Why is the early-trimester check important?

First trimester obstetric examinations are critical for mothers and prospective babies to monitor the pregnancy process and ensure the mother's health as well as the growth and development of the fetus inside. In the first trimester of pregnancy, fetal organs such as the nervous system, brain, and heart have begun to develop.

Trimester screening can be done earlier than other prenatal checks. so that pregnant women get the results of the report at an early stage of pregnancy. The examination gives reliable results and shows that your fetal development is fine.

If the report shows a high risk, the couple has more time to consider further diagnostic tests to be carried out, observing the growth and development of the fetus during pregnancy, considering possible treatment, and ensuring a good start in life for the baby's growth and development.

There are two types of prenatal examination: non-invasive examination and invasive examination. An invasive examination is a diagnostic procedure used to determine chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. Invasive examinations are done by inserting a needle into the uterus.

Common invasive tests include amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. Amniocentesis is a procedure to examine a sample of amniotic fluid, and this procedure can be recommended for pregnant women at 14–20 weeks of gestation. Chorionic villus sampling is a pregnancy test that aims to detect genetic abnormalities in the fetus. This examination is carried out at the age of 9.5–12.5 weeks of pregnancy. Invasive examinations carry a higher risk of miscarriage and other complications during pregnancy.

Non-invasive examination, which has a high level of accuracy in detecting potential chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. Common non-invasive examinations include nuchal translucency ultrasound (a measurement of the thickness of the fluid in the back of the neck of the fetus, which is generally done at 10 to 13 weeks of gestation), combined screening in the first and second trimesters (> 12 weeks), Multiple marker blood tests are performed at the second, third, and fourth examinations (13–18 weeks). The NIPT (non-invasive prenatal test) is a non-invasive prenatal examination to detect possible genetic abnormalities in the fetus (10 weeks). Non-invasive examinations only require a small sample of the mother's blood and have no risk of miscarriage.

Get screened in the first trimester of pregnancy to have more time to plan and prepare for health problems that the fetus may have.

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