosis, but rather to try and determine if you are at risk of developing or may be currently suffering from gestational diabetes. In fact only about…
Fetoscopy
What Is A Fetoscopy and What Are The Risks? Fetoscopy is a procedure which is performed to allow your health care provider to see your baby while it is still in your uterus with the aid of a thin flexible instrument called a fetoscope, The fetoscope is inserted into the uterus through a thin incision in the stomach wall. This is all carried out with the aid of an ultrasound – which allows the health care provider to ‘see’ where the instrument is, so that they do not harm the baby. If you are going to have a Fetoscopy carried…
Common Blood Tests
Blood Tests During Pregnancy - What You Can Expect There are a number of tests which you may have done during the course of your pregnancy, and at times it may seem a little overwhelming, especially considering most of them have long and scary types of names. So lets take a look at the blood tests you can expect to undergo, when they take place and what they are for. Initial Prenatal Vist Blood Tests Most prenatal visits will involve the same tests and checks, including a measurement of your weight, recording of your blood pressure and urine testing. However…