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Planning for a baby :5 tests you must do

There are several blood tests which are important  if you are planning  to have a child.

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#1 Thyroid  Function test

FT3/FT4 /TSH

Thyroid dysfunction  is a treatable cause of primary infertility .

Hypothyroidism  and hyperprolactinemia are seen to coexist.

In endemic goitre zones this is one of the most common causes of  infertility.

What to do if you have hypothyroidism and unable to conceive?

 

Start treatment  for hypothyroidism. Thyroid  replacement  hormone is started with proper  diet.
TSH is checked every 6 weeks.

Normal thyroid status in mothers help to develop normal thyroid in foetus and plays a very important  role in brain development.

Related post : Lifestyle  modifications  for hypothyroidism

(References

Nath C, Chutia H, Ruram AA et al. Association of thyroid disorders in females with primary infertility attending a tertiary-care hospital in northeast India. Int J Med Sci Public Health. 2016; 5(8). DOI: 10.5455/ijmsph.2016.16112015261.)

#2 Test for German measles:    Rubella Test

What does the test  tell you?

What’s the risk if this is not done?

It can cause:

• Miscarriage
• Still birth
• Birth defects

#3Haemoglobin  with Packed cell volume-Test for Anaemia 

Anaemia in pregnancy  should be  managed proactively to give best chances to the baby.

Anaemia  in pregnancy may cause:

• Higher  risks of postpartum haemorrhage
• Low birth weight baby,
• Small-for gestational age babies
• Perinatal death.

What can worsen the problem ?

Infections  like malaria, urinary tract infections, helminthic infections(worms)  make anaemia  worse.

How to treat?

Primary  prevention.
While planning  to conceive check your Complete blood count (Haemoglobin,TC,DC,ESR )and PCV

If anaemic ,start  increasing the amount of animal  protein and green  veggies  in diet.

Iron from animal proteins is more easily absorbed and used by your body then that from plant sources.
Take iron supplements.

If found anaemic  during pregnancy  ?

• Treat Anaemia  under doctors supervision.
  Iron supplements must  for all from second trimester  onwards .But in case of Anaemia you may need to take it throughout  pregnancy.

• Treatment  of infection  if any .

Related:Brain development  in Early childhood .

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(References

Nair M, Choudhury MK, Choudhury SS, et al. Association between maternal anaemia and pregnancy outcomes: a cohort study in Assam, India. BMJ Global Health 2016. DOI: 10.1136/ bmjgh-2015-00002)

# 4  Antenatal  test you should never miss while family planning

Getting tested is easy
You need to give a blood sample Which will be screened. 

A)Hemoglobin electrophoresis is done  with quantitative hemoglobin A2 and hemoglobin FCBC testing.

B)Complete Blood Count

C)Iron Studies (free erythrocyte proto porphyrin, ferritin, and/or other iron studies.

What will be the report ,when you have the Thalassemia  trait?

Individuals with beta thalassemia trait usually have evidence of microcytosis and increased levels of hemoglobin A2.

Hemoglobin F is sometimes elevated as well.

People with thalassemia  trait do not have the disease .
They are not ill.

But this genetic trait, in their genes, is inheritable through the generations, from parents  to children.

If your partner doesn’t have the trait,your child  will inherit this trait from you.

This needs to be present in medical  records for family planning of future generations.

If both you and your partner  have this trait,there’s a 25% possibility of your child having the disease (in every pregnancy ).

Chorionic villus sampling at 10 -11 weeks help in Antenatal  diagnosis  of thalassemia  .

Rate of  foetal loss in this procedure is 1%.

Social awareness about the prevention  of this disease is important .

#5 Rh Typing

It’s important to know your RH type before you conceive.

Rh or rhesus factor is a type of protein on the surface  of red blood cells.

Most people are positive for this factor

•  85 percent of Caucasians are Rh-positive
• 90 to 95 percent of African-Americans
• 98 to 99 percent of Asian Americans

Around the world on an average  85%are Rh positive  and 15 %is Rh negative.

If you are Rh negative  and have never been pregnant  before or never had a blood transfusion  .Don’t worry.

It’s likely your baby is Rh positive

You will be given an injection with Rh immunoglobulin  to protect against your blood becoming sensitization to the Rh antigen.

If you are Rh negative  and had a previous Rh positive baby ,miscarried,underwent an abortion ,ectopic pregnancy,but no Rh immunoglobulin  was given.

Then a test to check your blood for Rh antibodies is important  before planning a pregnancy.

Not knowing your Rh status and Rh antibody status can have serious complications.

Your doctor will help you.

Always plan your pregnancy  after consulting  with your doctor.

Other tests which you must do as a part of   Pre-Pregnancy Checkup is written in this checklist  .

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Disclaimer :This is an attempt  to empower  you to take more informed decisions and is not to be considered  as replacement  for professional medical advice.