The only blood I've had drawn was at the first doc appt. when I was about 8wks or so. And I don't know what they tested for then? I'm now 18wks and haven't had any more....I did turn down that one triple something test!!!! Any idea....1st pregnancy!!!
2006-07-27 12:40:54 · 15 answers · asked by Melissa t 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
I turned down the "triple" blood test because I didn't want to worry myself for no reason and I'll have the ultrasound anyways. And if there were anything wrong I don't think I could terminate the pregnancy after seeing the baby and hearing the heartbeat. Only 1/2 of all women get the test anyways. I'm not the only one!!!!! And there's a lot of false positives anyways
2006-07-27 12:53:27 · update #1
I have four kids. They did a blood test at the beginning of my pre-natal care, and I also didn't opt for the multi-disease test at about 16-18 weeks. So, if you don't do that one, then the one at 8 weeks will suffice. Don't worry, you haven't done anything wrong and sounds like you're getting good care. Have faith, good luck and God Bless
2006-07-27 12:44:21 · answer #1 · answered by bratsk13 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
If you turned down the blood test for birth defects (which I can't understand why you would) that would be it until you have your gestational diabetes check, which is around 26 weeks. I had bloodwork at 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and then the gestational diabetes test (which should only be a fingerprick, unless you fail that, then you will have to go the hospital for more extensive blood work. Blood drawn 4x in 4 hours. Not fun!)
A word of advice for the diabetes test: do NOT eat anything before going. I made the mistake of making my appt late in the day, and an hour before I took the test, ate a yogurt. I failed the test by 2 points and had to get the extensive blood work just to find out nothing was wrong.
2006-07-27 19:47:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The triple screen is also useful in detecting spina bifida which in some cases can be fixed in utero. An ultrasound can't always pick up this birth defect.
If you refused the triple screen, there really aren't any other tests you would have done if you are under 35 years old. They will probably start doing finger pricks to see how your iron level is, but that is about it. Also, you should have a test sometime after 20 weeks for gestational diabetes. It involves having blood drawn, then drinking a glucose solution, and then blood is drawn again one hour later to see how your body reacts to the sugar.
2006-07-27 22:16:42 · answer #3 · answered by aliza1999 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first blood test will check your hormone levels & usually your blood type. If you passed up the triple screen test then you will receive another blood test around your 20-24 weeks mark to determine if you have gestational diabetes. Usually the doctor will require you to take a blood test if something looks adnormal in your ultrasound or if you have any serious family genetic disorders. Good luck with your first pregnancy!
2006-07-27 19:49:55 · answer #4 · answered by Wonder Woman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was pregnant with my daughter I had blood taken weekly. Loads of it, I mean at least 6 vials at a time. This was only because I had a history of miscarriage (6) and they tested for everything!
With my son, they took blood once in the beginning, and then not until I was 6 months along. Then it was the nasty gestational diabetes test (yuck!).
You are fine. They are doing all the right things. They probably won't take anymore blood until the diabetes test unless they think something might be wrong.
Good luck with the baby!
2006-07-27 19:44:56 · answer #5 · answered by Heidi J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is common for your blood to be taken twice during a pregnancy unless there are complications, then they will take it more. Towards your third trimester your Dr. will have you go in and you'll have to drink that sweet stuff again and at that time they'll do the second test for gestational diabetes. Just ask your Dr. at your next appt. if you are still confused. Enjoy your pregnancy, I loved being pregnant!
2006-07-27 19:47:23 · answer #6 · answered by nimo22 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you do the gestational diabetes test then they will draw blood for that later in the pregnancy. I forget what week it is that they typically do it. I *think* it's about 26 weeks.
You'll have a test for group B strep in the 3rd trimester as well, but that is just a vaginal/rectal swab...no blood drawn for it.
2006-07-27 22:21:28 · answer #7 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was mega overwhelmed when I was given a packet of tests to sign off or on for at the first official pregnancy appointment with my doctor. After almost giving myself a panic attack (is it really fair that the receptionist just hand you all this stuff???), I decided not to sign anything until I spoke with the doctor. His advice was to just get everything tested because it couldn't hurt.
2006-07-27 19:44:30 · answer #8 · answered by adelinia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should get the triple screen along the fetal alpha-protein test. Get another CBC and hematocrit as well. I had blood work at 10 weeks, 15 weeks, 18 weeks and so on..... you seem to be alittle behind in bloodwork.
2006-07-27 19:44:12 · answer #9 · answered by Lynette B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They test for a lot of things, vaccines imunity, thyroid, cholesterol, iron, sugar, blood type, aids, etc etc, your doctor should have given you your tests results on your nest appontment, that's how it was for me, on my prenatal visit, before i got pregnant they test for all that, then on my 5 week visit they did a hcg test, then at 8 weeks they did all the blood test i said before and on the 11 week appointment they gave me the results and we attempted to hear the baby's hearbeat but couldn't hear it, so now i have another appointment at 13 weeks just for that. It is very important that you trust your doctor and let them do as many test as needed because it is about your baby and his/her health.
2006-07-27 19:50:51 · answer #10 · answered by Lilly 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