Blood test or blood sampling to be examined in the laboratory pregnant women need to do it regularly. Goalto find out if pregnant women have the disease certain, such as infection or lack of blood, as well as to detect abnormalities in the fetus.
By carrying out health checks including blood tests, potential problems during pregnancy can be detected as early as possible. Appropriate and fast treatment can also be done to prevent more serious conditions. To determine when is the right time to have a blood test, discuss it with your doctor or midwife during a routine prenatal check-up.
Types of Blood Tests for Pregnant Women
Here are some types of blood tests that are needed during pregnancy, namely:
- Complete blood testThis test is needed to find out whether the hemoglobin level in the red blood cells of pregnant women is normal or too little which means a sign of anemia. In addition, this test can also be done to count the white blood count. If you have an increase in white blood cells, it means that you may have an infection.
- Blood type, antibody and rhesus factor testsBlood type tests are performed to determine the blood type (A, B, AB, or O) and the blood susceptibility of pregnant women (positive or negative rhesus). If the resus is different from the fetus, the pregnant woman will be given an injection of immunoglobulin to prevent the formation of antibodies that can attack the fetal blood.
- Blood sugar testExamination of blood sugar levels of pregnant women is usually done in the second trimester of pregnancy. However, doctors may recommend early blood sugar tests for pregnant women who are overweight, have given birth to children weighing more than 4.5 kilograms before, or have a history of gestational diabetes.
- Immunity test against rublela (measlesGerman)If a pregnant woman is infected with rubella early in pregnancy, the fetus in the womb can experience serious defects, miscarry, or be born dead.stillbirth). Therefore, it is important to carry out this test to find out whether pregnant women already have immunity to this virus. If not, pregnant women are advised to avoid contact with people infected with rubella.
- HIV test
There is no need to worry or hesitate to do this test. The health facility where the HIV test is carried out will provide VCT services and ensure the confidentiality of the patient's status while undergoing HIV testing. If it turns out that the pregnant woman is HIV positive, medical treatment will be carried out to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to the baby and prevent the development of HIV infection becoming more severe.
- Syphilis testAll pregnant women are advised to undergo syphilis screening, especially for those who have risky sexual behavior or signs of sexually transmitted diseases. Untreated syphilis can cause severe defects in the baby, even in more fatal cases, the baby can be born dead. If a pregnant woman is diagnosed with syphilis, the doctor will give penicillin antibiotics to treat the disease and prevent transmission of syphilis to the fetus.
- Hepatitis B test
Therefore, pregnant women need to undergo blood tests to detect the hepatitis B virus early, and get treatment if the test results are positive. At birth, babies of mothers with hepatitis B need to receive hepatitis B immunization as soon as possible (no later than 12 hours after birth).
In addition, it is important to have a blood pressure check every time a pregnant woman visits her midwife or doctor. An increase in blood pressure in late pregnancy can be a sign of preeclampsia. If preeclampsia is not treated, the consequences can be dangerous for both the mother and the fetus.
In order for her health and the health of her fetus to be maintained during pregnancy, pregnant women need to regularly take the time to conduct regular obstetrical examinations to the obstetrician.