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TMH Living Well: Why prenatal tests are important

The Memorial Hospital
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living_well

If you go

What to Expect Birthing Tour

6 pm, Feb. 9

The Memorial Hospital lobby, 750 Hospital Loop

For more information, call 970-824-9411.

While considering the possibility that something could be wrong with you or your developing baby during pregnancy is not pleasant, it’s good to know. Prenatal tests not only check for genetic defects but also find conditions, like anemia, that once treated help you have a healthy pregnancy.

“There are benefits to offering testing to all women as genetic disorders do occur in women under age 35,” said Dr. Eileen Joyce, OB/GYN with The Memorial HospitalThe Memorial Hospital in Craig. in Craig.

The Memorial Hospital in Craig.

What to expectWhat to expect

What to expect



You’ll receive tests during each trimester. Blood and urine tests check for anemia (low iron), gestational diabetes, your general health and immunity and for STDs, among other things, including proteins produced during pregnancy.

An early ultrasound test checks for NT or nuchal translucency. Specifically, your doctor looks at the back of the neck of your fetus, checking for extra fluid. If extra fluid is noted, additional genetic testing, such as an amniocentesis or a CVS, is often recommended. Remember, birth defects are fairly rare — occurring in only 3 to 4 percent of babies.



When to consider amniocentesis

If needed, amniocentesis is usually completed during the second trimester between 16 to 20 weeks. Amniocentesis takes a sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds your baby within the womb.

“Amniocentesis is a screening test for genetic abnormalities. Patients over the age of 35 are at a higher risk of genetic disorders. Amniocentesis screens for Down syndrome, Turner’s syndrome, open neural tube defects and several other genetic disorders,” Joyce said.

As you age, your risk of having a baby with Down syndrome increases from 1 in 1,200 at age 25 to 1 in 100 at age 40. Yet the choice is yours — amniocentesis does carry a miscarriage risk, albeit low.

“Earlier testing that involves ultrasound and blood work at around 12 weeks gestation can give us needed answers and avoid the risks of amniocentesis. I plan to set up this program at TMH, and will help explain the different options to my patients,” Joyce said.

Ultrasound

You’ll likely receive an ultrasound several times throughout your pregnancy. It gives your doctor a look at your fetus’s internal organs and lets them check for normal growth.

In most healthcare facilities, 3D ultrasounds are reserved for high-risk pregnancies or used by perinatology experts only. Yet, TMH wanted to improve the ultrasound experience for all expectant patients and their families, so they upgraded their ultrasound to 3D in late 2014.

“We are happy to offer this advanced technology to all of our expectant moms,” said Dr. Scott Ellis, OB/GYN with TMH Medical Clinic.

The Accuvix 3D ultrasound works by taking multiple images of the fetus from several angles. The images are then combined to create a 3D image. For parents, it’s the closest thing to meeting their baby before the birth.

Fetal monitoring

This test is another one most expectant parents enjoy: the sound of their baby’s heartbeat. Don’t be surprised by how fast it sounds — the average fetal heart rate is 110 to 160 beats per minute.

TMH offers full obstetrics care from our two board-certified OB/GYN physicians. The TMH birthing suite has private labor, delivery and recovery rooms including large bathrooms and bathtubs, pullout beds for family members and up-to-date technology. Tours are given regularly. For a doctor’s appointment, call 970-826-2420.

This weekly article with tips on living well is sponsored by The Memorial Hospital at Craig – improving the quality of life for the communities we serve through patient-centered healthcare and service excellence.This weekly article with tips on living well is sponsored by The Memorial Hospital at Craig – improving the quality of life for the communities we serve through patient-centered healthcare and service excellence.This weekly article with tips on living well is sponsored by The Memorial Hospital at Craig – improving the quality of life for the communities we serve through patient-centered healthcare and service excellence.


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