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Prenatal Care and Testing

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During pregnancy, a series of routine tests are carried out, and others are only carried out if there is a specific problem. There are tests that can be done at any moment, such as blood tests, but others require a specific moment of your pregnancy, so that the result is precise.

Prenatal Care and Testing

During pregnancy, a series of routine tests are carried out, and others are only carried out if there is a specific problem. There are tests that can be done at any moment, such as blood tests, but others require a specific moment of your pregnancy, so that the result is precise.  

 

  • What to expect at a prenatal appointment
    Even if you felt just great before your pregnancy and even if you still feel fine now that you’re pregnant, there are certain conditions that do not show symptoms until they are rather advanced: illnesses that, on the other hand affect us Latinas especially, such as gestational diabetes.
  • Speaking with your doctor
    If you live in a state that has a high percentage of Hispanic population, you may be able to find a Latino doctor. If you are more comfortable speaking Spanish and you feel more at ease with the Latino culture that could be an advantage.
  • What are prenatal tests?
    Past generations didn’t know how a baby was doing practically until it was born. Technical resources were much more limited than they are nowadays, as well as the understanding of the origin of some problems during pregnancy.
  • The ultrasound
    Of all the tests you will have done during your pregnancy, this will probably be your favorite. By means of the ultrasound, also known as sonogram, you will be able to see images of your baby sleeping or moving her hands and feet.
  • Amniocentesis
    Amniocentesis is one of the genetic tests that are most commonly carried out during pregnancy in order to determine whether there are chromosomal anomalies in the baby.
  • Triple screen test
    The triple screen or triple marker test is a probabilities test. It indicates the possibility of the fetus having an anomaly, but it does not provide a surefire diagnostic such as amniocentesis does. If the test shows there could be a problem, it can be confirmed or ruled out by implementing other tests.
  • Chorionic villus sampling
    This test, just like amniocentesis analyses chromosomes to check for anomalies, although the procedure used to obtain the genetic material is different.
  • The glucose test
    Diabetes is an illness that affects Latinos especially. During pregnancy, there is a similar illness, known as gestational diabetes that is also more common amongst Latinas.
  • Cystic fibrosis carrier screening
    Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary illness. In order to find out if you or your husband is a carrier of the defective gene that causes it, you should undergo a blood test. The study of the chromosomes will determine if the gene is present or not.
  • Prenatal test in each trimester of your pregnancy
    During pregnancy, a series of routine tests are carried out, and others are only carried out if there is a specific problem. There are tests that can be done at any moment, such as blood tests, but others require a specific moment of your pregnancy, so that the result is precise.
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