When you meet with your midwife for the first time you will be asked to give some blood. This is to check such things as your blood group, if you require iron, whether you are HIV positive and to check your blood sugar. This will be discussed in greater detail with you by your midwife.
You will be offered screening in your pregnancy for Down's syndrome. This is optional. You do not have to have this done if you choose not to. It is important that you have all the information that you require before you make a decision about having screening carried out. You can discuss the implications of screening with your midwife or you can contact one of the midwife counsellors on 01382 425621.
You will be offered first trimester screening which can be done between 11+5 and 13+5 weeks of pregnancy, which involves taking a measurement from the back of your baby’s neck on scan – called the Nuchal Translucency. It does not hurt the baby to get this measurement. You will also be asked for a blood sample from your arm. It takes approximately two weeks to get the result back and you will be notified by letter of your chances of having a baby with Down’s syndrome. If you are in the low chance group you will not be routinely offered any further testing. If you fall into the higher chance group, then you will be contacted by the midwife counsellor and offered further testing. The further tests will give a 99.9 % accurate diagnosis, however the diagnostic tests do carry chances of miscarriage and these can be discussed with you before you make a decision about screening or before having these tests carried out.
If you decide not to have screening for Down’s syndrome you will have a dating scan which measures your baby and confirms the due date.
If you are more that 13+5 weeks pregnant when you have your first scan you will be offered second trimester screening which can be done between 14+2 and 19+5 weeks of pregnancy. This is a blood sample from your arm. It takes approximately two weeks to get the result back for this also. The procedure after your result is available is the same as above.
You can access more information about screening in pregnancy at www.healthscotland.com and follow the link to get more information about screening, then pregnancy and newborn screening.
A detailed ultrasound scan, sometimes called the mid-pregnancy or 20-week scan, is offered when you are between 18 and 21 weeks pregnant. The scan checks for major physical abnormalities in your baby although it can't pick up every problem.