Third Trimester Tests During Pregnancy

In the third trimester as your due date is nearing, your excitement may be at the peak and so will be your anxiety. You will go through the routine tests to keep a track of your pregnancy health. Your doctor may have already tested and screened possible risk factors in the second trimester. You may or may not be going through any treatment plans at this point. You might be going through a lot of physical and emotional changes at this point. The physical changes tend to be more evident by this time. You may have a bigger baby bump. You will feel contractions more frequently. You might feel more tired, due to the weight of your fetus. You might be experiencing aches and pain. Your breast will enlarge in size to get ready for breastfeeding. Digestion problems could be another major issue you might be facing.

Your healthcare provider might ask you to go through different tests based on your health needs. If you need any assistance in prescriptions for these tests, learning more about these tests or reviewing test reports with your doctor, you can book an online consultation with experienced doctors here and also book your tests instantly online for sample collection from the comfort of your home. 

Third Trimester Routine Tests

The routine tests in third trimester includes weight assessment, blood pressure, urine test and delivery preparation.  

Body weight assessment  - In the third trimester your fetus gains most weight and by the end of the third trimester, your weight would remain steady or sometimes reduced which is normal. 

Blood Pressure assessment  - As part of routine, blood pressure is assessed. In the third trimester, sometimes there would be an increase in blood pressure leading to preeclampsia. 

Blood and urine tests: Your doctor will continue to check your blood and urine tests to check for infections and  gestational diabetes.

Third Trimester Screening Tests

In the third trimester, tests are more focused on the development of your fetus, your pregnancy health and preparation for delivery. These tests include,

Growth scan & color doppler study - Fetal BPP  Growth scan & color doppler studies is done to measure the growth of your baby, amount of amniotic fluid, cervical length, and cervical position. The baby's position usually becomes stable from 36 weeks onwards, with the baby's head moving lower into the cervix (head-fixing). A scan at this stage helps doctors to get insight about chances of normal delivery.it is also done to monitor twin pregnancy. The first fetal scan is done between 28-32 weeks of pregnancy. The second doppler studies are done as the due date becomes closer.

During this scan a baby’s image is obtained by using ultrasound screen. A doppler study may be recommended by your healthcare provider if you need extra health care like you have gestational diabetes or high blood pressure.

Group Bstrep test- GBS bacteria found in the vagina of women can cause serious infection in newborn. It is a common bacterium. A woman who is tested positive needs to go to hospital as soon as labour begins to start intravenous antibiotics for protecting the baby from infection. This is done between 35th -37th week of pregnancy. Samples are taken from vagina and sent by swabbing and sent to laboratory for further testing.

Group B strep test lead to infection of membrane lining uterus. Complication of Group Bstrep bacterium in the vagina include pneumonia, meningitis, blood infection and sepsis.

Non stress test- It is done usually in high-risk pregnancy when the due date is passed, and delivery has not happened. It done by checking if baby responds to normal stimulation. Certain result indicates that your baby’s condition needs further testing and care. Sometimes the test is also recommended when there are less chances for the baby to survive. During these conditions, Non stress test is recommended every two weeks to monitor baby’s health.

Contraction stress test- It is done to test the effect on contraction on fetal heart rate. It is for being sure about how your baby’s health will be during contractions. This test is done once you are 34 weeks pregnant or above. During contraction test, the blood and oxygen supply to the baby drops for short time. Usually this is not a problem for babies. But in some babies’ heart rate becomes slower. The result of this test helps to determine whether your baby may have problem due to stress during normal labour.