by Josephine Polifroni

Created on: July 01, 2010

Good pre-natal care is an essential first step to having an uneventful pregnancy and a healthy baby. There are typical examinations and tests every pregnant woman should have, as well as some specialized tests for more unusual circumstances.

All of these examinations and tests are designed to ensure the health and well being of both the mother and child but not all are necessary for every woman.

An initial examination by an obstetrician is routinely done between six and eight weeks of pregnancy. A medical history is obtained and weight, height and blood pressure measurements are taken much as any other medical examination. In addition, a pelvic examination is done so the size and position of the uterus can be determined. Blood and urine samples are collected. Blood is analyzed for a complete cell count and tests are administered to see if there are any infectious diseases present such as syphilis, hepatitis, HIV, as well as antibodies to the rubella virus. Blood type is determined as well as Rh factor, positive or negative. Urine is cultured for analysis. Commonly, women are also skin tested for tuberculosis.

A Pap test is taken to check for cervical cancer and an additional tissue sample is taken to test for STDs, such as gonorrhea and Chlamydia. 

If a woman has Rh-negative blood, her blood will also be tested for antibodies to the Rh factor. Rh incompatibility can result in the red blood cells of the fetus being destroyed by these antibodies which can lead to anemia and even death.

Women of African descent are tested for sickle cell trait or disease if they have never been tested before. Pregnancy is very stressful on a pregnant woman with sickle cell and she may suffer more frequent sickle cell crises. When more cells sickle and cluster together they can cause intense pain or even block blood cells leading to tissue death from oxygen deprivation. During a crisis such as this, blood can be directed to oxygen starved tissues and away from the fetus, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients. A woman with sickle cell is monitored more closely and given tests to ensure her condition does not endanger either her or her baby

Routine follow-up exams are given throughout pregnancy. Initially, exams are performed every four weeks until a woman is seven months pregnant, then every two weeks until the beginning of the ninth month when exams are given once a week until delivery.

Typical tests during these exams are urine tests that test for sugar and protein. Sugar

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