What is pregnancy screening? How many times and for how long a pregnant woman is screened

The content of the article

• Screening – what is it
• Pregnancy Screening
• How pregnancy screening is done
• Biochemical screening
• Ultrasound screening
• 1 trimester screening
• 2 trimester screening
• 3 trimester screening
• Screening Decryption

For all pregnant women, they began to introduce screening as a mandatory procedure 20 years ago. The main task of such analyzes is to identify genetic abnormalities in the development of the unborn child. The most common include Down syndrome, Edwards, a violation of the formation of the neural tube.

Screening – what is it

All young mothers should know that screening – this word is translated from English as “sifting.” According to the results of the study, a group of healthy people is determined. All others are assigned tests that help determine the disease. A comprehensive examination consists of different methods, for example:

• MRI
• Ultrasound
• mammography;
• genetic screening;
• computed tomography, etc..

All the technologies described above help in identifying diseases in people who are not yet aware of the presence of pathology. In some cases, such studies affect the emotional state of a person, not everyone wants to know in advance about the development of a serious ailment. This depreciates the examination, especially if the patient is not going to undergo treatment. In modern medicine, mass examinations are carried out only if there is a real danger to the health of a large number of people.

Pregnancy Screening

What is screening for expectant mothers? In this case, a comprehensive examination is necessary to monitor the development of the fetus, assess compliance with the norm of the main indicators. When talking about prenatal screening, then we are talking about ultrasound and biochemical examination, for which venous blood is sampled. It must be taken on an empty stomach early in the morning so that the substances that came with the food do not change the composition. Screening test will show levels of fetal A-globulin, pregnancy hormone, estriol.

Pregnant screening includes ultrasound, which allows you to visually determine the abnormalities of the baby’s development. On ultrasound, the main indicators of the growth rate are visible – the nasal bone, the collar zone. To get the most reliable results of the study, the expectant mother must strictly and clearly follow all the rules of perinatal examination.

How pregnancy screening is done

Parents who are worried about the genetics and risk of developing a child’s disease are interested in how screening is done. At the first stage, the doctor must determine the exact period. This affects the norm, biochemical parameters of blood, the thickness of the collar space will vary greatly depending on the trimester. For example, TVP at 11 weeks should be up to 2 mm, and at 14 weeks – from 2.6 mm. If the deadline is not set correctly, the ultrasound screening will show an unreliable result. Blood donation should be on the same day when conducting an ultrasound scan so that the data match.

Biochemical screening

The most accurate way to get an answer to the presence of chromosomal diseases is through biochemical screening. Blood is taken on the same day as an ultrasound scan, early on an empty stomach. It is very important to comply with these requirements in order to get a reliable study result. The fence is carried out from a vein, the material is examined for the presence of a specific substance that secrets the placenta. Evaluated also the concentration, the ratio in plasma of marker substances, specific proteins.

It is important to avoid disturbances during delivery to the laboratory, storage for research. At the reception, the girl will be issued a questionnaire in which there are questions:

• the presence in the family of the father of the child or her people with genetic abnormalities;
• whether there are already children, whether they are healthy;
• whether the future mother is diagnosed with diabetes mellitus;
• a woman smokes or not;
• data on height, weight, age.

Ultrasound screening

This is the first stage of the examination of the expectant mother. Screening ultrasound is no different from any other ultrasound. During the procedure, the specialist assesses the general condition of the embryo, the child’s developmental rate in accordance with the gestational age, the presence of severe malformation and any other external deviations. The absence of the latter does not indicate the full health of the fetus, therefore, a biochemical blood test is performed for a more accurate study.

1 trimester screening

This is the very first screening during pregnancy, which should be carried out at 11-13 weeks of gestation. It is very important to find out the gestational age in advance. The first step necessarily includes an ultrasound scan. The laboratory sometimes asks for ultrasound results to make accurate calculations. A blood test is also performed on protein and hormone: PAPP-A and free b-hCG. This test is called “double.” If a low level of the first is detected, then this may indicate:

1. The likelihood of developing Down Syndrome, Edwards.
2. The possibility of the development of anomalies at the chromosomal level.
3. Pregnancy has stopped developing.
4. There is a chance of having a baby with Cornelia de Lange syndrome.
5. There is a risk of miscarriage.

An ultrasound will help the doctor to visually assess the course of pregnancy, whether there was an ectopic conception, the number of fetuses (if there are more than 1, then they can tell the twins or identical twins). If the baby’s posture is successful, then the doctor will be able to evaluate the fullness of the heartbeat, examine the heart itself, the mobility of the fetus. The child at this time is completely surrounded by amniotic fluid, can move around like a small fish.

2 trimester screening

The second screening during pregnancy is carried out in the interval at 20-24 weeks. An ultrasound examination, biochemical analysis is again prescribed, but this time the test is carried out for 3 hormones. The b-hCG test is supplemented with a check for the ACE and estriol rates. An increased indicator of the first indicates an incorrect determination of the term or multiple pregnancy, or may confirm the risk of developing genetic disorders, fetal pathology.

3 trimester screening

The third pregnancy screening program is between 30-34 weeks. When doctors do an ultrasound, they evaluate the position of the fetus, the presence or absence of abnormalities in the formation of the internal organs of the baby, whether there is entanglement with an umbilical cord, or if there are delays in the development of the baby. During this period, organs are clearly visible, which helps to accurately determine and provide an opportunity to correct deviations. Specialists assess the maturity of the placenta, the amount of amniotic fluid, can tell the sex of the child.

Screening Decryption

Each stage of pregnancy has certain indicators of the norm of development of the child, the composition of the blood. Each time the test will show compliance or deviations from standard indicators. Decoding of the screening is carried out by specialists who evaluate the main indicators. Parents themselves are not required to understand the values ​​of TBP or levels of hormones in the blood. The doctor who monitors the pregnancy will explain all the indicators in the results of the study..