Tests and Screening That Take Place during the Second Trimester
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As you enter your second trimester you will want to know more about the tests and screenings you will be offered. Here a brief overview of the second trimester screenings and tests will be discussed.
First, at each doctors visit you will have a urine screening and your blood pressure will be measured. Your fundal height, the size of your uterus, will also be measured to make sure the baby is growing at a normal rate. The other routine tests are also part of the second trimester:
The Glucose Tolerance Test
This test is offered to determine if the expectant mom has gestational diabetes. It occurs during the 24th to the 28th week of pregnancy.
Maternal Serum Triple or Quadruple Screen
This test looks for birth defects. The triple screen test includes AFP, hCG, and Estrogen. Measuring these substances and hormones can give the doctors clues as to whether your child has a neural tube defect or Down syndrome.
Inhibin-A is included in the new quadruple screen which also helps detect Down Syndrome and is more accurate than some of the other tests used.
Women are not required to have this test performed especially if they are low risk for birth defects.
Other tests that may be performed during the second trimester include a fetal ultrasound, electronic fetal heart monitoring, amniocentesis, or chorionic villus sampling. Most women look forward to the fetal ultrasound that occurs right around 20 weeks gestation. This ultrasound can determine if the baby is developing properly, has any problems, and can also tell the sex of the baby. An accurate due date can also be determined. Women who are at high risk for birth defects or who had tests results that were positive for birth defects may choose an amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling for verification. Electric fetal heart monitoring is used after 20 weeks gestation to determine how the fetus is.
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