Cheap Pregnancy Test

Having Twins Now: The Nuchal Translucency test

Up until 13 weeks and 6 days, a pain free ultrasound evaluation can help dismiss any chances of Down syndrome or other potential chromosomal abnormalities through a test called a Nuchal Translucency Scan. Usually an ultrasound is a precautionary scan used to document the progression of the fetuses and determine placenta health, but this test, usually done between week 11 and the end of week 13, has a specific goal in mind.

Finding each fetus and centering in on their necks, the ultrasound technician will take a number of pictures and take a few measurements of the fluid at the base of the necks to give to the obstetrician, who will compare the thickness of the nuchal translucency to each other as well as a “normal range” measurement. While this measurement can be affected by a number of different situations, such as fetal positioning and environmental placement of the cranium in the placentas, a generalized area of between 2.18mm and 2.5mm seems to be the middle of the road for the scan.

Remember there is the fact that the percentage of detection for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities is around 62 and 88 percent, but the scan, paired with a look for the nasal bone during the ultrasound and a simple finger prick blood spot test are non-invasive examinations and can quell some of the anxiety that parents may have. The negative numbers are considerably higher for women over 35 years old, but with any examination, false positives are always possible.

Having twins and being told immediately that your pregnancy is considered “high risk” is stressful to start, but as more and more of these non-invasive tests are created a lot of that anxiety can either be minimized or possibly worsened as each test day gets closer. What many pregnant mothers never see during these ultrasound tests, because they aren’t diagnosed as high risk, leaves one wondering if “the less you know, the less you worry.”

Approaching these tests is just like any other medical test: It is best to be prepared for the worst, but reading into results as if they are the utmost truth is unhealthy. Take each result seriously, but do not let it crush the irrefutable truth that you are having twins and their health is in your hands. Many test results that show some sort of negative result now, will more than likely improve by the next exam, but any emergency situation will be approached by your OB appropriately.

It is not our duty as parents of unborn twins to burden ourselves with every potential defect, illness, abnormality or third nipple growing out of their chins. It is our duty to remain educated, calm and constantly doing our absolute best to keep a healthy environment for our babies to grow into rowdy twins come birth day.

About the Author

Whimsy! Pizazz! Catapult! All words I have NEVER used in a publication ever!
I’m Joel.
I have a sense of humor and my wife is pregnant with twins.
Do you have a problem with that?
Good.
Sorry about the mess on your floor.
Please visit my blog @ http://www.havingtwinsnow.com

Twin pregnancy

pregnant Beyonce To Perform At Michael Jackson Tribute

Hcg Levels in Early pregnancy

Pregnancy tests – whether home tests or blood tests – measure hcg levels in early pregnancy. Pregnancy tests will show a positive result if hcg is detected. Hcg stands for “human chorionic gonadotropin”, which is measured in milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/ml).

When is Hcg Detected?

Hcg levels in early pregnancy can be detected approximately 11 days after conception by a blood test, and about 12-14 days after conception by a home pregnancy test, or urine test. In general, the hcg levels in early pregnancy should double every 48 hours in early pregnancy to indicate a viable pregnancy. This rate will increase to every 96 hours after a few weeks.

This doubling rate will eventually slow down as the pregnancy progresses. It peaks arounds 8-11 weeks, and then slows down and levels off for the rest of the pregnancy. After about 12 weeks of pregnancy, the placenta takes over in nourishing the baby.

If the hcg level is less than 5mIU/ml, a negative pregnancy test will result. A positive result will show with anything above 25mIU/ml.

The Rate of Increase Is What Counts For A healthy Pregnancy!

Try not to read too much into the exact hcg numbers – it’s the rate at which these numbers double that is important. Sometimes a completely healthy pregnancy will have low hcg levels in early pregnancy. An ultrasound is much more accurate than using exact hcg numbers.

