First pregnancy screening

The first screening during pregnancy is a painless procedure that absolutely all women undergo in the first trimester of pregnancy. Let's look at the features of the first screening, the timing, possible results and cost.

The first screening during pregnancy allows you to find out how the future child is developing. The purpose of the procedure is to identify pathologies and abnormalities in the development of the fetus. Screening is an ultrasound examination and blood tests. When conducting diagnostics, the woman's age, weight, bad habits and chronic diseases are taken into account. During the first procedure, blood is taken from a vein for analysis and an ultrasound examination is performed. As a rule, the procedure is carried out at 10-13 weeks of pregnancy.

With the help of ultrasound, it is possible to determine the correct development of the future baby's physique. During ultrasound, the doctor takes measurements that help in diagnosing the state of fetal development. If any deviations or pathologies are detected, the pregnant woman is referred for more detailed diagnostics and further treatment.

Timing of the first screening during pregnancy

The timing of the first screening during pregnancy is determined by the gynecologist, but, as a rule, this is the period from the 10th to the 13th week of gestation. The main goal of screening is to identify pathologies in the development of the child. During screening, an ultrasound examination and blood test are performed. Despite such a short period of pregnancy, tests and studies will help to identify genetic and chromosomal abnormalities in the child.

Screening is called a comprehensive analysis, since all conclusions about the child's development are made based on the results of a combination of tests and studies. If during diagnostics a high probability of pathologies in the child's development was determined, then the woman is sent for amniocentesis and chorionic villus biopsy.

Pregnant women who are at risk for genetic and chromosomal abnormalities must undergo screening from the first to the third trimester. This category includes:

• Women over 35 years old.
• Women in whose families children with Down syndrome or any other genetic abnormalities were born.
• Women who have had miscarriages and children born with abnormalities.

Screening is mandatory for women who suffered from viral diseases in the first trimester and used contraindicated medications to treat them.

Preparing for your first pregnancy screening

Preparation for the first screening during pregnancy takes place in the women's consultation center, headed by a gynecologist. It is the doctor who must mentally prepare the woman for the tests, answering all questions of interest and dispelling fears. Let's look at the main points that concern the first screening and preparation for it.

1. It is best to have a blood test and ultrasound examination done on the same day and in the same laboratory. Before going for diagnostics, a woman should know that the procedure is absolutely painless, except for the blood sampling.
2. Many experts strongly recommend that pregnant women take a blood test on an empty stomach. Also, it is worth abstaining from sexual intercourse. As this can distort the results of the study.
3. Before going to the clinic to take tests, you need to weigh yourself. The data is needed to fill out a form that will be kept by a laboratory technician who performs ultrasound examinations and blood tests.
4. It is not recommended to drink water before the procedure, but if you really want to, then no more than 100 ml.
5. It is important to remember that the screening results are affected by the diseases for which hormonal therapy was used.
6. The results of the screening must be interpreted by a qualified doctor, as only he or she can tell about possible disorders and complications.

First biochemical screening during pregnancy

The first biochemical screening during pregnancy is a blood test procedure that allows diagnosing the presence of abnormalities and pathologies. The entire process is very important, since its task is to determine the presence of such abnormalities as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and spinal cord and brain defects in the fetus. In essence, biochemical screening is a blood test for hCG, as well as PAPP-A.

Please note that when decoding the analyses, not only absolute indicators are used, but also deviations that correspond to the time of the analysis. The results of biochemical screening do not provide complete data for establishing a diagnosis. The results of this study are a reason for conducting additional studies.

First Trimester Pregnancy Ultrasound Screening

Ultrasound screening of the first trimester of pregnancy is performed to determine the development of the child's internal organs and the location of the limbs. During the examination, measurements of the baby's body are taken and compared with the norms corresponding to the gestational age. Ultrasound screening allows you to examine the location and structure of the placenta. The baby's nasal bone is also examined. If the child is developing normally, then at 10-12 weeks of pregnancy the bone is visible in 98% of children. If the child is diagnosed with Down syndrome, then the bone is visible only in 70% of babies.

