Your first test taken during pregnancy is likely a home pregnancy test.

That little urine collector

is testing for a hormone called ​Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, or​ hCG. Home pregnancy
tests, depending on brand and whether they are ‘early detection’ tests, register a positive test
with anywhere from 6.2-50 mIU/ml of hCG. Your hCG levels typically double every 48 hours for
a singleton pregnancy, more for multiple babies.

Whether you’ve taken an at home pregnancy test, or you simply know your body so well that
you just know that you’re pregnant, one thing everyone wants to know about is testing. This post
will cover the first two tests offered by your OB/GYN or Midwife… B.R.A.I.N style.

First, I think it’s important to define some terms. Many of the tests offered during pregnancy are
screenings. Screenings are performed to help determine the ​likelihood ​of a condition existing. If
screenings show there is a likelihood, then further testing can be done, diagnostic testing, to
help determine with certainty whether or not there is an existing condition.

To recap:
Screening: What are the chances?
Diagnostic: A more precise answer

Moving along…. The following lab tests are offered at the first prenatal visit with an OB/GYN or
hospital based Midwife, often called a ‘prenatal panel’.

Blood Tests
Test B. Benefit R. Risk A. Alternative I.Intuition N. Nothing

CBC- Learn if you Findings Provide What does Could miss

Complete have could lead recent your intuition out on
Blood Count anemia, any to additional medical say about catching an
blood clotting testing, records taking this illness or
issues, and treatments providing the test, the condition
your ability to and same possible early on in
fight off monitoring information findings, and pregnancy
infections possible
further testing

Blood Type Learn your Go by your What does You wouldn’t

blood type medical your intuition have your
records if say? blood type on
already file, which is
known very good to
have should
there be an
emergency
requiring a
 blood
transfusion

Rh Factor Learn if you Results can Provide What does You won’t
are rh lead to medical your intuition know if you
positive or rh further records if this say? are rh
negative. testing and information is positive or rh
Learning that shots already negative.
you are rh (Rhogam known
negative will shots)
allow you to
make
decisions
during this
pregnancy
that will help
during
subsequent
pregnancies

Rubella To learn if Results can Provide What does You will not
you have lead to medical your intuition know your
ever had or further records if this say? antibody
currently do testing and information is status to
have vaccination already Rubella
Rubella, or after current known
been pregnancy
vaccinated
for Rubella.

Hep B & Learn if you Results Provide very What does Your Hep B
Hep C have Hep B could lead recent your intuition and Heb C
or C, which to further medical say? status would
can be testing records. be unknown
passed to an
unborn baby

Sexually Learn if you Could lead Provide very What does Your STI
Transmitted currently to further recent recent your intuition status would
Infections have STI’s testing, medical say? be unknown.
(STI’s) so you have treatment, records.
the option to and
treat them monitoring

HIV Learn if you Could lead Provide very What does Your HIV
have HIV to further recent your intuition status would
and learn testing, medical say? be unknown
 about treatment, records
treatment and
options monitoring

Tuberculosis Learn if you Results Provide What does Your TB

(TB) have TB, or could lead recent your intuition antibody
have been to more medical say? status would
vaccinated testing records be unknown
against TB and/or
vaccination

hCG Learn your Results can N/A What does Your current
current level lead to your intuition hCG level will
of hCG as a further say? be unknown
baseline for testing and
any further monitoring
testing of
your hCG

Urine Test:
Urinalysis & Learn your All results Provide What does Your current
Urine Culture urinary tract can lead to recent your intuition UTI/D status
disease further testing medical say? would be
and and records unknown.
infections monitoring (Diabetes). Your Diabete
status, status would
diabetes be unknown.
risk, and a You wouldn’t
baseline have a
protein baseline
level for urine protein
comparison level to
later in compare to
pregnancy later in
for pregnancy
preeclamps
ia testing

Ultrasound:
Transvaginal Detecting Could result Waiting What does You will not
Ultrasound heart in more your intuition see the heart
(internal movement, testing and say? moving,
ultrasound) number of monitoring. number of
fetuses, fetuses,
 rule out catch an
ectopic early ectopic
pregnancy, pregnancy, or
and help verify an
determine estimated
Estimated due date
Due Date

Pap Smear:
Pap Smear Learn if you Results can Provide What does You will not
have lead to more recent your intuition learn of any
abnormal testing, medical say? abnormal
cells in your treatments, records cells in your
cervix, and if and cervix, if you
you have monitoring have an STI,
Sexually or if you have
Transmitted HPV
Infections,
and/or HPV
and be given
options to
treat these
infections/dis
eases

Genetic Carrier Screening:

Genetic Learn if you Results can Waiting. If What does You will not
Carrier carry the lead to you (and your your intuition know if you
Screening genes for additional partner) are say? (and your
certain testing, carriers of partner) are
genetic including particular carriers for a
diseases and your partner. genetic genetic
disorders, Diagnostic disorders and disorder
and testing is pass them on before baby
chromosomal common to your baby, is born
abnormalities you will find
. If performed out at birth,
after 10 or later
weeks
gestation, the
fetus’ sex can
be
determined
as well
Ask you provider about the tests offered at the first prenatal appointment, as they may vary from
the most common ones listed here. Ask questions about each and what the possible results
mean for you, your baby, and how your pregnancy is managed. If you’re uncomfortable with the
responses, or need more time to decide, ask if you can wait until your next visit to decide. Your
time and experiences at your appointments are both valuable and important. Feeling
comfortable to ask questions and communicate freely about your needs is critical to feeling safe
and informed about your care. You have the right to ask questions and the right to say ‘No’ to
any test. You can always change providers if you are not connecting the way you had hoped.

Additional Reading and Podcasts:

Indie Birth- All About Prenatal Testing in the First Trimester
https://www.indiebirth.org/all-about-prenatal-testing-in-the-first-trimester-blood-work-and-culture
s-taking-back-birth-episode-6/
Dr.Sarah Buckley- Ultrasounds
https://sarahbuckley.com/ultrasound-scans-cause-for-concern/#ref

Ask Questions, Trust Yourself, and Be Well,

Nichole

Sources:
https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Routine-Tests-During-Pregnancy
https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Carrier-Screening