Prenatal Testing Specialists

Comprehensive Prenatal Care

Medical checkups and screening tests, or prenatal care, help keep you and your baby healthy during pregnancy. It also involves education and counseling about pregnancy-related issues. The board-certified obstetricians at Green OB/GYN Associates in Coral Springs, Florida provide comprehensive prenatal care to help detect and treat problems promptly and prevent complications and miscarriages.

We may also recommend or perform various prenatal screening tests throughout your pregnancy to assess your baby’s health and determine whether your baby is likely to have specific birth defects. Our providers will explain each test with you and discuss your options. Common tests during the first, second, and third trimesters may include:

First Trimester

• An initial ultrasound will confirm your pregnancy and your baby’s gestational age (how far along you are).
• The first-trimester screen, performed at 11 to 14 weeks, combines blood tests and a special type of ultrasound to assess the risk of a chromosome abnormality. It can also offer an early gender prediction.
  • Two types of blood tests (serum and sequential integrated screening) measure two pregnancy-related hormones: hCG and PAPP-A.
  • A nuchal translucency ultrasound checks the accumulation of fluid at the back of your baby’s neck. If there is more fluid than normal, your baby is at a higher risk for developing a genetic abnormality.
• Another blood test will determine your blood type and Rh factor, which determines your Rh compatibility with your growing fetus.
• Some women may be candidates for chronic villus sampling, an invasive screening test performed between weeks 10 and 12 to test for genetic abnormalities and birth defects.

Second Trimester

• At 15 to 22 weeks, you may have a blood test called a quad / penta marker screening test to check for birth defects.
• Between 16 to 20 weeks, your doctor will perform another ultrasound to monitor your baby’s growth.
• At 24 to 28 weeks, you will have a glucose screening test to check for gestational diabetes.
• Some women may be candidates for amniocentesis, an invasive screening test performed between 15-20 weeks to test for genetic abnormalities and birth defects.

Third Trimester

• After 28 weeks, you may have a fetal non-stress test to measure fetal heart rate and contractions.
• Between 35-37 weeks, your doctor will take a swab from your vagina and rectum to screen for Group B Strep (GBS), a type of bacteria that can cause serious infections in pregnant women and newborns.

You will see your provider multiple times throughout your pregnancy:

• Monthly appointments to 28 weeks of pregnancy
• Every two weeks during the seventh and eighth months
• Weekly in the ninth month of pregnancy

Women with high-risk pregnancies or who are over 35 will have more frequent OB/GYN appointments and will also see a maternal fetal medicine doctor. During your OB/GYN visits, your doctor will monitor your health and make sure the baby is growing as expected.

For comprehensive prenatal care and testing, call our Coral Springs, Florida office today at (954) 341-2916.