When do 2 screening during pregnancy and what does it show

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Screening is an effective means of monitoring the progress of pregnancy. Such observations are carried out repeatedly. There are special rules for how many weeks each diagnostic procedure is done. 2 screening during pregnancy is considered important and further management tactics depend on what it shows.

Number of treatments

Ultrasound examination during pregnancy is a relatively safe and informative study based on the ability of sound waves of a certain range to be reflected from obstacles encountered in the path of propagation.

Interesting! Gestosis during pregnancy: what is it and how to treat

The analysis of the data obtained is deciphered by highly qualified specialists and is widely used not only in obstetrics and gynecology.

Normally, bearing a fetus during the prescribed period, screening is carried out twice:

• the first - at 11-12 weeks, during the formation of vital organs in the embryo, gives an idea of the course of the early stages;
• 2 screening is needed in the second trimester. How many weeks the study is carried out is decided if necessary, competent sources indicate a period of 18 to 24 weeks;
• the third, not mandatory ultrasound, is often prescribed at 32 weeks - this is prenatal information about the state of the uterus with an already ripe fetus, such a study is often recommended by doctors for additional safety net;
• three or more screening during pregnancy can be used in case of a negative course of pregnancy, the need for intrauterine treatment, premature birth in special cases.

In each of the studies conducted, a parallel study of the hormonal background is undertaken. The cumulative result of laboratory and instrumental research makes it possible to establish the presence of serious genetic abnormalities.

If the doctor suspects that the data obtained is incorrect, an invasive method may be recommended in order to leave the choice for the expectant mother.

Interesting! 8 first signs of pregnancy

Second study

Sometimes you can find the statement that exactly 2 screening is the most important part of pregnancy monitoring. In fact, both the first and the second stage are equally important in terms of the amount of information received.

And even the third screening is not prescribed unnecessarily: it makes it possible to correct some factors that can complicate the passage of the child's birth canal under normal conditions.

2 pregnancy screening is best done in the second trimester. The question of how many weeks it should be carried out arises due to the lack of general information in a pregnant woman about the composition and number of diagnostic measures during a specific examination.

The importance of the 2nd screening at 18-24 weeks is due to the diversity of the tests performed:

1. Blood is donated from 16 to 18 weeks, to obtain a triple test result. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) provides the binding of maternal estrogens, protection of the fetus from attacks of maternal immunity, with a lack of AFP, which considers the fetus as a foreign formation and produces antigens to it. A blood test for hCG, a decrease in previously high rates shows the degree of development of the placenta and the reliability of the protection of the fetus. Together with these data, the level of free estriol allows you to determine chromosomal abnormalities or malfunctions in the internal organs of the fetus.
2. It is better to do an ultrasound after receiving the results of a triple test, therefore, a study on special equipment is prescribed from 20 weeks to 24. Numerous clinical observations of the course of gestation have shown that it is during this period during pregnancy that it is possible to establish the maximum correspondence of the child's development to the expected gestation period, to see how the size of the internal organs corresponds to the concept of a conditional norm.
3. Urinalysis is an important diagnostic tool for any condition, it is done periodically, not only during screening period 2. In the course of a laboratory study of the product of the excretory system, information can be obtained about the state of the genitourinary system, the activity of internal organs, and the presence of infections. Therefore, the question of how many weeks to do the second screening is not relevant, it can be prescribed in any period of gestation.

2 screening during pregnancy is an important stage in the general medical monitoring of the condition of a woman and a pregnant fetus during gestation.

What tests are done, and what they show, depends on the general well-being of the pregnant woman, but there are limiting periods that are optimal for obtaining data, and it is imperative to go through all the studies at this time.

results

Knowing how many weeks a triple blood test, an ultrasound scan and a urinalysis are done, you can find out what the second screening shows the doctor in general.

In the aggregate, all the results obtained are taken into account, which only in this combination give an objective picture. Through clinical studies, tables have been compiled of the relative norms of the content in the body at different periods of hCG, AFP, estriol, but the human body may deviate somewhat from the average indicators. Without taking into account all objective factors, you can sound the alarm without proper reason.

A decrease or an excess of the normal hormonal level provides little information for conclusions, but a high level of hCG in combination with a low AFP may indicate the presence of chromosomal abnormalities and genetic malfunctions.

A significant decrease in estriol in itself is not objective enough, because they can be accompanied by both intrauterine developmental pathology and elementary fetal prolongation. Only the passage of all envisaged studies 2 screening can give grounds for preliminary conclusions.

But with serious suspicions, there is still a risk of a false positive result, therefore, final conclusions and recommendations are made only after additional research methods are carried out. The correct results of the 2nd screening are obtained in the period from 18 to 24 weeks, and the task of the pregnant woman is to complete it in a timely manner.

Summarize

Monitoring the progress of pregnancy may involve multiple screenings. In the second stage, in the period from 18 to 24 weeks, you can:

1. Obtain information about the norm and pathology of the condition of the unborn child - his development, the presence or absence of genetic abnormalities.
2. Make sure the gestational age is consistent with the expected date.
3. Learn about the development of the internal organs of the fetus.
4. Check the condition of the mother and her baby.