The information below is meant to give you a general idea of the various tests and procedures associated with pregnancy. The Modern Woman provider will happily give you more detailed explanations at your appointments.

PREGNANCY TEST

When you think you might be pregnant, a simple urine pregnancy test may be performed at home or in our office. At your appointment with your provider, a urine pregnancy test will be given in order to confirm pregnancy even if a home test has shown a positive result.

PRENATAL BLOOD TESTS

These tests are generally ordered as a part of your obstetrical history appointment between 8–10 weeks of pregnancy, and completed prior to your obstetrical physical appointment between 10–12 weeks. These tests help your provider determine maternal health and blood status. Blood tests are performed at a laboratory in a nearby hospital and results are sent back to our office within a few days.

Prenatal blood tests include:

• Blood type and antibody screen
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Hepatitis B
• Rubella
• Rapid plasma reagin test for syphilis
• HIV
• Other tests may be ordered by your provider

URINALYSIS & URINE CULTURE

Urinalysis and urine cultures are performed in office at your appointment between 10–12 weeks of pregnancy in order to screen for bacterial infection in the bladder.

FIRST TRIMESTER SCREENING (OPTIONAL)

Between 11–13 months pregnant, your provider will talk to you about an optional first trimester screening which will help your provider identify risks for some chromosomal abnormalities such as down syndrome, trisomy 13, and trisomy 18.

QUAD SCREEN (OPTIONAL)

At 16–18 weeks pregnant, you may talk to your provider about this optional blood screen to test for down syndrome, trisomy 13, and trisomy 18. An alpha-fetoprotein screening may also be ordered to screen for neural tube defects. Tests are performed in a laboratory nearby and results are generally received within a few days.

BABY’S ULTRASOUND

Your first ultrasound may be performed between as early as 6-10 weeks of pregnancy. If no extra risk is expected, your anatomy scan ultrasound will be performed between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy. Your provider will use the ultrasound to assess fetal anatomy and take measurements, and you will be able to observe the entire scan on a computer monitor.

GROUP B STREP

Nearing the end of your pregnancy, between 35–37 weeks, your provider will perform a vaginal culture to test for Group B Strep bacteria, which is relatively innocuous to adults but can cause infections in babies during birth. If the bacteria is present, treatment would be administered when you go into labor to protect your baby from infection. The culture will be sent to a nearby lab for evaluation and returned back to us within a few days.

WEEKLY INTERNAL EXAMS

At 38 weeks pregnant, your provider may begin performing weekly internal exams in office to check for cervical dilation.

NON STRESS TEST (NST) (IF REQUIRED)

This test is performed if labor has not occurred after 40 weeks (full term) or when otherwise indicated to determine fetal well-being and to test for contractions. During this test, your provider will attach a small, external device to your abdomen with an elastic band that can monitor the fetus. Your provider and an ultrasonographer will evaluate your results the same day of the test.

BIOPHYSICAL PROFILE (BPP) (IF REQUIRED)

An ultrasound is used to perform this test if labor has not occurred after 40 weeks (full term) or when otherwise indicated to test for fetal breathing and heartbeat. Your provider and an ultrasonographer will evaluate your results the same day of the test.

Learn more by making an appointment with your The Modern Women Providers.