Please explain Fetal Status Testing. How, Why, When?
On your first pregnancy visit, a vaginal ultrasound is performed, provided the pregnancy is early. This is an important test, allowing us to establish accurate dates and assures us that the pregnancy is as it should be. Another ultrasound is performed at 18-24 weeks gestation. This exam reassures that the baby’s anatomy is normal, as best as it is possible to tell within reason. If you desire to know the baby’s gender, often it can be determined at this exam. It is also acceptable not to have a midtrimester scan. Some insurance companies will not pay for this ultrasound examination. If there is concern about a potential problem, this scan is necessary. Other testing, such as triple-marker screens, amniocentesis, etc. are reserved for special situations, and should be discussed with your doctor, if necessary. After 28 weeks, a fetal movement count can be helpful. It is a simple home test you do daily to assure yourself that the baby is doing well. Simply eat a meal, let the meal digest