HCG Levels Chart

To get a general idea of the level of hcg at various stages in early pregnancy, follow this chart:

3 weeks: 5 – 50 mIU/ml

4 weeks: 5 – 426 mIU/ml

5 weeks: 18 – 7,340 mIU/ml

6 weeks: 1,080 – 56,500 mIU/ml

7 – 8 weeks: 7, 650 – 229,000 mIU/ml

9 – 12 weeks: 25,700 – 288,000 mIU/ml

13 – 16 weeks: 13,300 – 254,000 mIU/ml

17 – 24 weeks: 4,060 – 165,400 mIU/ml

25 – 40 weeks: 3,640 – 117,000 mIU/ml

Non-pregnant females: <5.0 mIU/ml

Postmenopausal females: <9.5 mIU/ml

As you can see, the levels of hcg in early pregnancy vary quite a bit. The change in values of the numbers is more important than the actual numbers themselves.

A quantitative hcg test (done with a blood test) measures the amount of hcg in the blood. To see if these numbers are doubling at a proper rate, your doctor will give you 2 blood tests 48 hours apart if he or she is concerned that your pregnancy is at risk.

A qualitative hcg test (urine home pregnancy test) simply detects if hcg is present in the blood.

What Do Very Low Or Very High Levels Of Hcg Mean?

If low levels of hcg are detected, or if the doubling rate is too far apart, this could be a sign of miscarriage, or blighted ovum (in which the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall, but the embryo does not develop). This could also be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy (when the fertilized egg attaches in a place other than inside the uterus – usually a fallopian tube).

If the levels of hcg is unusually high, this could be a sign of a molar pregnancy, which is the result of a genetic error during fertilization. This would then lead to a growth of abnormal tissue in the uterus. Molar pregnancies rarely produce a developing embryo.

High levels could also be a sign of a multiple pregnancy.

Hcg After Miscarriage or Childbirth

Hcg levels after miscarriage should slowly go down, and return to a non-pregnant state. This usually takes about 4-6 weeks after a miscarriage or delivery of a healthy baby. This varies according to the situation – miscarriage, D&C or delivery of a healthy baby. This also depends on how high the levels were at the time. The further along the pregnancy was, the longer it will take for levels to go back to non-pregnancy level (<5.0mIU/ml ).

Find out more at: http://www.complete-pregnancy-guide.com

About the Author

- Lisa Simonelli Rennie, author of complete-pregnancy-guide.com. This website has all the info you need on conception, pregnancy, childbirth and labor, including a week by week guide.

http://www.complete-pregnancy-guide.com

The Apple iPreg 3G!

Repro Scan Dairy Demonstration

Feb 2011 home pregnancy Results.WMV

Holistic pregnancy Secrets.Eliminate Infertility Fast.natural Pregnancy e-book reveals all

Common Tests During pregnancy

The following are some of the more common tests performed during pregnancy:

What is Prenatal Screening?

First Trimester Prenatal Screening Tests

First trimester screening is a combination of fetal ultrasound and maternal blood testing performed during the first trimester of pregnancy. This screening process can help to determine the risk of the fetus having certain birth defects. Screening tests may be used alone or in combination with other tests.

There are three parts of first trimester screening:

• ultrasound test for fetal nuchal translucency (NT)
  Nuchal translucency screening uses an ultrasound test to examine the area at the back of the fetal neck for increased fluid or thickening.
• two maternal serum (blood) tests
  The blood tests measure two substances found in the blood of all pregnant women: 
  • pregnancy-associated plasma protein screening (PAPP-A) – a protein produced by the placenta in early pregnancy. Abnormal levels are associated with an increased risk for chromosome abnormality.
  • human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) – a hormone produced by the placenta in early pregnancy. Abnormal levels are associated with an increased risk for chromosome abnormality.

When used together as first trimester screening tests, nuchal translucency screening and maternal blood tests have a greater ability to determine if the fetus might have a birth defect, such as Down syndrome, trisomy 18, or trisomy 13.

If the results of these first trimester screening tests are abnormal, genetic counseling is recommended. Additional testing such as chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, or other ultrasounds may be needed for accurate diagnosis.

