Do I need to fast for the mid-term screening?

At each stage of pregnancy, the maternal examinations that the pregnant woman needs will be different. But in general, these maternal examinations are performed to help pregnant women determine whether there are any abnormalities in the fetus. Among them, Down syndrome screening is also essential in the mid-pregnancy stage. It is a prenatal examination project that can effectively screen whether the fetus has Down syndrome. So do I need to fast before the Down syndrome screening test?

Do pregnant women need to fast for Down syndrome screening?

Generally speaking, Down syndrome screening often uses a combined serological method to screen for Down syndrome. The process is to draw peripheral blood from the pregnant woman and then extract the serum from it. During this process, the pregnant woman does not have to fast. During the serum test, the concentrations of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and serum chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the mother's serum will be tested, and the "risk factor" will be calculated based on the pregnant woman's due date, age, gestational age at the time of blood draw, and weight. This can detect 60-70% of congenitally mentally retarded children. To achieve a "prophetic" purpose.

This test can also detect high-risk pregnant women for neural tube defects, trisomy 18 and trisomy 13. However, if the serum test is positive, amniotic fluid test is also needed to confirm the diagnosis. It should be noted that you do not need to be on an empty stomach for the Down syndrome test, but you should also not eat too much for the test. If other tests requiring fasting are required on the same day, you can prepare as usual.

Down syndrome screening precautions

Every pregnant woman may have a baby with Down syndrome, so prenatal screening for Down syndrome should be performed. Down syndrome screening is performed between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, using a combination of serological and B-ultrasound examinations, combined with a comprehensive risk assessment based on the pregnant woman’s age, weight, gestational age, medical history, etc. Is it necessary to fast for Down syndrome screening? It is not necessary to fast for Down syndrome screening. The following points are included in Down syndrome screening:

1. Screening time: The best time is between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.

2. Economical, simple, and harmless to the fetus. Although the results of Down syndrome screening cannot accurately determine whether the fetus is mentally retarded, it is the most economical, simple and non-destructive method to determine whether the fetus is mentally retarded. If the results are high-risk, amniocentesis can be further performed.

3. Screening method: A combined serological method is often used to screen for Down syndrome. Draw peripheral blood from pregnant women, extract serum (without fasting), test the concentration of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and serum chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the mother's serum, and calculate the risk factor based on the expected date of delivery, age, gestational age and weight of the pregnant woman at the time of blood drawing. In this way, 80% of congenitally stupid children can be detected.

4. Cost: About 100 yuan, but the standards vary from place to place and from hospital to hospital.

5. Preparation before the examination: There is no need to fast for Down syndrome screening, but it is related to the menstrual cycle, weight, height, accurate gestational age, and fetal age. Before the screening, pregnant women need to provide more detailed personal information, including date of birth, last menstrual period, weight, whether they have insulin-dependent diabetes, twins, whether they smoke, history of abnormal pregnancy, etc. Since the risk rate statistics of screening need to be corrected according to the above factors, it is also very important to fill out the test form before blood is drawn.

6. Down syndrome screening is not currently applicable to those who undergo in vitro fertilization or have twin pregnancies.