Antenatal screening
Antenatal screening is used to identify any possible risks to the mother or foetus during pregnancy or to identify health issues that will affect the baby.
If a risk is identified, then further tests can be carried out and a prenatal diagnosis given.
Different techniques are used for a range of purposes.
Ultrasound imaging
Pregnant women are routinely given two ultrasound scans during their pregnancy:
- Dating scan
- carried out between 8 and 14 weeks
- used to determine stage of pregnancy and due date
- used with tests for marker chemicals which vary during pregnancy
- Anomaly scan
- carried out between 18 and 20 weeks
- may detect any serious physical abnormalities
Blood and urine tests
Regular checks are carried out on the mother’s urine and blood to monitor concentrations of marker chemicals which can identify a possible condition.
These chemicals vary normally during pregnancy. This is why they are used in conjunction with scans, as measuring chemicals at the wrong time can lead to a false positive result.
Changing chemistry in blood and urine can be used to indicate A medical condition that can occur in mothers during the second half or pregnancy or shortly after giving birth. Early symptoms include high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Although often mild, pre-eclampsia can lead to serious complications for the health of both mother and baby. and A chromosomal condition caused by the presence of a third copy chromosome 21..