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Congratulations! The positive pregnancy test gave you the big news: you’re going to be a mommy and he’s going to be a daddy! It’s a new beginning in your family life, with new responsibilities and many unforgettable experiences. In order for your baby to be well and for you to have a problem-free pregnancy, you are probably already wondering what tests a mother-to-be should have in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Find out with Barza what investigations are needed to know that your pregnancy is OK, and to prevent any complications.
Future mummy tests: first trimester of pregnancy
It’s important to have your trimester medical check-ups during pregnancy or special tests. These will be recommended to you depending on your age or taking into account any physiological and pathological history you or your partner may have.
The tests are based on samples of blood, urine, vaginal secretions or cells taken from the cervix.
It’s good to do it all and give the doctor full information about your medical history. This is the only way to get the best medical advice.
First trimester of pregnancy, first visit to the gynaecologist
The first doctor’s visit also means the first ultrasound. This is to confirm the pregnancy, but also to detect a possible ectopic pregnancy.
If your pregnancy was unplanned and is simply a pleasant surprise, you probably didn’t have your prenatal tests in advance. Their purpose is to make a full assessment of your health. At the same time, you will also take all the precautions so that your baby develops harmoniously.
The first visit to the gynaecologist as a mother-to-be should take place as soon as possible after the news breaks.
You will need to do the following tests:
- Rh and blood group identification;
- Pap test;
- the usual blood tests (haemolucogram), as well as blood biochemistry analysis, coagulogram and calcemia;
- testing for Listeria, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, HIV, Herpes virus, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma;
- cholesterol and triglyceride tests;
- hepatitis B and C serology;
- cytomegalovirus antibody, rubella antibody and toxoplasmosis antibody assays;
- urine tests.
If you’ve had these tests and all goes well in the coming weeks, your next visit to the doctor should be at 12 weeks of pregnancy. Then you will have a new ultrasound, the fetal morphology ultrasound. With it, the doctor finds out if your child is well, how his movements are and if his heart is beating normally.
The importance of assessing the baby’s health in the womb
Also at this time, the doctor will assess the child’s health and organ development. This will establish roughly what weight she is and whether she is developing normally in relation to the age of the pregnancy.
Thus, various abnormalities can be detected on ultrasound. However, there are some malformations (such as anorectal or metabolic malformations) that cannot be detected by ultrasound before birth. On a case-by-case basis, the doctor may recommend further investigations (e.g. a fetal MRI) for a full diagnosis.
You will also be screened for chromosomal abnormalities (such as Down’s Syndrome). This investigation is done by double test or dry test. In addition, your doctor will probably perform a pelvic examination.
The pelvic examination consists of checking the entire genital apparatus (i.e. the vulva, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and bladder). At the same time, samples will be taken to confirm that there is no intimate infection.
The importance of detecting intimate infections as soon as possible
If you have troublesome symptoms, it’s best not to wait until your doctor’s visit. To screen for bacterial vaginitis, candidiasis or other genital conditions, you can test yourself at home using Veneris range. You get a fast and reliable diagnosis with over 98.4% accuracy, similar to laboratory tests. In the case of a positive result, it is recommended that you contact your doctor as soon as possible.
In the second trimester of pregnancy, you will go to the doctor again to see how the baby is doing and how your body has adapted to the pregnancy. Read the article on second trimester tests.
The stork advises you to take care of yourself and your pregnancy, because that’s the only way you can fully enjoy your amazing nine months!
