Between the 16th and 18th weeks of pregnancy, you will receive a screening test called an AFP. It’s a blood test and you will need to give your permission before the test is done. There are so many blood tests and urine tests and just tests that we go through when we are pregnant and seeing our obstetricians that it is hard to keep them all straight. The following is some information on the AFP, I am not a physician by any stretch of the imagination so be sure to consult with your physician if you have any questions or if you want to have your AFP tested.
What is the AFP?
AFP stands for alpha-fetoprotein. All fetuses create the AFP during gestation. The levels of it can be measured in the mother’s blood. If the levels are too high or too low, this is a good indicator for the doctor needs to check out the pregnancy with a great deal more care. The screening test can also identify if a mother is not as far along or further along than she thought.
Beyond these items, the AFP can also identify if there is more than one fetus (i.e. twins) as well as provide the doctor with some insight as to whether the mother is a candidate for early or premature delivery or a baby with low birth weight.
Finally, the test can also identify if the fetus has severe birth defects such as neural tube defects or abdominal wall or kidney defects. These types of defects are extremely well, but early screening can help mothers and physicians to prepare for a number of possible outcomes to the pregnancy.
Having an AFP test is non-invasive – it’s merely a blood test and since they are sticking you with needles throughout your pregnancy, it’s just another few milliliters of blood to send off for testing. The AFP provides your doctor with a great deal of information and a normal result can be a great deal of comfort in those weeks when hormones are bouncing around and you begin to worry about each and every thing you have ever done in your life.
The Worry and the Waiting
The worst part of the AFP test is the waiting. When you know that you are receiving the screening test it can take a few days to get the results back. During that time, it’s not atypical for pregnant moms to worry themselves over it. You shouldn’t and that being said, I know that telling a prospective mom not to worry is like telling a playing toddler to take it easy.
Ultimately, if the AFP comes back positive – that doesn’t guarantee that something is wrong. It means that more tests need to be done to determine if something is wrong. If it comes back negative or normal – then you will laugh over having worried about nothing. When I had my AFP done, I remember the nurse mentioning it was just to identify birth defects and that was it. I spent the next 72 hours in the clasp of personal terror – knowing what I know now – the AFP is not something to be afraid of.
What are your experiences with the AFP test?
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