What Are Prenatal Tests?
Prenatal tests are screening or diagnostic tests that can help identify health
problems that could affect pregnant women or their unborn babies. Some of these conditions
can be treated, so it's important to find them as soon as possible.
Why Are Prenatal Tests Done?
Prenatal tests are given in the first,
second, and third
trimesters. In a mother, they can determine key things about her health that can affect
her baby's health, such as:
In a developing child, prenatal tests can:
- identify treatable health problems that can affect the baby
- show characteristics of the baby, including size, sex, age, and position in the
uterus
- help determine whether a baby might have a birth
defect, genetic problem, or other condition
Some prenatal tests are screening tests that can only reveal the
possibility of a problem. Other prenatal tests are diagnostic tests that
can accurately find whether a fetus has a specific problem. A screening test sometimes
is followed by a diagnostic test.
Although your health care provider (who may be your OB-GYN, family doctor, or a
certified nurse-midwife) may recommend these tests, it's up to you to decide whether
to have them.
Who Should Have Prenatal Tests?
Some prenatal tests are considered routine — that is, almost all pregnant
women receiving prenatal
care get them. They include things like checking urine (pee) levels for protein,
sugar, or signs of infection.
Other non-routine tests are recommended only for some women, especially those with
high-risk pregnancies. These may
include women who:
What Else Should I Know?
Remember that tests are offered to you — it's your choice whether
to have them.
To decide which tests are right for you, talk with your health care provider about
why a test is recommended, its risks and benefits, and what the results can —
and can't — tell you.
Questions to ask:
- How accurate is this test?
- What does it measure?
- What do you hope to learn from the test results?
- Is the procedure painful?
- Could it be dangerous to me or the baby?
- Do the potential benefits outweigh the risks?
- When will I get the results?
- What are my options if the results indicate a problem?
- What could happen if I don't have this test?
- How much will the test cost?
- Is the test covered by insurance?
- How should I prepare for the test?
Date reviewed: August 2018