All About Antepartum Testing and Monitoring

Many people might already know the answer to “what is antepartum testing.” This article gives details about the testing and process involved in the antepartum testing pregnancy.

Pregnancy is a time of excitement, anticipation, and the opportunity to prepare for childbirth. The medical team who will care for the mother during labor and delivery is responsible for providing them with anticipatory guidance regarding medical tests and assessments. These tests may include monitoring their blood pressure, fetal heart rate, urine testing (such as glucose or protein), and an assessment of the cervix as it relates to dilation.

What is Antepartum Testing Pregnancy Monitoring?

Antepartum pregnancy, testing, and monitoring are defined as a set of prenatal screening tests that are completed during pregnancy.

Screening is done to identify whether or not there may be problems that require further medical evaluation. During this phase, testing may identify more accurately diagnosed conditions through more invasive testing. The findings from initial screening tests may cause the women and their physicians to decide on more complete diagnostic studies (such as amniocentesis).

What is Antepartum Testing: Proactive or Reactive?

Antepartum testing is performed during pregnancy to assess the risk of complications during labor and delivery. Antepartum tests are generally divided into two categories, Proactive and Reactive. The purpose of proactive testing is to detect potential problems early and take steps to prevent them, while reactive testing is used in response to a complication that has already occurred.

Antepartum Testing Pregnancy

• Blood Pressure:

A blood pressure measurement is very important in the routine pregnancy evaluation of the mother. It is an important assessment for most aspects of pregnancy, including the health of the mother and that of the fetus. Blood pressure is measured throughout pregnancy, starting at about four weeks of gestation and repeated every 2 to 4 weeks until delivery. It helps the physician detect problems such as excessive fluid volume or high blood pressure, which can significantly affect the mother and baby’s health.

• Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring:

The fetal heart rate (FHR) is monitored using a Doppler ultrasound system or using a special monitor called an Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM) system. A transducer is placed on the mother’s abdomen, which emits sound waves that travel through the tissues and reflect off of the fetus. The reflections are picked up by the transducer and converted by a machine into a heart rate recording. The fetal heart rate is monitored throughout pregnancy to evaluate the fetus’s health.

• Vaginal Swab:

For early detection of infection, a culture (swab) from the vagina test for Group B streptococcus. A positive result for Group B strep is usually treated with antibiotics during labor and delivery. If left untreated, this infection can cause the baby to have trouble breathing after birth or an eye infection in a baby who’s born prematurely.

• Urine Testing:

Urine testing is performed in early pregnancy to screen for risk factors for high blood pressure during pregnancy, such as diabetes and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a condition that can affect fertility. A quantitative urine test is done to measure the amount of protein and glucose in the urine. 

Test Types

• Amniocentesis:

Amniocentesis is a test that provides information about fetal health and has been performed up to 24 weeks of gestation (the approximate time of organogenesis). Fertilisation occurs at approximately six weeks of gestation. A dye is injected through the cervix into the uterus or amniotic fluid. Although the procedure can have side effects, the benefits of amniocentesis for the mother and the baby outweigh these risks.

• Group B Streptococcal Infection Screening:

These screening screens for Group B Streptococcus infection can be serious for mother and baby. It is usually not performed before 28 weeks of gestation because it provides information only when it is performed during the last few weeks of pregnancy. The test is done by collecting a fluid sample around the baby. It is performed with a swab and requires no special preparation.

• Nuchal Translucency (NT) Screening:

This screening is done between 11 weeks and 13 weeks and six days of gestation (the period when most women who have the test discover they are pregnant) to estimate the risk of Down syndrome and other chromosome abnormalities in the baby. The test involves taking a blood sample from the mother and examining the blood cells under a microscope. Nuchal translucency (NT) is an ultrasound measurement that indicates the distance between the nuchal line and the top of the head.

• Hewlett Packard Antepartum Monitoring:

The Hewlett Packard (HP) Maternal-Fetal Medicine program is comprehensive and includes comprehensive antepartum testing for improved maternal and fetal health outcomes. The testing is done within a dedicated hospital that provides maternity services, delivery-related care, and neonatal intensive care for mothers.

Conclusion

Antepartum testing pregnancy is lengthy and takes several months to complete. Antepartum testing ensures that the baby and the mother are in good health, without any abnormalities in their growth and development. Once the antepartum testing and monitoring are completed,  the health care provider will review the results. They will then decide whether or not to perform an early delivery or send someone to a specialty hospital for induction of labor. If there is no reason for earlier delivery, one can go home after the maternity care and repeat the same tests at the next prenatal visit. If there are any concerns about what they have found out, it may be necessary for the health care provider to order more tests.