Brief Answer:
Congratulations! Now here are the basics.

Detailed Answer:
Hi there! Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic.

Before I dive into telling you about the routine investigations that should be done for a new Mother-To-Be. I was wondering if you could answer a few basic questions for me. This information will help me formulate a more personalized plan for your pregnancy.

1) Were you trying to become pregnant?
2) Have you been using any Birth Control?
3) Have you undergone any fertility treatment?

4) Is this your first pregnancy? If not could you tell me how many times you have been pregnant and could you explain what happened with each pregnancy?

5) Do you or the babies father have any history of Genetic Disease in your family? Do you have any ancestors in your family from the Mediterranean, South XXXXXXX or XXXXXXX (screening for two common blood conditions with this question, Thalassemia and Sickle Cell)

6) What is your Height and Weight?

7) Do you have a good OBGYN doctor to go to for your Antenatal Visits?

8) Have you ever had any surgical procedure done on your Uterus or Cervix? (excluding routine Pap Smears)

9) Do you know if Your mother or your Grandmother were ever given a Medication Called DES (DiEthyl Stylbesterol, it was a medication given in the 50's and 60's to prevent miscarriages)

10) Can you tell me a little about your past medical History? Do you have any chronic diseases? Are you taking any regular medications? Is there anything you want your OBGYN to know about or are apprehensive about?


I look forward to the answers to these questions. In the meantime. Let me give you a basic primer on the investigations that need to be done during your Pregnancy.

The first set of basic testing that needs to be done is the following (please understand that some doctors may wish to add and subtract from this list. I'm giving you pretty much a textbook answer, so testing may vary from place to place)

1) A confirmation blood test for the pregnancy (if this wasn't done before)
2) A Comprehensive Blood Count (to screen for Anemia and other red cell disorders)
3) A Urine Analysis for urinary tract infections etc
4) An STD panel to test for common sexually transmitted diseases (also called the TORCH panel). Not that I think you have anything to worry about, but its better to check into these things now before the baby is born than be surprised later.

At the same time, your OBG will want to check your Weight and BP and keep track of that through the pregnancy.

Around the 11th week or so, you're doctor will want you to come in for your first Antenatal Visit. That's when an ultrasound will be done and another set of blood tests. We can go into those in detail around that time. The ultrasound will be able to give you a fairly accurate expected date for the delivery. Its often called the "Dating Scan' for that reason.

Around the 15th week, your OB should offer you a test called the PentaMarker. This is a test done to look for any problems in the Fetus (Problems like Neural Tube Defects, chromosomal problems, downs syndrome etc). This is certainly not mandatory, but it's an option you may wish to consider.

Around the 19th week, another ultrasound will be done. This is called the 'Anomaly Scan' and it's too look for any structural issues with the development of the Fetus.

More routine Bloodwork will be done in Between t check your weights, sugars thyroid and red cells and finally around week 30, A THIRD ultrasound will be recommended to check the final development of the Baby.

So that is an overview of the different tests and investigations that are done under routine circumstances for a pregnant woman. Things may change based on the test results or based on the recommendations of your OBG, but this is the basic framework.

I hope I've helped and I look forward to your reply.

Yours
Vinay Bhardwaj, MD

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