A vital part of your maternity care in Thane includes blood tests, which are required in all trimesters. In the first trimester, it confirms your pregnancy and identifies your blood group. In the next two trimesters, blood tests are ordered occasionally to ensure you and your baby are doing fine. These are also done to catch any potential health issues early on so that your healthcare provider can discuss a suitable treatment plan. Let’s explore the different blood tests required in different trimesters of pregnancy.

First Trimester Blood Tests

i) Complete Blood Count (CBC):

This test checks your red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Your gynecologist will review your CBC report to see if your hemoglobin, WBCs, and other metrics are within normal range. Low hemoglobin could indicate anemia, which can be managed with iron supplementation.

ii) Blood Type and Rh Factor:

Your doctor will order a blood test to detect your blood type and Rh factor. There’s no concern if the mother’s Rh factor is positive. If the father’s Rh factor is positive and the mother’s is negative, the baby might inherit the positive blood type. This may lead to Rh factor incompatibility. This might not be a concern in the first pregnancy. However, the antibodies will be produced when the baby’s and the mother’s blood get mixed during delivery, putting your subsequent pregnancies at risk. If your Rh factor is negative, you will be administered anti-D injections.

iii) Screening for Infectious Diseases (HIV, Hepatitis B, Syphilis):

Blood tests are also used to detect infectious diseases, like HIV and hepatitis B, in the mother. Early detection will allow your doctor to plan an appropriate treatment to prevent transmission to the baby.

Second Trimester Blood Tests

1) Glucose Screening for Gestational Diabetes:

Some mothers develop gestational diabetes in the second or third trimester. Screening for GD is essential to ensure your and your baby’s well-being. A blood test in the second trimester is ordered to detect your blood glucose status.

2) Quad Screen or Multiple Marker Screening:

It’s another essential blood test conducted in the second trimester. Quad Screen detects chromosomal abnormalities and genetic disorders in the fetus. It classifies your baby’s risk of developing Down’s Syndrome, Patau’s Syndrome, and Edward’s Syndrome as low, medium, and high.

3) Follow-up for Anemia and Iron Levels:

Your doctor may run another CBC to check your hemoglobin levels.

Third Trimester Blood Tests

a) Group B Streptococcus Screening:

Group B Streptococcus’s transmission to the baby can be dangerous, placing your newborn at risk of serious infections. The test detects whether you have this bacteria. You’ll be given antibiotics to prevent its transmission to the baby during labor.

b) Additional Tests Based on Risk Factors:

An Obstetrician-Gynecologist in Thane will review your medical history and ask about chronic illnesses or genetic disorders that run in your family. Based on this, they might order additional blood tests as a protective measure. Talk to your gynecologist to learn more about blood tests, ultrasounds, and other tests needed during pregnancy. It’s important to have these tests done when recommended to prevent complications.