What Can You Detect With Prenatal Testing?

Prenatal testing is an important part of your routine prenatal care here at OBGYN Westside, PLLC, on the Upper West Side of New York City. If you’re newly pregnant and are wondering why prenatal testing is important, you're in luck. That’s just what we tackle in this blog. 

Read on as our team explains what we can detect with prenatal testing and what types of prenatal testing you may need.

What is prenatal testing?

There isn’t just one prenatal test. Prenatal testing involves a variety of screenings and diagnostic tests to assess your baby's health and development during pregnancy. 

These tests can identify genetic conditions like Down syndrome, detect structural abnormalities such as heart defects, and monitor your health for conditions like gestational diabetes or infections.

What can we detect with prenatal testing?

Prenatal testing can provide you (and our team) with a lot of information. It can detect basic health information about your baby (gestational age, number of babies, size of your baby, location of your placenta, etc.), genetic conditions in your baby, structural abnormalities, and any pregnancy conditions that impact your health.

Information about your baby

Routine prenatal testing can give a sneak peek at your baby — especially ultrasounds. For many moms, ultrasounds are the highlight of pregnancy because you can “see” your baby for the first time.

You can learn how many babies you’re carrying, how much your baby is growing, your estimated due date, and your baby’s sex. 

Genetic conditions

With prenatal testing, we can identify genetic disorders such as Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, trisomy 13, and trisomy 18. 

Structural issues

Advanced imaging, such as ultrasounds and noninvasive tests, can detect structural concerns such as heart defects or neural tube issues. 

If any issues are identified, our team guides you through the next steps. For example, if a cleft palate is detected during one of your routine ultrasounds, you can stock your nursery with special bottles and coordinate the appropriate surgery once your baby is born.

Information about your health

Prenatal tests aren’t just for your baby; they can also reveal information about your health. For example, a glucose challenge test can confirm if you have gestational diabetes. Other tests can check for preeclampsia and infections like Group B strep.

Types of prenatal testing

Prenatal testing can fall into different categories:

Screening tests

Screening tests that assess your baby’s risk for certain conditions. All of these tests are noninvasive, so there’s no risk to your baby. Examples of screening tests include:

• NonInvasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)  screen that screens for trisomy 21, 13 18 as well as a few other aneuploidies. This test can determine your baby’s blood type and gender 
• Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound 
• Genetic carrier screening for you and your partner
• Anatomy ultrasounds
• Group B test

Other prenatal screenings may be recommended for you on a case-by-case basis. A prenatal NST — a noninvasive screening test, not a diagnostic test — monitors your baby’s heart rate and movements to make sure they’re receiving enough oxygen. 

While this test can detect signs of distress, it doesn’t diagnose specific conditions. Your OBGYN Westside provider may recommend an NST in your third trimester if you have a high-risk pregnancy, decreased fetal movements, or conditions like diabetes or hypertension. 

Diagnostic tests and procedures

If screening tests indicate your baby may be at risk for a certain condition, you may need additional testing. These diagnostic tests give even more information about your baby’s health and can confirm or rule out certain conditions. 

Diagnostic procedures include fetal echo (heart ultrasound), fetal MRI, amniocentesis, or chorionic villus sampling (CVS). Not every pregnant mother needs these tests. 

Blood tests

You can expect a lot of blood tests throughout your pregnancy. Each one has a purpose and is designed to detect different conditions or nutritional deficiencies. Blood tests can check:

• Your blood count
• Your blood type - if you’re rH positive or negative
• Your immunity to common viruses like chicken pox and rubella
• Your blood sugar - routine screening for gestational diabetes is at 26-28wks

Based on the results of your lab work, you may need additional testing or supplements. For example, if your bloodwork shows that you have low iron or anemia, you may need iron supplementation.

Ultrasounds

Just like bloodwork, ultrasounds can tell us a lot about your baby and your pregnancy. Ultrasounds can confirm your due date, assess your baby’s growth and development (especially during your 16 & 20-week anatomy scan), confirm your baby’s position before delivery, and rule out pregnancy complications like placenta previa. 

When are your prenatal tests scheduled?

Each test has a different purpose, and you may not need all of them. Our team recommends the right schedule for you. Some tests need to be performed during a specific trimester, while others can be conducted at less specific intervals.

If you have questions about one of your tests or would like to schedule your next prenatal appointment, give us a call or book an appointment online today. For prenatal emergencies, call our after-hours number.