Theoretically, the most important reason that prenatal testing exists is to give expectant couples peace of mind. For a lot of couples, this is exactly what it does. But some others feel it can actually add unwanted stress to a time in their life when it is most unwelcome. Still, many others get the full gamut of prenatal testing done simply because it’s available, or because they don’t think that they can or should refuse. The medical culture of our nation can be a huge pressure for moms-to-be. There is also a social pressure to get the tests done, since they are very popular for all that they’re misunderstood. What pregnant woman hasn’t been asked “Did you get an ultrasound yet?” in regards to knowing the baby’s sex. I myself got asked almost daily. For these reasons, I believe that it’s important to inform mothers-to-be of their right to refuse unnecessary testing.
So how do you decide which – if any – tests you will get? First it’s important to decide why you feel you may want or need each one. Then, weigh the risks involved and choose, individually, which tests you will get. Many of the tests, albeit insightful and helpful for some, are unnecessary for a healthy, low-risk pregnancy. In this case, the risks may actually outweigh any peace of mind they may offer. You can read an official clinical guideline practice for more information on high and low-risk pregnancy. To determine if you are high-risk, you can also scan through the list below.
• Prior pregnancy complications or children with congenital health issues
• Age – the older you are, the greater the risk for Down’s Syndrome
• Health – if you have high B/P, asthma, Lupus, diabetes, and other issues
• Family History – if your family has a history of complications
• Ethnicity – certain illnesses are more prevalent among certain groups
• Miscarriages – if you’ve had a history of miscarriages
If your health care provider has deemed you low-risk, it may be possible to monitor the progress of pregnancy without medical interventions and invasive tests. Ways to monitor less-invasively include:
• Keeping track of fetal movements
• Urine tests to check for leukocytes, protein or blood spillage
• Check Blood Pressure
• Palpate the uterus
• Monitor fundal height (growth of the uterus)
• Monitor weight gain or loss
• Keep a meal diary to assess nutrition
If all of these measurements of progressing pregnancy continue to show no signs of complication, there should be no indication for further testing. Also, for low-risk women, both a British and U.S. committee have recommended that traditional prenatals be combined for fewer visits, as they see no need for extended visits for uncomplicated pregnancies. If you still choose to get tests done, please remember the following:
• Screening tests, such as the maternal serum screen (which is a blood test), only indicate possiblities of a condition. Confirmation often involves further, riskier testing.
• Being faced with a “false positive” from such a screen can lead a couple to worry over the uncertain result, and may be more stress than they are worth. Furthermore, the worry will likely lead them to consider further testing.
• Most prenatal testing is up to you, and no provider should try to tell you otherwise.
If you just can’t sleep at night without seeing all ten fingers and toes, try to only do enough of the tests to ease your mind. If it turns out that your baby happens to have an issue, knowing early can help you prepare. But remember, it can’t change what will be.