Blood Tests During Pregnancy: All You Need To Know – You Are Parents

Blood tests during pregnancy are very common. Indeed, they are carried out regularly every trimester in order to detect abnormalities in the state of health of the mother and indirectly in that of the developing baby.

There is no such single study. With a single sample, several analyzes can be performed in the laboratory. These range from a complete blood count to the measurement of substances vital for the clotting process.

If you want to know more about the subject, in the following lines we have briefly summarized the most notable aspects of each of these studies.

Why are blood tests indicated during pregnancy?

One of the most important steps to take into account when detecting pregnancy is the initiation of antenatal 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 simple haematic biometrics. Because in reality, there are several tests that can be performed through a blood test.

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 blood tests during pregnancy

We now describe the main uses of the most common blood tests. These can take place outside of pregnancy. However, during this period, they are performed regularly to avoid maternal or fetal problems.

Complete blood count

Haematic biometrics is one of the most basic studies. It mainly determines the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells or erythrocytes are 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 pallor.

White blood cells are also called leukocytes. There are a wide variety of them in the blood, including neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils or lymphocytes. When they increase pathologically (especially neutrophils and lymphocytes), it is very likely that there is 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 occur.

Blood biochemical analyzes

The term  blood chemistry tests is often used generically to encompass all substances that can be measured by chemical methods in a blood test. The most important during pregnancy are blood sugar and creatinine.

Blood sugar 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 preeclampsia, which requires rigorous medical control.

In the case of creatinine, this test is used as a marker of kidney function. If it reaches high concentrations, it is very possible that the kidneys are not working properly. This can happen in severe cases of dehydration or severe infections, causing cases of acute kidney failure.

Coagulation tests

Periodic coagulation tests are usually recommended during pregnancy to assess the risk of bleeding. This is a very useful type of blood test when planning a Caesarean section. In fact, the greater the risk of bleeding, the more preoperative complications may appear.

Some of the most used are prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT). Among other things, the alteration of one of them could reveal pre-existing hematological diseases or those due to pregnancy, according to certain publications.

Specific tests for infectious diseases

It is mandatory to do blood tests every trimester of pregnancy to find out if the mother has a significant infectious disease. These illnesses may or may not cause symptoms and in many cases endanger the baby’s life.

In addition, the most common tests are serologies. They are useful for diagnosing cases of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or toxoplasmosis. Another test is the VDRL ( Venereal Disease Research Laboratory ), used to diagnose syphilis.

Blood tests during pregnancy are useful and varied

Finally, there are many blood tests that can be done from the same sample. Of course, the collection methods are different, as is the processing in the laboratories.

Beyond the technical details, what is really important is that all pregnant women come regularly to their antenatal visits. The necessary tests will then be indicated in a timely manner to avoid complications and improve the general prognosis, both for the mother and for the unborn baby.