The Presentation is about Routine Pregnancy Tests and Testing (Antenatal Care). It includes following topics. 1. Pelvic (Vaginal) Examination 2. Urine Tests 3. Blood Tests 4. Mother's body weight check 5. Abdominal Examination 6. Listening to Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) 7. Breast Examination 8.Glucose Tolerance Test 9. Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) test 10.Prenatal risk profile (Triple marker screen)

1. Routine Pregnancy Tests
(Antenatal Care)
Women’s Health Information by oowomaniya.com

2. Pelvic (Vaginal) Examination
Purpose of Pelvic Examination during Early
Pregnancy
• To confirm pregnancy
• To correlate size of uterus with the
date of last menstrual period.
• To examine size and shape of pelvis.
• To get sample of vaginal fluid to detect
infection or for cervical cancer (pap
smear).

3. Pelvic (Vaginal) Examination
Purpose of Pelvic Examination in Late
Pregnancy
• To assess condition of cervix and baby's
position.
• To get sample of vaginal fluid to detect any kind
of infection.
• Examination may cause dark brown or reddish
vaginal discharge.
• Examination may increase risk of infection or
premature rupture of membranes.

4. • First prenatal visit To confirm pregnancy
• Urine tests may be less accurate than blood tests to confirm
pregnancy.
• Each Prenatal visit To detect infection
• To check for sugar and acetone, this might indicate blood
sugar level (examining diabetes).Urine tests are less
accurate than blood tests to confirm diabetes
• To check for protein level in the body, which act as an
indication for preeclampsia (pregnancy induced
hypertension) or infection
Urine Tests

5. Blood Tests
First prenatal visit
• To confirm pregnancy
• To determine blood type, Rh type
• To test for Anemia (Hemoglobin level in blood).
• Blood Sugar test
• Thyroid testing (firstly, TSH if that count is abnormal then
further testing includes measurement of T3 and T4).
• To test for HIV
• Testing for Hepatitis-B

6. Mother's body weight check
Each prenatal visit
•To detect sudden weight gain that
could be due to preeclampsia.
•To help monitor mother's nutritional
status.

7. Abdominal Examination
Each prenatal visit
• To measure the growth of uterus (fundal height) this indicates
fetal growth and gestational age. (If problem is suspected,
ultrasound/sonography visualization is recommended.
During last weeks of pregnancy, abdominal examination is
done because:
• To estimate size and position of the fetus.
• To estimate amniotic fluid volume.

8. Listening to Fetal Heart Rate
(FHR)
The FHR is heard through the mother's
abdomen with a fetal stethoscope or a Fetal
Doppler, which uses ultrasound. Why is it
done?
•To assess well-being of the fetus.
•Hearing the FHR enhances the parents'
attachment for their baby and makes the
baby seem more real.

9. Breast Examination
Breast check-up should be carried out once or more
during pregnancy during your prenatal visits.
• To check for flat or inverted nipples that may affect lactation
(breastfeeding the baby).
• To assess condition of breasts for ability to breastfeed the
baby, to rule out patient having inverted nipples.
• To detect any breast abnormalities including lumps in breast.
• Breast self-examination should be performed regularly
throughout pregnancy by the expecting mother.

10. Glucose Tolerance Test
Glucose tolerance test is done if doctor suspects that the
patient is borderline diabetic.
• If the mother's blood sugar is elevated, a longer and more
sensitive glucose tolerance test (GTT) is planned.
• To screen for gestational diabetes, which, if untreated, may
cause problems for mother and baby.
• Detection of Diabetes enables treatment to avoid any
implications on the health of the mother or baby due to
abnormal sugar level.

11. Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) test
• To screen for neural tube defect (Spina bifida, anencephaly), the
presence of twins, or fetal death (high level of AFP).
• To screen for Down's syndrome (low level of AFP).
• If AFP test results are outside the normal range, then further testing
includes a repeat blood test to confirm findings, ultrasound, genetic
counseling, and possible amniocentesis.
• The test will not detect all cases of neural tube defects or Down's
syndrome.

12. Prenatal risk profile
(Triple marker
screen)
A blood test that measures the levels of three
substances:
a) Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG), a
hormone produced by the chorionic villi
b) Estriol, a by-product of estrogen metabolism
c) Maternal serum Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP)

13. Health Information reviewed by OoWomaniya
Medical Advisor
Dr. Nita Thakre
Gynecologist / Obstetrician
Answers in Gynecology,
Urogynecology

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