Second Trimester Prenatal Screening Tests

Second trimester prenatal screening may include several blood tests, called multiple markers.  These markers provide information about a woman’s risk of having a baby with certain genetic conditions or birth defects. Screening is usually performed by taking a sample of the mother‘s blood between the 15th and 20th weeks of pregnancy (16th to 18th is ideal). The multiple markers include:

• alpha-fetoprotein screening (AFP) – a blood test that measures the level of alpha-fetoprotein in the mothers’ blood during pregnancy. AFP is a protein normally produced by the fetal liver and is present in the fluid surrounding the fetus (amniotic fluid), and crosses the placenta into the mother‘s blood. The AFP blood test is also called MSAFP (maternal serum AFP).

  Abnormal levels of AFP may signal the following:

  • open neural tube defects (ONTD) such as spina bifida
  • Down syndrome
  • other chromosomal abnormalities
  • defects in the abdominal wall of the fetus
  • twins – more than one fetus is making the protein
  • a miscalculated due date, as the levels vary throughout pregnancy
• hCG – human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (a hormone produced by the placenta)
• estriol – a hormone produced by the placenta
• inhibin – a hormone produced by the placenta

Abnormal test results of AFP and other markers may indicate the need for additional testing. Usually an ultrasound is performed to confirm the dates of the pregnancy and to look at the fetal spine and other body parts for defects. An amniocentesis may be needed for accurate diagnosis.

Multiple marker screening is not diagnostic. This means it is not 100 percent accurate, and is only a screening test to determine who in the population should be offered additional testing for their pregnancy. There can be false-positive results – indicating a problem when the fetus is actually healthy or false negative results – indicating a normal result when the fetus actually does have a health problem.

When a woman has both first and second trimester screening tests performed, the ability of the tests to detect an abnormality is greater than using just one screening independently.  Nearly all cases of Down Syndrome can be detected when both first and second trimester screening are used.

What is an amniocentesis?

An amniocentesis is a procedure used to obtain a small sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds the fetus to diagnose chromosomal disorders and open neural tube defects (ONTDs) such as spina bifida. Testing is available for other genetic defects and disorders depending on the family history and availability of laboratory testing at the time of the procedure. An amniocentesis is generally offered to women between the 15th and 20th weeks of pregnancy who are at increased risk for chromosome abnormalities, such as women who are over age 35 years of age at delivery, or those who have had an abnormal maternal serum screening test, indicating an increased risk for a chromosomal abnormality or neural tube defect.

 

How is an amniocentesis performed?

An amniocentesis is a procedure that involves inserting a long, thin needle through the mother’s abdomen into the amniotic sac to withdraw a small sample of the amniotic fluid for examination. The amniotic fluid contains cells shed by the fetus, which contain genetic information. Although specific details of each procedure vary slightly, generally, an amniocentesis follows this process:

• The woman’s abdomen is cleansed with an antiseptic.
• The physician may/may not give a local anesthetic to numb the skin.
• Ultrasound is used to help guide a hollow needle into the amniotic sac.
• A small sample of fluid is withdrawn for laboratory analysis.
• Strenuous activities should be avoided for 24 hours following an amniocentesis.
• Women may feel some cramping during or after the amniocentesis.

Women with twins or other multiples need sampling from each amniotic sac, in order to study each baby. Depending on the position of the baby, placenta, amount of fluid, or patient’s anatomy, sometimes the amniocentesis cannot be performed. The fluid is sent to a genetics laboratory so that the cells can grow and be analyzed. Alpha-fetoprotein, a protein made by the fetus that is present in the fluid, is also measured to rule out an open neural tube defect, such as spina bifida. Results are usually available in about 10 days to two weeks, depending on the laboratory.

What is a chorionic villus sampling (CVS)?

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a prenatal test that involves taking a sample of some of the placental tissue. This tissue contains the same genetic material as the fetus and can be tested for chromosomal abnormalities and some other genetic problems. Testing is available for other genetic defects and disorders depending on the family history and availability of laboratory testing at the time of the procedure. In comparison to amniocentesis (another type of prenatal test), CVS does not provide information on neural tube defects such as spina bifida. For this reason, women who undergo CVS also need a follow-up blood test between 16 to 18 weeks of their pregnancy, to screen for neural tube defects.

 

How is CVS performed?

