Blood Tests In Pregnancy: Everything You Need To Know
Blood tests during pregnancy are very famous. In fact, these are repeated regularly in each trimester with the aim of detecting abnormalities in the mother’s state of health and indirectly in that of the developing baby.
There is no single study of this type. With a single sample, multiple analyzes can be performed in the laboratory. These range from a complete blood count to the measurement of substances vital to the clotting process.
If you are interested in knowing more about the subject, in the following lines we have briefly summarized the most notable aspects of each of these studies. We present them below.
Why are blood tests indicated during pregnancy?
One of the most important steps to consider when detecting a pregnancy is the initiation of prenatal medical care. In various countries this is often done jointly by midwives and obstetricians.
In order to detect various alterations in a timely manner, it is common for the doctor to indicate laboratory studies. These go beyond a simple hematic biometry, since in reality there are several tests that can be done with a blood sample.
Diseases such as iron deficiency anemia (iron deficiency ), gestational diabetes, and some types of infections can be detected quickly with one of these tests.
Information that can be obtained from a blood test during pregnancy
Next, we will describe the main uses of the most frequent blood tests. These can be done inside and outside of pregnancy, but in this period they should be done regularly to avoid maternal or fetal problems.
Complete blood count
The hematic biometry is one of the most basic studies and allows to determine mainly the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells or erythrocytes are those responsible for transporting hemoglobin , a molecule that fixes oxygen.
For example, with these parameters it is possible to diagnose iron deficiency anemia. According to a publication of the MSD Manual, from a clinical point of view it is characterized by fatigue, shortness of breath and paleness.
White blood cells are also called leukocytes, and there are a wide variety in the blood, including neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, or lymphocytes. When they increase pathologically (especially neutrophils and lymphocytes), it is very likely that there is a maternal infection.
Platelets are actively involved in the clotting process. For example, when these decrease a lot, there is a greater risk of developing internal or external bleeding, as long as the risk factors exist for this to happen.
Blood chemistry
The term blood chemistry is often used generically to encompass all those substances that can be measured by chemical methods in a blood test. The most important ones during pregnancy include blood glucose and creatinine.
Glycemia is defined as the concentration of glucose in the blood and is extremely useful in diagnosing gestational diabetes.
According to some publications, this pathology is often associated with various obstetric complications such as pre-eclampsia, which requires rigorous medical control.
In the case of creatinine, it is used as a marker of kidney function. If it reaches high concentrations, it is quite possible that the kidneys are not working properly. It can happen in severe cases of dehydration or severe infections, causing pictures of acute kidney failure, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Coagulation studies
Coagulation studies are usually ordered periodically during pregnancy to assess the risk of bleeding. It is a very useful type of blood test when planning some type of cesarean section, since the greater the chances of bleeding, the greater intraoperative complications may appear.
Some of the most used are prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT). Among other things, the alteration in any of them could reveal pre-existing hematological diseases or due to pregnancy, according to certain publications.
Special studies for infectious diseases
It is mandatory to carry out some blood tests in each trimester of pregnancy to find out if the mother suffers from any important infectious disease. These may or may not cause symptoms and, in many cases, can endanger the life of the baby.
Some of these tests are known as serologies and are useful for diagnosing cases of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or toxoplasmosis. Another study is the VDRL ( Venereal Disease Research Laboratory ), used to diagnose syphilis.
Blood tests are useful and varied
Far from the typical idea that there is only one type of blood test, there are many studies that can be performed from the same sample. Of course, the collection methods are different, as is the processing in the labs.
Beyond the technical details, what is really important is that all pregnant women attend their prenatal check-ups on a regular basis. In these, the necessary studies will be indicated in a timely manner to avoid complications and improve the general prognosis, both for the mother and the future baby.
