What tests should be done at 20 weeks of pregnancy

For pregnant women, prenatal check-ups are particularly important. Every pregnant woman needs to do various tests at different weeks of pregnancy according to regulations to maximize the safety of the fetus and ensure that the future baby is healthy and normal. Some pregnant women want to know: What tests are done during a 20-week prenatal check-up? The following web editor will show you how to understand it.

What tests are done during a 20-week pregnancy checkup?

1. Basic prenatal examination items:

The third prenatal check-up is at 20 weeks of pregnancy. The routine physical examination also includes blood pressure, weight, blood test, urine test, fetal abdominal circumference, uterine height, and fetal heart rate test. Through these tests, the doctor can roughly understand the health status of the pregnant woman, see if there are any abnormalities, and whether the fetus is growing and developing at a normal rate.

2. The most important prenatal examination item: B-ultrasound (deformity screening)

Necessity of B-ultrasound (screening for fetal abnormalities): B-ultrasound examination is arranged in the second trimester of pregnancy because there is relatively more amniotic fluid in the uterine cavity at this time, the fetus is of moderate size, and there is a large space for movement in the uterine cavity. For B-ultrasound examination, there is good saturation, and each organ of the fetus can be clearly seen. More obvious malformations, such as congenital heart disease, anencephaly, hydrocephalus, spina bifida, abdominal rupture, short limbs, polycystic kidney, and atresia of the digestive system are very easy to detect. If necessary, medical treatment or termination of pregnancy can be initiated immediately.

What are the steps for B-ultrasound screening during pregnancy?

(1) Make an appointment at the hospital early to avoid missing the best examination time.

(2) Go to the hospital regularly for fetal anomaly screening and analyze the four-dimensional color Doppler ultrasound. Under normal circumstances, the four-dimensional color Doppler ultrasound takes 30 minutes, but the time required may vary depending on the condition of each pregnant mother.

(3) If the baby’s face or other parts cannot be seen clearly due to reasons such as the fetal position, the doctor will recommend that the pregnant mother move around before continuing.