Regular pregnancy check-ups from the beginning of pregnancy are essential for the health of the mother and the fetus. These tests not only monitor the health of the mother and baby in a timely manner, but also identify and treat possible health problems at an early stage. As pregnancy progresses, the frequency of check-ups increases from once a month at first, to every two weeks during the second trimester, and once a week until the third trimester, for a total of about 7 to 11 times. Every pregnancy check-up is crucial and should be taken seriously by pregnant women.
Fetal posterior nuchal translucency (NT) measurement is performed by ultrasonography to assess the distance between the soft tissues of the fetal neck and **. The nt value is more than 25 mm is considered abnormal, and this thickening may be associated with chromosomal disorders, congenital heart defects, and other physical malformations. An increase in NT means that the fetus is at increased risk of developing chromosomal and structural abnormalities. This test is recommended to be completed between 11 and 13 weeks of pregnancy plus 6 days, and an appointment should be scheduled one week in advance.
Down syndrome screening estimates the risk of having a baby with birth defects by analyzing a woman's blood sample and taking into account factors such as the expected date of delivery, weight, age, and gestational age at the time of blood collection. This screening is aimed at reducing the birth rate of children with Down syndrome. Most children with Down syndrome are born to healthy parents with no obvious family history. Down syndrome usually occurs due to an abnormality in the early stage of a fertilized egg. Screening is recommended at 15 to 20 weeks plus 6 days of pregnancy, with 16 to 18 weeks being the optimal time window. Missing this time slot will not allow for a follow-up test, and pregnant women aged 35 years and older should consider amniocentesis for a more detailed diagnosis.
Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) screens the fetus for chromosomal abnormalities by analyzing the cell-free DNA in the venous blood of pregnant women, mainly for trisomy 21, trisomy 18, and trisomy 13. This test** is high but non-invasive and recommended at 12 to 23 weeks' gestation. If NIPT results show high risk, amniocentesis is recommended to confirm the diagnosis. Compared with basic NIPT, NIPT-PLUS increases the screening of more than 90 microdeletion microduplication syndromes and 4 sex chromosome diseases.
Amniocentesis is a method of prenatal diagnosis by extracting fetal cells, which can widely detect abnormalities in the number and fragments of chromosomes. Although more accessible, the process is traumatic, with a risk of miscarriage and infection. Amniocentesis recommends karyotyping at 19 to 23 weeks of gestation, and microarray testing at 19 to 30 weeks. Pregnant women who have this test should see their doctor on Monday or Tuesday morning with the relevant test slips.
Ultrasonography, also known as ultrasound of the fetal system, is a screening performed at 22 to 24 weeks of pregnancy to detect severe, fatal malformations. All pregnant women should have at least one such ultrasound during this period, which, unlike a routine ultrasound, takes longer and usually requires an appointment in advance.
An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is performed at 24 to 28 weeks' gestation and measures blood glucose levels at different points in time after 75 grams of glucose is taken orally to diagnose gestational diabetes. Most pregnant women with gestational diabetes have normal blood sugar levels after delivery, but are at higher risk of developing diabetes in the long term.
Ultrasound imaging (commonly known as ultrasound) is an examination method widely used in the medical field, especially for observing the condition of organs such as the liver, gallbladder and pancreas. This test usually requires fasting to avoid food interfering with the clarity of the image. The advantages are low cost, no need to worry about physical damage, no pain, no risk of radiation, and the ability to do as many times as needed. However, ultrasound imaging does not reveal all the details in depth, and the diagnosis of some serious diseases may not be comprehensive.
Computed tomography (CT) is another imaging technique with high resolution that is able to detect about 1Microscopic tumors of 0 cm. With dynamic enhancement scanning technology, CT can provide clearer images that can help distinguish between different types of tumors, such as hemangiomas. CT angiography combining dynamic scanning and arteriography can further improve the detection rate of small liver cancer. However, the disadvantages of CT include the relatively high cost and potential radiation risks, especially for pregnant women and children, so it is recommended to do it if necessary and under the guidance of a doctor. Even in adults, the number of repeated CT scans should be limited to reduce radiation exposure.