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Pregnancy and Childbirth During Pregnancy

Ensuring Your Baby's Health: Pregnancy Screening Tests

You may not mind much whether your baby is a boy or a girl, but you do care whether he or she is healthy. As part of your regular visits with an obstetrician, you will undergo a variety of tests that will help to monitor your baby's progress and ensure a healthy delivery.

What screening tests do you need, and when should you expect them?

Routine Exams
At your first obstetrician's visit—and pretty much every one after—your doctor will measure your weight and the "height" of your uterus to track your baby's growth. Your blood pressure will also be taken to screen for preeclampsia, which may cause high blood pressure and vision loss for the mother and can harm the baby.

Urine samples are also taken routinely to measure levels of sugar, protein and bacteria. While some sugar in the urine is common for many pregnant women, too much may signal gestational diabetes, diabetes caused by pregnancy. Too much protein may be a sign of a urinary tract infection, kidney disease or high blood pressure.

First Trimester
During the first trimester, your obstetrician will take a complete medical history to assess your pregnancy risks. Some conditions may increase the risk of complications, so be sure to tell your doctor about any concerns or medications you may be taking. Several tests will also be performed to check on the health of both you and your baby:

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