hand-holding-blood-test-bottles
ultrasound-image-of-baby

Blood tests

As part of your antenatal care you will be offered several routine blood tests including a full blood count, blood group, Rhesus (RhD) factor, antibody screening for Hepatitis B and C, Rubella immunity, HIV and Syphilis. You may also be asked to provide a urine sample to be screened for infection.

For more information;

Pregnancy Birth & Baby – Blood tests during pregnancy

Scans and ultrasounds

Your GP will discuss with you the different ultrasounds performed during pregnancy. There are three main types of ultrasound offered to pregnant women;

Dating scan

Dating scans are used to confirm how many weeks pregnant you are and your estimated due date, particularly for women who are unsure of the date of their last menstrual cycle or if they have irregular menstrual periods. It is usually performed between 10-13 weeks of pregnancy but can be performed anytime from 6 weeks onward.

For more information;

Pregnancy Birth & Baby – Dating scan

Baby Centre Australia – Dating scans


Nuchal translucency scan

This type of scan is used to detect the risk of a number of chromosomal abnormalities and is performed between the 11th and 14th week of pregnancy. This scan is not a diagnostic test but will identify the risk of abnormalities such as trisomy 21 (Downs Syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome) and trisomy 13 (Patau Syndrome) in the growing baby.

For more information;

Pregnancy Birth & Baby – Nuchal translucency scan 

Canberra Imaging – Nuchal Translucency and Combined Risk Assessment (Patient information sheet)


Anomaly scans

The anomaly scan is offered in the second trimester, usually between 18-20 weeks of pregnancy. It is used to check for any abnormalities with your baby by identifying the position of the placenta, measuring your baby’s growth and development, checking the umbilical cord and amniotic fluid around your baby and to look at your cervix and uterus.

For more information;

Pregnancy Birth & Baby – Morphology Scan

Mater Mother’s Hospital – Ultrasound scan – your 18-20 week scan

Sources: (Pregnancy Birth & Baby) (Baby Centre Australia) (Mater Mother’s Hospital)

Image 1: By Tannim101 [CC BY 3.0]     Image 2:  Wolfgang Moroder