Do I need to fast for Down syndrome screening at 16 weeks?

At different stages of pregnancy, the maternal examinations that pregnant women need to undergo will also vary. Normally, when pregnant women are about 16 weeks pregnant, they need to undergo a Down syndrome screening test. Down syndrome screening is also an essential test item because it can effectively detect whether the fetus has Down syndrome. So is it necessary to fast during the Down syndrome screening test at 16 weeks?

Pregnant women do not need to fast for Down syndrome screening at 16 weeks. This is because the Down syndrome screening test is different from routine blood tests, liver function tests, etc., and whether or not you are fasting will not affect the test results. The so-called Down syndrome screening is actually to draw venous blood from the pregnant woman and then test the alpha-fetoprotein and chorionic gonadotropin concentrations in the maternal serum.

Finally, the risk of the fetus being a Down syndrome baby can be inferred based on the pregnant woman's pregnancy period, physical condition, age, weight, fetal development level, and gestational age when the blood was drawn. If the risk is higher, further examination is required. It takes about a week to get the results of Down syndrome screening, so we try to do it early.

Of course, if some pregnant women have some problems with their blood sugar, they need to test their blood sugar during prenatal check-ups and Down syndrome screening. If you are concerned about changes in blood sugar, you should go to the hospital on an empty stomach. Different pregnant women have different prenatal check-up needs, and sometimes they also need to vary from person to person. Generally speaking, there is no need to fast when doing Down syndrome screening. Moreover, the time for Down syndrome screening has now been advanced a lot. Previously, screening was performed in the second half of pregnancy, but now most screening can be performed in the early stages of pregnancy, that is, after eleven weeks.

Down syndrome screening is an integral part of prenatal check-ups. It is recommended that you make an appointment for screening in the early stages of pregnancy. The best time for Down syndrome screening in early pregnancy is from 11th to 12th week of pregnancy, while the best time for screening in mid-pregnancy is from 16th week of pregnancy. If problems are found in the Down syndrome screening, the next step is amniocentesis. So missing the time will affect the results of the entire inspection.

Children with Down syndrome look very pitiful. If a family gives birth to such a child, the whole family will suffer. Therefore, it is extremely important to have regular prenatal checkups and do Down syndrome screening, especially for older mothers, who should be aware of the importance of prenatal checkups. As a pregnant woman, you should also pay attention to physical care during pregnancy, get more rest, stay up less late, and maintain a happy mood. Do some exercise and stay away from places with high air pollution. As family members, in addition to taking care of the lives of pregnant women, we must also take care of their moods, because hormone secretion disorders during pregnancy can cause mood swings.