One of the most valuable tools in maintaining women’s health in general and especially during pregnancy is regular blood work tests. While pregnant, an expectant mother is wise to take advantage of all available diagnostic tests and physician checks to ensure the health of her baby. In addition to regular blood tests during pregnancy, she must also have routine urine testing, ultrasound testing and a regular gamut of other prenatal testing. Good prenatal care has been proven, time and again, to help make pregnancy and childbirth easier and assure fetal and newborn health.
Arguably, prenatal blood tests may be the most important of all of these laboratory tests. Accurate blood test results give doctors a wealth of information in regards to the general health of the patient. One of the most important blood tests during pregnancy or for women seeking to become pregnant is STD testing which protects both mother and baby from illness and complications. Some STDs can be treated and eliminated quickly and others can be managed more successfully when detected with early testing. If an STD goes undetected during pregnancy, the results could be dire.
What is the process for blood tests during pregnancy?
Prenatal blood work tests may be conducted in the doctor’s office, at the laboratory of the doctors choosing, at home using a kit, or at the laboratory of the patient’s choosing via convenient online blood testing. Regardless of the venue chosen, blood work tests are performed following a fairly routine procedure. First a small test tube or vial of blood is collected. The sample is examined and analyzed by laboratory technicians. Following analysis, the results of the blood test are relayed to the doctor or directly to the patient. When performed by skilled lab techs, blood testing is a fairly painless procedure.
Of all of these methods, home kits are least advisable due to potential for botched tests, inaccuracy and unavoidable time delays. Online blood tests are most advisable. Online blood tests through web sites such as labtestportal.com are affordable, professional, accurate and convenient.
Having your blood tested with LabTestPortal.com is quick and easy. You simply choose the online blood test you want, order and pay for it, receive your appointment at a convenient professional lab near you, go for testing and wait for your online results. Blood test results will usually be posted in your private online personal health record within 24 hours.
Online blood testing is very handy and valuable because you can follow up by discussing the results of the lab work tests with professional, caring LabTestPortal.com staff before visiting the doctor or obstetrician. In this way, you arrive for your appointment well-informed and with valuable information to share with your doctor.
Is it important to have blood work tests during pregnancy?
Indeed it is! Regular prenatal blood testing allows your obstetrician to stay on top of your health condition and your baby‘s development. One of the most important things your doctor will want to monitor is the level of hemoglobin and iron in your blood. Hemoglobin carries oxygen throughout your body and to your developing baby. Iron supports good respiration and metabolism and proper immune function.
Additionally, your Rh protein levels must be monitored. If this protein is not present in the blood, it could cause your baby to be born with serious disabilities. Doctors also monitor blood cell count in expectant mothers because a low count may cause weakness and anemia. Pregnancy blood work tests also detect antibodies for such diseases as mumps, measles and chickenpox.
All of this knowledge can go a long way towards helping protect your baby from birth defects and supporting you in having a trouble-free pregnancy and an easy birth.
Regular blood tests during pregnancy will let your doctor know whether or not more extensive testing is necessary to detect potential problems and complications. All in all, prenatal blood work tests provide a wealth of valuable information to doctors and expectant mothers. Armed with this good information, a woman can expect to progress through pregnancy with far fewer complications and with the happiest of outcomes.
If you fear that blood testing during pregnancy may be traumatic for you or your baby, you can lay your fears to rest. By taking advantage of modern, professional, high tech online blood testing, you can get the best in blood work tests affordably and experience little or no stress or discomfort. Having regular blood work testing is an important component to women’s health care and prenatal health care in particular.
We hope that this article has given you a greater understanding of the purpose and the importance of blood work tests during pregnancy. For more information about how you can make the most of regular blood work testing while preparing for the birth of your baby, visit labtestportal.com. Having the ability to order professional blood tests online in advance of your obstetric visits will empower you to make the most of your prenatal doctors’ appointments as well as getting the most value for your health care dollar.
Other Useful Resources for Pregnant Women:
First Trimester: What to Expect