Special tests during pregnancy

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Home » Pregnancy & Parenting » Pregnancy » Special tests during pregnancy

AFP or Test for serum Alpha Fetoprotein: AFP is a substance that is produced by the baby in the womb and it passes into the mother's blood stream. A higher than normal AFP can indicate twins or that the pregnancy is more advanced than you thought or if the baby has an abnormality such as Spina bifida or neural tube defects. This test can be carried out only during the sixteenth or seventeenth week of pregnancy. If there is a family history of spina bifida, then it is conducted as a routine test.
Amniocentesis : The amniotic fluid in the womb, is drawn out inserting a needle into the uterus. This fluid is then used to conduct a kind of analysis whereby genetic defects such as Down's syndrome can be detected. However, this test cannot be carried out before the sixteenth week. This test also carries the risk of spontaneous abortion in 1 in 300 cases. It is normally conducted only on women over 35 or those who have a family history of genetic abnormalities.
Ultrasound scan: It is a method of body imaging based on the reflectivity of sound. It is believed to be a completely safe method, to reveal the position of the placenta, reveal twins at an early stage, show the size and sex of the foetus and detect major foetal abnormalities, including Spina bifida. It can also be used to measure the rate of blood flow in the foetus and can detect certain forms of congenital heart disease.

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