What is screening? Why do we need to do it?

During the entire period of gestation the gynecologists appoint pregnant women to undergo various examinations.

What is screening? This is an ultrasound or biochemical study that is conducted in order to identify the difficulties and irregular course of pregnancy, and also to determine if the baby has pathologies in development.

During pregnancy prenatal screening is carried out , which includes such examinations:

- ultrasonic fetal screening is a study (US), which allows to detect abnormalities in fetal development ;

- biochemical screening. This study is aimed at detecting in the blood of substances that have the property of changing, if there is any pathology;

- combined screening - two studies at one time.

What is the purpose of screening? Ultrasound and blood tests are done to identify a risk group for women whose pregnancy is not quite right or if there are any abnormalities, and to detect congenital diseases in the fetus.

The screening results allow to identify pregnant women in different groups, which facilitates the management of their pregnancy and childbirth. This separation helps doctors to choose the right procedures and medicamentous appointments for expectant mothers.

Studies throughout pregnancy are divided into three stages.

What is screening first? In what terms is it done?

This is the first examination of the fetus. Screening of ultrasound is carried out at the time from ten to fourteen weeks (obstetric period). During this period, the survey is conducted in order to establish the exact duration of pregnancy and make sure that the development of the child does not cause fear. The placenta and amniotic fluid are also studied. Screening biochemical is a blood test in the period of pregnancy ten to thirteen weeks. Based on the results of a study of blood, the conclusion is drawn: whether the fetus has pathologies, congenital diseases, and whether the future mother had any serious diseases that could later affect the baby.

What is screening the second? When it needs to pass?

This is a second trimester survey. Ultrasound is carried out at twenty to twenty-four weeks. It is done in order to identify possible vices, that is, disruptions in the development of the spinal cord and brain, as well as of the heart, kidneys, intestines and all limbs. If such pathologies are found, then this can be an indication for the termination of pregnancy.

Biochemical research is carried out at sixteen to eighteen weeks. This examination reveals a pathology in the development of the neural tube (ninety percent is an accurate definition), and also detect (if any) Down syndrome and Edwards syndrome (seventy percent).

What is screening the third? What is it for?

Ultrasound examination of the third trimester is carried out at thirty to thirty-two weeks. It is necessary in order to reveal pathologies in the development of the fetus. If they are found, it is possible that after birth the child will need a surgical intervention, which is likely to save his life.

The results of ultrasonic and biochemical screenings may be distorted due to a number of reasons:

- The weight of the future mother. If a woman is overweight , then the test results will be higher than they are, and if she is thin or has insufficient body weight, the indicators will be underestimated;

- pregnancy IVF;

- pregnancy is prolific. The indicators are significantly overestimated, so that the risk of developing pathologies can not be calculated;

- bad habits of the mother - this is an automatic hit in a special group of risk;

- incorrect timing of pregnancy. For this reason, all calculations may be incorrect.

Only the doctor can correctly evaluate the results of the examinations. Even if, for some reason, you were identified as a risk group, this does not mean that your pregnancy will be interrupted. You will simply be assigned an additional examination, and then a treatment is prescribed. The baby can now be cured in utero, and then it will be born healthy and strong.