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This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.
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Australian Prescriber Vol. 29 No. 2 2006
Blood tests for problems in pregnancy
During pregnancy the proteins and hormones in a woman's blood change. These changes are to increase the chances of having a healthy baby. If there is a problem with the pregnancy it may show up in a blood test.
Blood tests for a particular protein (alpha fetoprotein) can detect conditions such as spina bifida or Down's syndrome. Unfortunately, these tests are not 100% accurate. To improve accuracy the tests have to be done at a specific time in the pregnancy. If the result is not normal, the woman may be asked to have further tests to check the result.
An important blood test during pregnancy is the blood sugar (glucose). If the amount of glucose in the blood is high the mother may have diabetes. This can be a risk to her baby and her own future health, so it is best to detect diabetes as soon as possible.
