The antenatal visit and diagnostic tests in the ninth month of pregnancy forms the crux of routine tests. Find out the tests required during the antenatal visits for a healthy baby during delivery. In your ninth month of pregnancy, there will be some usual routine tests that you had been having at regular intervals throughout your pregnancy term. They are like the foetal heart beat check, urine tests, uterine screening, blood pressure check and weight monitoring. But apart from those given below are the specific diagnostic tests during your antenatal visits. In this articleGroup B Streptococcus ScreeningKick Count TestNon-Stress TestContraction Stress TestBio-Physical ProfileGroup B Streptococcus Screening This is a bacterium which can be present in your genital tract. If this bacterium is present it can be passed on to your baby during delivery. So the Group B Streptococcus screening or GBS is carried out towards the end of the pregnancy term. Almost 30% of the pregnant women are found to carry this bacteria. If you test positive, the doctor will administer some antibiotics during your labour so that the passing on of the bacteria is effectively prevented. Kick Count Test The movement of the baby is monitored at the final stage of the pregnancy through this test. This test is particularly carried out if you happen to go past your due date, or are suffering from certain chronic health issues, or you are pregnant with twins or multiples. In this test it is counted whether the baby moves to about ten times for around ten minutes to two hours. The baby is considered to be normal if you get to feel about ten kicks within two hours. If you find that the kicks are less than ten within a two hour period, your doctor might go in for a non-stress test to ascertain the condition of the baby. It has been found that when the mother is having her meals, the baby is most active. So if the test is performed during this period, the desired results can be attained more easily. Non-Stress Test This is a test to measure the heartbeat of the baby when it is moving. This test is performed every week after week 38 of your pregnancy. A consistent monitoring is very important especially for mothers who have a pregnancy risk due to certain health conditions like hypertension, or they have crossed their due date or they are carrying twins or multiples. The non-stress test is basically a confirmation test to the kick count test that is previously mentioned. If the baby is less active in the earlier test, the current test will confirm the non-reactivity by clinically monitoring the heart beat while it is moving. The condition of the baby is stated to be normal if the heartbeat is high for at least 15 seconds. But this must be on two separate occasions, with no more than 20 minutes between the test span. But a non-reactive result need not set panic alarms. It may so happen that the reason for non-reactivity is simply that the test was conducted earlier than, the child had actually matured to register its reactivity. Or, the baby may also be asleep during the test. The test can be repeated for confirmation on the status of the baby followed by other tests like, contraction stress. Contraction Stress Test This test has a risk factor and hence not recommended unless for a high-risk pregnancy. If there are mild and infrequent uterine contractions prior to labour, the heartbeat of the baby is measured during the contractions. The condition of the placenta is ascertained and also the amount if oxygen is reaching the baby. Depending on the condition, the doctor may administer oxytocin. Bio-Physical Profile This is basically a combination of non-stress and ultrasound is conducted to ascertain the foetal health. The test is performed if you have a risky pregnancy and suffer from diabetes or gestational hypertension or have passed your due date. The heartbeat of the baby, muscle tone, breathing pattern, movements and the volume of amniotic fluid is monitored along with the ultrasound. If required, the doctor might opt for an early delivery.
The antenatal visit and diagnostic tests in the ninth month of pregnancy forms the crux of routine tests. Find out the tests required during the antenatal visits for a healthy baby during delivery. In your ninth month of pregnancy, there will be some usual routine tests that you had been having at regular intervals throughout your
pregnancy term. They are like the
foetal heart beat check, urine tests, uterine screening, blood pressure check and weight monitoring. But apart from those given below are the specific diagnostic tests during your antenatal visits.
Group B Streptococcus Screening
This is a bacterium which can be present in your genital tract. If this bacterium is present it can be passed on to your baby during delivery. So the Group B Streptococcus screening or GBS is carried out towards the end of the pregnancy term. Almost 30% of the pregnant women are found to carry this bacteria. If you test positive, the doctor will administer some antibiotics during your labour so that the passing on of the bacteria is effectively prevented.
Kick Count Test
The movement of the baby is monitored at the final stage of the pregnancy through this test. This test is particularly carried out if you happen to go past your due date, or are suffering from certain chronic health issues, or you are pregnant with twins or multiples. In this test it is counted whether the baby moves to about ten times for around ten minutes to two hours. The baby is considered to be normal if you get to feel about ten kicks within two hours. If you find that the kicks are less than ten within a two hour period, your doctor might go in for a non-stress test to ascertain the condition of the baby. It has been found that when the mother is having her meals, the baby is most active. So if the test is performed during this period, the desired results can be attained more easily.
Non-Stress Test
This is a test to measure the heartbeat of the baby when it is moving. This test is performed every week after week 38 of your pregnancy. A consistent monitoring is very important especially for mothers who have a pregnancy risk due to certain health conditions like hypertension, or they have crossed their due date or they are carrying twins or multiples. The non-stress test is basically a confirmation test to the kick count test that is previously mentioned. If the baby is less active in the earlier test, the current test will confirm the non-reactivity by clinically monitoring the heart beat while it is moving.
The condition of the baby is stated to be normal if the heartbeat is high for at least 15 seconds. But this must be on two separate occasions, with no more than 20 minutes between the test span. But a non-reactive result need not set panic alarms. It may so happen that the reason for non-reactivity is simply that the test was conducted earlier than, the child had actually matured to register its reactivity. Or, the baby may also be asleep during the test. The test can be repeated for confirmation on the status of the baby followed by other tests like, contraction stress.
Contraction Stress Test
This test has a risk factor and hence not recommended unless for a high-risk pregnancy. If there are mild and infrequent uterine contractions prior to labour, the heartbeat of the baby is measured during the contractions. The condition of the placenta is ascertained and also the amount if oxygen is reaching the baby. Depending on the condition, the doctor may administer oxytocin.
Bio-Physical Profile
This is basically a combination of non-stress and ultrasound is conducted to ascertain the foetal health. The test is performed if you have a risky pregnancy and suffer from diabetes or gestational hypertension or have passed your due date. The heartbeat of the baby, muscle tone, breathing pattern, movements and the volume of amniotic fluid is monitored along with the ultrasound. If required, the doctor might opt for an early delivery.
