Testing during pregnancy
First trimester testing; we usually break that up into two groups. One, over 35, and one under 35. Over 35 years old, may get recommended to do more invasive tests to determine the chromosomes of the baby. The initial testing is a blood test to determine your blood type, anemia, thyroid, and many others; and then genetic testing, like Cystic Fibrosis and Fragile X, there's a bunch of tests for ethnicities, and then invasive and non-invasive tests. The second trimester is usually a lot less testing. There is a test for women under 35 called the AFP or Triple Marker Testing; and there's a test for called an amnio for women over 35, that may be offered by your doctor. Also, most doctors at around 20 weeks, will send you to another doctor, a perinatologist or a fetal medicine doctor, that will do a big ultrasound to look at the baby from head to toe. The third trimester -- This is exciting because we are getting close. The testing there is for gestational diabetes and anemia. You'll probably get an ultrasound to check the position of the baby to see if the baby is breech; your doctor may make some recommendations. Also, for a culture at the end of the pregnancy, if positive, you may need some antibiotics. Towards the end, the doctor may do another ultrasound to determine the baby's weight. It's pretty exciting.
OB/GYN Jay Goldgerg, MD, explains the different tests performed during pregnancy and what is tested for depending on the trimester, age, and more
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Jay Goldberg, MDObstetrician & Gynecologist
Dr. Jay Goldberg is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Goldberg earned his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1996 after completing his undergraduate education at the University of California-San Diego. His internship and residency training took place at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles.
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