Pregnancy Scan Procedures Help Deliver a Healthy Baby
Blood Tests: There are some blood tests which must be done such as Full blood Count. FBC is the most common test taken during pregnancy as it is mainly done to detect anaemia and thalassaemia which are the common genetic disorders in Singapore. This is the first test for a pregnant woman. Here are many other blood tests as well. Below is a list of the important blood tests.
- Hepatitis B Screen
- Rubella IgG Screen
- VDRL (tests for Syphilis)
- HIV
- ABO/RH status
Viability Scan: It is done between the sixth and the eighth week of gestation to confirm that the fetus is developing well and that there are fetal heart pulsations, indicating a viable pregnancy. Moreover, this scan process ensures the Expected Due Date (EDD) with utmost accuracy.
First Trimester Pregnancy Screen/OSCAR: This is done for screening of the chromosomal abnormalities, particularly for Down Syndrome which involves Nuchal Scan BHCG and PAPPA. This screening is done for all pregnancies, whether the mother is younger or older, as every mother has a risk of Down Syndrome. Additionally, this test detects the level of risk of Down syndrome in the context of current pregnancy.
Amniocentesis: This test is done between the 16th and 20th week of pregnancy; it detects chromosomal disorders of which Down Syndrome is commonly found.
Chorionic Villus Sampling: This is done to detect chromosomal disorders and genetic diseases such as thalassaemia and Down Syndrome.
Free Fetal DNA Test: This test is used to determine chromosomal abnormalities. It takes between 10 days and two weeks to get reported. However, a fetus faces no risk due to this non--invasive test.
Similarly, there are many more tests and scans which can be done to secure healthy delivery of a baby and assures the welfare of both the mother and her baby.
CONCLUSION: These pregnancy tests and scans are referred by gynaecologists and are performed in highly equipped labs present in Singapore and also other part of the world. These pregnancy scans and tests are safe and effective in determining the abnormalities and diseases in a fetus as well as a lady. This is why these pregnancy scans and tests are crucial for every woman and the birth of her healthy kid.