CVS may be offered to women who are at increased risk for chromosomal abnormalities or have a family history of a genetic defect that is testable from the placental tissue. CVS is usually performed between the 10th and 12th weeks of pregnancy. Although exact methods can vary, the procedure involves inserting a small tube called a catheter through a woman’s vagina and into her cervix and usually follows this process:

• Ultrasound is used to guide the catheter into place near the placenta.
• Tissue is removed using a syringe on the other end of the catheter.
• Another method is transabdominal CVS, which involves inserting a needle through the woman’s abdomen and into her uterus to sample the placental cells.
• Women may feel some cramping during and after the CVS procedure.
• The tissue samples are sent to a genetic laboratory to grow and be analyzed. Results are usually available in about 10 days to two weeks, depending on the laboratory.

Women with twins or other multiples usually need sampling from each placenta. However, because of the complexity of the procedure, and positioning of the placentas, CVS is not always feasible or successful with multiples.

Some women may not be candidates for CVS or may not obtain results that are 100 percent accurate, and may therefore require a follow-up amniocentesis. In some cases there is an active vaginal infection such as herpes or gonorrhea, which will prohibit the procedure. Other times the physician obtains a sample that does not have enough tissue to grow in the laboratory, such that results are incomplete or inconclusive.

What is fetal monitoring?

During late pregnancy and during labor, your physician may want to monitor the fetal heart rate and other functions. Fetal heart rate monitoring is a method of checking the rate and rhythm of the fetal heartbeat. The average fetal heart rate is between 110 and 160 beats per minute. The fetal heart rate may change as the fetus responds to conditions in the uterus. An abnormal fetal heart rate or pattern may mean that the fetus is not getting enough oxygen or there are other problems. An abnormal pattern also may mean that an emergency or cesarean delivery is needed.

How is fetal monitoring performed?

Using a fetoscope (a type of stethoscope) to listen to the fetal heart beat is the most basic type of fetal heart rate monitoring. Another type of monitoring is with a hand held Doppler device. This is often used during prenatal visits to count the fetal heart rate. During labor, continuous electronic fetal monitoring is often used, especially if an abnormal rhythm is heard with the fetoscope. Although the specific details of each procedure vary slightly, generally, electronic fetal monitoring follows this process:

• Gel is applied to the mother’s abdomen to act as a medium for the ultrasound transducer.
• The ultrasound transducer is attached to the abdomen with straps and transmits the fetal heartbeat to a recorder. The fetal heart rate is displayed on a screen and printed onto special paper.
• During contractions, an external tocodynamometer (a monitoring device that is placed over the top of the uterus with a belt) can record the patterns of contractions.
• Sometimes, internal fetal monitoring is necessary for a more accurate reading of the fetal heart rate. Your bag of waters (amniotic fluid) must be broken and your cervix must be partially dilated to use internal monitoring. Internal fetal monitoring involves inserting an electrode through the dilated cervix and attaching the electrode to the scalp of the fetus, called a fetal scalp electrode.

What is a glucose tolerance test?

A glucose tolerance test, usually conducted in the 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy, measures levels of sugar (glucose) in the mother’s blood. Abnormal glucose levels may indicate gestational diabetes.

How is a glucose tolerance test performed?

Although the specific details of each procedure vary slightly, generally, a glucose tolerance test follows this process:

• The mother-to-be may be asked to only drink water on the day the glucose tolerance test is given.
• An initial fasting sample of blood is drawn from a vein.
• You will be given a special glucose solution to drink.
• Blood will be drawn several times over the course of several hours to measure the glucose levels in your body.

What is a Group B strep culture?

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) are bacteria found in the lower genital tract of about 25 percent of all women. GBS infection usually causes no problems in women before pregnancy, but can cause serious illness in the mother during pregnancy. GBS may cause chorioamnionitis (a severe infection of the placental tissues) and postpartum infection. urinary tract infections caused by GBS can lead to preterm labor and birth.

GBS is the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborns, including pneumonia and meningitis. Newborn babies contract the infection during pregnancy or from the mother’s genital tract during labor and delivery.

