Exams in pregnancy should be requested by the obstetrician who accompanies the woman during pregnancy and basically include blood tests, ultrasonography, gynecological and urine tests, but there are others that may be requested in special situations such as amniocentesis or biopsy of the chorionic villus.
In all consultations the obstetrician should check the pregnant woman's weight gain, blood pressure and increase the abdomen and indicate the use of nutritional supplements such as folic acid and ferrous sulfate to ensure the health of the mother and baby.
The list with the first trimester gestation exams is greater because, in addition to checking how the baby is, it is important to check the health of the mother, which is essential for the proper development of the baby. Already the second and third trimester gestation tests are more directed to the development of the baby.
Prenatal Exams Every Pregnant Must Do
Prenatal consultations should be performed once a month up to 32 weeks of gestation and, thereafter, once a week until the baby is born. The following are the essential tests that should be done by all pregnant women:
1. Hemogram
This blood test is to check for any changes in blood cells, infection or anemia. It should be done in the 1st and 2nd trimesters of gestation.
2. Blood type and Rh factor
This blood test is used to check the blood group of the mother and the Rh factor, whether it is positive or negative. If the mother has a Rh negative factor and the Rh positive baby that she inherited from her father, when the baby's blood contacts the mother's, the mother's immune system will produce antibodies against it, which can cause, in a second pregnancy, hemolytic disease of the newborn. It should be done in the first trimester of pregnancy.
3. Fasting glucose
This blood test is for tracking gestational diabetes and monitoring your treatment or control. It should be done on the 1st and repeated in the 2nd trimester of gestation.
4. VDRL blood test
It is used to diagnose syphilis, which, when left untreated, can lead to deafness, blindness, or neurological problems in the baby. It should be done in the first and second trimesters of gestation, and may need to be repeated in the 3rd.
5. Blood test for HIV
It serves to diagnose the HIV virus, which is the cause of AIDS, which can be transmitted to the baby. It should be done in the first trimester of pregnancy and may need to be repeated.
6. Blood test for rubella
It is used to diagnose rubella, which can cause neurological problems or mental retardation in the baby. It should be done in the first trimester of pregnancy and may need to be repeated.
7. CMV blood test
It is used to diagnose cytomegalovirus infection, which can cause malformations in the fetus, such as mental retardation. It should be done in the first trimester of pregnancy and may need to be repeated.
8. Blood test for Toxoplasmosis
It is used to diagnose toxoplasmosis, which can be transmitted to the baby and can cause mental retardation or blindness. It should be done in the first and second trimesters of gestation.
9. Blood test for Hepatitis B and C
It is used to diagnose hepatitis B or C, and the virus can be transmitted to the baby, which can lead to premature delivery or a low birth weight baby. It should be done in the first trimester of pregnancy and may need to be repeated.
10. Urine and uroculture examination
It serves to diagnose urinary tract infection, which when left untreated, can cause premature birth. It should be done in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters of gestation.
11. Ultrasound
It serves to detect the presence of the embryo, the time of pregnancy and the date of delivery, the baby's heart rate, position, development and growth of the baby. It should be done in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters of gestation. In addition to the conventional ultrasound examination, 3D and 4D ultrasound examinations can also be used to visualize the baby's face and identify diseases.
12. Gynecological examination and Pap smear
It serves to evaluate the intimate region and detect vaginal infections or cervical cancer. It should be done in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Price
These exams can be performed free of charge by SUS. However, ultrasound is often not performed because health clinics may not have the necessary equipment. This examination in private clinics can cost around 50 to 150 reais in the case of transvaginal ultrasound and 100 to 200 reais in the case of a morphological ultrasound.
Pregnant women who wish to undergo prenatal care through SUS are entitled to at least 6 free consultations during pregnancy.
