Your Baby's Birth - Pregnancy & Childbirth Home

Early Pregnancy
Prenatal Tests
As part of your healthcare, your physician, nurse practitioner or midwife will order a number of tests.
Some tests are routine for all expectant mothers; others are ordered in selected cases. Your
physician, nurse practitioner or midwife can provide you with more information regarding these
tests or the results of your tests.
Common Tests for Your First Visit
• Blood Tests:
- Blood Type (A, B, O), and antibody screen Rh; to identify possible problems between
mother and baby with different blood sugar types or antibody screens.
- Iron Level: screen for low iron in blood.
- Rubella Immunity (German Measles): prevent birth defects from rubella exposure.
- HIV: If you are HIV positive, medication can be given to decrease the chance of the virus
being passed to the baby.
- Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C testing
- Sickle Cell Trait
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, trich or bacterial vaginosis) —
If you have a sexually transmitted disease, medication can be given to decrease the chance of the
diseases being passed to the baby.
• Urine Tests (tested throughout pregnancy): detects protein in the urine to screen for
preeclampsia.
• Culture and Sensitivity (C&S): to check for bacteria in the urinary tract.
• Pelvic Exam: to measure the pelvic size and detect infections or certain problems.
• Cervical Tests:
- Pap Smear: checks for signs of cervical cancer.
- Culture: screens for sexually transmitted disease.
• Blood Pressure: a baseline will be obtained to watch for changes as the pregnancy progresses.
• Body Mass Index (BMI): A standard for determining obesity using your weight and height.
A BMI between 19 and 29 is ideal. If your BMI is less than 19, you may meet with a dietitian for
teaching and meal planning. If your BMI is over 30, you may meet with a dietitian and have
additional testing for diabetes and the well-being of your baby.
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Y O U R B A B Y ’ S B I R T H