Why antenatal screening

Women can get false positive and false negative results so an invasive test will still be required to confirm whether or not baby has a genetic condition. Our support line offers practical and emotional support in all areas of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood: We also offer antenatal courses which are a great way to find out more about birth, labour and life with a new baby. You could also contact www.

The Sickle Cell Society offers information, counselling and caring for those with Sickle Cell disorders and their families. The website includes information on folic acid and the prevention of spina bifida. Go Folic! Mencap supports the 1. Mencap fights to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities, supporting thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust offers information about the causes, symptoms and treatments of CF along with details about day to day living with Cystic Fibrosis. Helpline: NHS Choices gives full information on the checks and tests offered in pregnancy.

Healthtalkonline offers shared experiences, videos and stories from 37 women and 8 couples from the UK. Topics include making decisions about screening, including those that have and have not ended the pregnancy. ARC Tests explained. Payne J. When it comes to content, our aim is simple: every parent should have access to information they can trust.

All of our articles have been thoroughly researched and are based on the latest evidence from reputable and robust sources. We create our articles with NCT antenatal teachers, postnatal leaders and breastfeeding counsellors, as well as academics and representatives from relevant organisations and charities. Read more about our editorial review process. Antenatal screening in pregnancy. Read time 10 minutes.

Breadcrumb Home Pregnancy Tests, scans and antenatal checks Antenatal screening in pregnancy. Email Post Tweet Post. Available foetal and pregnancy screening tests There are a number of foetal screening tests that are offered as part of your antenatal care.

The anomaly scan All pregnant women are offered the opportunity to have an anomaly scan between 18 and 21 weeks.

Screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia All pregnant women will be asked questions about their family origins to see if they should be offered a blood test to screen for sickle cell disorder and thalassaemia. Some are offered to everyone, while others are only offered if you might be at risk of a particular infection or condition.

All the tests are done to make your pregnancy safer or check that the baby is healthy, but you do not have to have them if you do not want to. For more information visit our page about screening tests in pregnancy.

You will be offered a blood test to tell you whether you are blood group rhesus negative or rhesus positive. If you are rhesus negative you may need extra care to reduce the risk of rhesus disease. Rhesus disease can happen if you are rhesus negative and pregnant and involves your body developing antibodies that attack the baby's blood cells. This can lead to anaemia and jaundice in the baby.

If you are rhesus negative, you may be offered injections during pregnancy to prevent you from producing these antibodies. This is safe for both mother and baby.

Iron deficiency anaemia makes you tired and less able to cope with loss of blood when you give birth. You should be offered screening for iron deficiency anaemia at your booking appointment and at 28 weeks.

If tests show you have iron deficiency anaemia, you'll probably be offered iron and folic acid. If you're considered to be at high risk for gestational diabetes, you may be offered a test called the OGTT oral glucose tolerance test. This involves drinking a sugary drink and having blood tests. The OGTT is done when you're between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant. If you've had gestational diabetes before, you'll be offered:.

There can be false positives and false negatives. A screening test can find out if you, or your baby, have a high or low chance of having a health condition.

However, it cannot usually tell you for certain, so if we find a high chance of a health condition, we often offer a further test. This is called a diagnostic test and gives a more definite 'yes' or 'no' answer. At your first antenatal appointment, your community midwife will offer screening for :. It is your choice if you have the screening tests or not. You can opt to have some tests and not others; this is a personal choice and one which only you can make.

You have the opportunity to discuss each test we offer you with your midwife , the sonographer or your doctor , and decide based on your own circumstances. You can also change your mind at any time. Serum blood screening in early pregnancy is performed alongside nuchal scanning, in order to identify high chance pregnancies.