HealthPartners - Your guide to pregnancy

ROUTINE TESTS

If you tested Rh negative at your first prenatal visit, you may be tested for antibodies at 24-28 weeks. You may receive an Rh immunoglobulin injection to stop any Rh problems in this and any future pregnancies. (See page 45.) At 24-28 weeks, you’ll be given a blood test to see if you have gestational diabetes brought on by pregnancy. An hour before the test, you drink a sugary solution. Then your blood is drawn and tested to see how well your body uses the sugar. If the test is positive more testing is needed. If your body can’t process the sugar normally and you have a high amount in your blood, you’ll be treated for gestational diabetes (See page 43). At 36-38 weeks, you’ll be screened for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) , a type of bacteria in the birth canal of 1 in every 3 pregnant people. It usually doesn’t cause you any disease or symptoms but could infect the baby during a vaginal birth, with serious consequences. Testing is done by swabbing your vagina and rectum. (See page 43.) If you test positive your provider will recommend you receive antibiotics during labor to prevent your baby from being infected during birth. Babies have a sleep-wake cycle that lasts between 20 minutes and 2 hours. This affects your ability to feel your baby move. You will usually feel that first “flutter” of life ( quickening ) between 16 and 20 weeks. How much the baby moves can be affected by the baby’s position, your blood sugar level, working and eating habits, sound, light, and physical changes to your environment. Each baby has its own rhythm, and each pregnant person can recognize their own baby’s movement. The term “kick count” refers to your baby’s random movements in your uterus. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends, in the 3rd trimester, that you time how long it takes to feel 10 kicks, twists, turns, swishes, or rolls. A healthy baby should have at least 10 movements in less than 2 hours. Most babies will do this in less than 30 minutes. If you do not feel 10 movements in a 2-hour period, contact your health care provider. This test is used to monitor your baby’s heartbeat during a 20-minute period while they are kicking or moving. If their heart rate goes up twice during the 20-minute period, the result is called “reactive,” and the baby is doing well. If the baby is sleeping during this time, they’ll try to wake the baby and repeat the test for another 20 minutes. If the results are nonreactive, more testing may be needed. This test shows how the baby’s heart reacts to uterine contractions . Contractions can be induced in 2 ways: 1) You receive oxytocin medication through an IV line, or 2) you stimulate your nipples to increase your natural oxytocin. The “stress” created by your contractions can show if the baby is not getting enough blood and oxygen during contractions. This is created by combining results from an ultrasound exam (fetal movements, breathing motions, muscle tone, and amount of amniotic fluid) with the NST result to give your pregnancy a score from 1 to 10. The total score helps your health care provider evaluate the baby’s well-being and decide how to manage your pregnancy. This is a more detailed study than the NST or CST. MONITORING TESTS

Rh ANTIBODY SCREENING

GLUCOSE CHALLENGE SCREENING

GROUP B STREP TESTING

FETAL MOVEMENT TEST (KICK COUNT)

NON-STRESS TEST (NST)

CONTRACTION STRESS TEST (CST)

BIOPHYSICAL PROFILE

PRETERM BIRTH ASSESSMENT Your health care provider will monitor you closely for any signs that you might give birth too early. Giving birth before 37 weeks is called a preterm birth. The following tests can help your provider decide if you need additional treatment to prevent preterm birth. • Cervical Length Screening – The length of your

• Fetal Fibronectin Test – This simple test collects a small amount of vaginal secretion on a swab. It may be done if you are having labor symptoms between 22 and 35 weeks to check your risk of giving birth early (before 37 weeks). If the result is positive, you are at higher risk of giving birth early. This test is only used for special circumstances related to preterm labor . It may be repeated every 1-2 weeks.

cervix is closely linked to your risk of having a preterm birth. Cervical length is measured with a very simple, safe transvaginal ultrasound. If your cervix is too short, your health care provider will talk to you about ways to lower the risk of a preterm birth.

Your Guide to A Healthy Pregnancy

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