Screening ultrasound of the first trimester of pregnancy allows to determine multiple pregnancy, as all indicators are above the norm. The screening results are affected by the presence of chronic diseases in the pregnant woman, her intake of medications. All these factors must be taken into account when deciphering the screening results. If there are deviations in the results of the studies, then the woman is prescribed screening of the second trimester of pregnancy, as well as a set of additional tests.

Results of the first screening during pregnancy

The results of the first screening during pregnancy allow you to find out how the baby is developing, if there are any deviations and pathologies. If the baby has a predisposition to Down syndrome, this can be determined using the thickness of the collar space, which is examined by ultrasound. The presence of a risk for this disease is shown by the results of hCG and free β.

• If the results are above the established norm, then the fetus has a high risk of developing such a pathology as Down syndrome. If the results are below the norm, then this is the risk of Edwards syndrome.
• Another indicator of the first screening during pregnancy is the PAPP-A norm. This indicator is called plasma protein A, which is associated with pregnancy. Its level increases throughout pregnancy, and deviations from the norm may indicate that the baby has a predisposition to diseases.
• If PAPP-A is below the norm, then the baby has a high risk of developing pathologies and deviations. If the PAPP-A analysis is above the norm, but the other test results are normal, then there is no need to worry.

If you do not trust the screening results, the test can be repeated in another laboratory, but for this you must go through the entire procedure of blood tests and ultrasound again. You can undergo a repeated first screening during pregnancy up to 13 weeks.

Norm for the first screening during pregnancy

The norm for the first screening during pregnancy allows you to independently decipher the results of the tests obtained. Knowing the norms of the test results, the expectant mother can determine the presence of risks for the development of diseases and pathologies in the baby. Let's consider the main norms of tests for the first screening during pregnancy.

HCG norms, mIU/ml:

Pregnancy period (weeks)	Meaning
2	25- 300
3	1500- 5000
4	10000- 30000
5	20000- 100000
6	50000- 200000
7	50000- 200000
8	20000- 200000
9	20000- 100000
10	20000- 95000
12	20000- 90000
13-14	15000- 60000
15-25	10000- 35000

PAPP-A mIU/ml norms (a protein that is responsible for the normal functioning of the placenta):

Pregnancy period (weeks)	Meaning
8-9	0.17- 1.54
9-10	0.32- 2.42
10-11	0.46- 3.73
11-12	0.7- 4.76
12-13	1.03- 6.01
13-14	1.47- 8.54

To calculate the indicators, the MoM coefficient is used, which means deviations from the average indicator, which depend on the gestational age. The calculation uses adjusted values, which take into account the characteristics of the female body. Thus, the MoM norm can be from 0.5 to 3, and in case of multiple pregnancy up to 3.5 MoM. The obtained results help to determine whether the pregnant woman is in the risk category for chromosomal and genetic abnormalities.

Cost of the first screening during pregnancy

The cost of the first screening during pregnancy depends on the clinic and laboratory where the expectant mother plans to take the tests. The total cost of screening consists of the price of an ultrasound examination, prenatal diagnostics of the fetus and a number of tests.

Free β and hCG analysis, which involves taking blood, costs from 200 hryvnia, if the results are needed urgently, the cost increases to 250-300 hryvnia, PAPP-A from 250 to 350 hryvnia. Quantitative blood tests for chromosomal and genetic pathologies cost from 100 hryvnia, and ultrasound examination from 500 hryvnia. That is, on average, the first screening during pregnancy can cost future parents 1000-1500 hryvnia.

The first screening during pregnancy is a set of tests and studies that can help you find out how your future baby is developing and identify possible pathologies and developmental abnormalities. Based on the results of the first screening, the gynecologist gives recommendations for abortion or prescribes special treatment to eliminate the risk of developing chromosomal and genetic pathologies in the future child.

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