The Centers for disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends screening of all pregnant women for vaginal and rectal group B strep colonization between 35 to 37 weeks’ gestation. treatment of mothers with certain risk factors or positive cultures is important reduce the risk of transmission of GBS to the baby. Babies whose mothers receive antibiotic treatment for a positive GBS test are 20 times less likely to develop the disease than those without treatment.

What is an ultrasound?

 

An ultrasound scan is a diagnostic technique which uses high-frequency sound
waves to create an image of the internal organs. A screening ultrasound is sometimes done during the course of a pregnancy to check normal fetal growth and verify the due date. Ultrasounds may be performed at various times throughout pregnancy for different reasons:

In the first trimester:

• to establish the dates of a pregnancy
• to determine the number of fetuses and identify placental structures
• to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage
• to examine the uterus and other pelvic anatomy
• in some cases to detect fetal abnormalities

Mid-trimester: (sometimes called the 18 to 20 week scan)

• to confirm pregnancy dates
• to determine the number of fetuses and examine the placental structures
• to assist in prenatal tests such as an amniocentesis
• to examine the fetal anatomy for presence of abnormalities
• to check the amount of amniotic fluid
• to examine blood flow patterns
• to observe fetal behavior and activity
• to examine the placenta
• to measure the length of the cervix
• to monitor fetal growth

Third trimester:

• to monitor fetal growth
• to check the amount of amniotic fluid
• as part of other testing such as the biophysical profile
• to determine the position of a fetus
• to assess the placenta

How is an ultrasound scan performed?

Although the specific details of each procedure vary slightly, generally, ultrasounds follow this process. Two types of ultrasounds can be performed during pregnancy:

• abdominal ultrasound
  In an abdominal ultrasound, gel is applied to the abdomen and the ultrasound transducer glides over the gel on the abdomen to create the image.
• transvaginal ultrasound
  In a transvaginal ultrasound, a smaller ultrasound transducer is inserted into the vagina and rests against the back of the vagina to create an image. A transvaginal ultrasound produces a sharper image and is often used in early pregnancy.

There are several types of ultrasound imaging techniques. The most common is two dimensional, or 2D. This gives a flat picture of one aspect of the image.

If more information is needed, a 3d ultrasound examination can be performed. This technique, which provides a three-dimensional picture, requires a special machine and special training. But the 3d image allows the physician to see width, height, and depth of images, which can be helpful in diagnosis. The 3D images can also be captured and saved for later review.

The latest technology is 4D ultrasound, which allows the physician to visualize the unborn baby moving in real-time. With 4D imaging, a three-dimensional image is continuously updated, providing a “live action” view. These images often have a golden color, which helps show shadows and highlights.

Ultrasound images may be captured in still photographs or on video to document findings.

Ultrasound is a technique that is constantly being improved and refined. As with any test, results may not be completely accurate. However, ultrasound can provide valuable information for parents and health care providers to help manage and care for the pregnancy and fetus. In addition, ultrasound gives parents have a unique opportunity to see their baby before birth, helping them to bond and establish an early relationship.

What is genetic screening?

Many genetic abnormalities can be diagnosed before birth. Your physician may recommend genetic testing during the pregnancy if you or your partner have a family history of genetic disorders and/or you have had a fetus or baby with a genetic abnormality.

Examples of genetic disorders that can be diagnosed before birth include the following:

• cystic fibrosis
• Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• hemophilia A
• thalassemia
• sickle cell anemia
• polycystic kidney disease
• Tay-Sachs disease

What do genetic screening methods include?

Genetic screening methods may include the following:

• ultrasound scan
• alpha-fetoprotein test (AFP) or multiple marker test
• chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
• amniocentesis
• percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (withdrawing a small sample of the fetal blood from the umbilical cord)

 

discover How You Can Treat Infertility Naturally, Without drugs or surgery

About the Author

Read about How To Reverse Infertility Naturally, and get Amazing free Bonuses On Health, Relaxation and Baby Names and a 24 Hours Support From Our Customer Care on Pregnancy and Fertility Issues.

Pregnancy Week by Week

“In Trouble” from Mark Plimsoll’s Cell UR