There are some tests that should be done before and during pregnancy to detect many diseases and genetic disorders that may occur in babies. Let’s take a closer look at these tests, which are very important for both maternal and infant health.
The things that women who decide to become pregnant and have a baby should do for a healthy pregnancy period and a healthy baby. there are many tests. Some of these tests are performed to check maternal health before pregnancy and to identify infections or diseases that may adversely affect both maternal and infant health.
Apart from these tests, there is also some medicine that can be applied in certain weeks after pregnancy. hereditary diseases and there are tests to identify genetic disorders. With these tests down syndrome Chromosomal abnormalities such as All the aforementioned tests are very critical for the mother and baby to have a healthy life both physically and psychologically.
What tests should expectant mothers have before pregnancy?
While examining the tests, it will be easier to examine the tests in two groups as pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy in order to understand the process. For this reason, let’s take a look at pre-pregnancy first. The majority of pre-pregnancy tests are passed from mother to baby. possible diseases and infections regarding detection. In addition, some tests are applied to control the general health status of the mother during this period. This is important to prevent health problems that may occur during pregnancy.
Another critical issue is genetic disorders and hereditary diseases Tests applied to expectant mothers and fathers in this period for the detection of These tests are critical for preventing diseases, some of which are fatal, and can be detected before the mother is pregnant.
Tests that women should have before pregnancy:
- Immunity test against rubella (Rubella)
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody test
- Gonorrhea (gonorrhea), chlamydia and syphilis (syphilis) tests
- Pap swab test (vaginal-cervical smear) and HPV test
- Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C screening
- Varicella Zoster virus scan
It is very important to carry out these tests before pregnancy, to prevent possible infectious diseases that can be passed from mother to baby and to have a healthy pregnancy. No tests miscarriages, stillbirths and prematurity, intrauterine growth retardation may cause undesirable results such as
In order to prevent diseases such as SMA, it is recommended that both women and men have genetic screening tests before pregnancy.
Have you heard of SMA disease, which has been on the agenda recently and can be fatal for babies? Alright SMA and many other inherited diseases like it In fact, did you know that it can be detected when the woman is not yet pregnant and that there are steps that can be taken to prevent this situation?
Inherited diseases cause the baby to be born with that disease in cases where the parents are carriers. However, when couples decide to have a baby, they can prevent possible risks with genetic screening tests. A simple man and woman blood or saliva sample With these tests, it is possible to detect dozens of diseases. When a carrier state for such diseases is detected, couples have the chance to have a healthy baby with special methods such as in vitro fertilization.
Some genetic differences such as Down syndrome and some diseases can only be detected during pregnancy.
We said that it is possible to detect some hereditary diseases and genetic disorders before conception. Unfortunately, this is not true for all diseases and genetic differences. E.g down syndromecan only be detected by tests performed while the baby is in the womb.
To detect such genetic differences, diseases and chromosomal disorders, different tests in different weeks can be done. Within the scope of these tests, which are called genetic screening and diagnosis during pregnancy, findings related to many diseases can be detected by ultrasonography. In addition, important screening and diagnostic procedures are carried out with some tests applied after the 10th week of pregnancy.
- Double, triple and quadruple screening tests: They are screening tests for many diseases, especially Down syndrome. These tests are performed for screening purposes, not for diagnosis, and more detailed diagnostic tests are applied if possible risk situations are detected.
- Free fetal DNA test: This test is also considered to be a highly reliable screening test. In the cases mentioned above, if there are suspicions about diseases such as down syndrome, this test is applied.
If there is a serious doubt in the tests mentioned above, depending on which week of pregnancy you are. more detailed tests for direct diagnosis is being done. These;
- Chorionic villus biopsy (10-12 weeks)
- Amniocentesis (15-21 weeks),
- Cordocentesis (19-39 weeks)
With these diagnostic tests, if the baby has a serious hereditary disorder, genetic difference or disease, it is detected.
Resources;
prof. Dr. Onder Koc, Prof. Murat Yayla, Prof. Dr. Rukset Attar