Tests in the Second Term
As the baby grows and changes, so do the rate of prenatal tests. In the second term, surely you will be have to do two or three blood tests and at this stage the sex of the baby can be revealed as well.
Blood Tests during The Second Term
The blood tests generally end up giving normal results, but if anything were to come up, it might be necessary to do more tests, like a sonogram for example. Keep in mind however, that t
he need to do additional tests does not mean that something is going wrong, it just means that the doctor is taking precautions.
The Alpha-fetoprotein Test
The alpha-fetoprotein in maternal serum is a protein produced by the fetus that also circulates in the mother’s blood. Doctors use a simple blood test to verify the levels, generally around week fifteen and eighteen. The results of the test are affected by the weight, race, preexisting diabetes, so it needs to be adjusted to these factors.
This test generally indicates if the pregnancy is under risk of determined complications and might indicate the following:
- A calculus of the age of the fetus below the real one.
- The presence of twins or more babies.
- Bleeding that took place earlier in the pregnancy.
- Defects of the neural tube.
- Defects of the abdominal wall.
- Rh disease or other conditions associated with fetal edema.
- Greater risk of being born underweight, preeclampsia and other complications.
- Other fetal abnormalities.
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