Pregnancy Blood Tests: What You Need to Know

When it comes to confirming pregnancy, blood tests play a crucial role. Besides testing the presence of the pregnancy hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), pregnancy blood tests monitor a mother’s and their baby’s health and well-being. Unlike at-home pregnancy tests, blood tests are highly accurate and even detect pregnancy before a missed period.

During pregnancy, your healthcare provider may recommend several screenings and tests to assess your baby’s health and optimise prenatal care. In this article, we will take you through a few pregnancy blood tests that you will go through as soon as you realise that you are pregnant.

Common Pregnancy Blood Tests

Throughout your pregnancy, you will undergo various tests, such as blood tests and ultrasound scans, to monitor the progress of your baby and screen for any specific condition. Moreover, these blood and ultrasound tests will ensure your and your little one’s safety.

Here we have listed a few mandatory tests that your healthcare provider will ask you to do as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed.

1. Blood Test

Throughout your pregnancy, you will have to undergo blood tests from time to time. It starts the moment you get a positive pregnancy test result. Your healthcare provider will conduct a blood test to examine your red blood cells and determine if you have anaemia.

Anaemia is characterised by low levels of red blood cells. Normally, pregnant women have cases of anaemia due to a low iron level. Your doctor might suggest some supplements to boost iron levels in your blood.

Besides anaemia, pregnancy blood tests also assess your platelet levels and white blood cells. This helps doctors detect cases of blood clotting or immune system-related issues and problems at the onset of pregnancy.

READ: Common tests during pregnancy

2. Blood Typing

Blood typing is a method to determine the type of blood you have. It is done to see if you have a substance called Rh factor on the surface of your blood cells.

Rh factor is a protein found on the surface of red blood cells. It can be either Rh positive or Rh negative. If a Rh negative person carries an Rh positive baby, there’s a risk of Rh incompatibility. Moreover, during pregnancy or delivery, the baby’s Rh positive blood can enter your bloodstream, which forces your body to release antibodies against Rh factor. These antibodies can harm the baby’s red blood cells, leading to anaemia or other issues. To prevent Rh problems, Rh negative pregnant individuals often receive Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg) injections to prevent their bodies from producing these harmful antibodies.

3. Hepatitis B

Sometimes the Hepatitis B virus can be transmitted to your baby during childbirth. This can lead to serious health issues, such as liver damage. Therefore, most healthcare providers check for Hepatitis B as part of pregnancy blood tests. If you have the Hepatitis B, you will be provided with immunoglobulin and immunisation for your baby at the time of birth. These measures will protect your baby from getting infected with the Hepatitis B virus.

4. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

HIV is a virus that attacks the cells that helps the body fight infection, making a person more susceptible to infection. The virus can be transmitted through blood or bodily fluids. If you are HIV positive, you can pass the virus to your baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. Therefore, most healthcare providers conduct an HIV test as part of routine pregnancy tests. Healthcare providers also suggest medications to protect your baby from getting infected and maintain your health throughout the pregnancy.

5. Gestational Diabetes

You might develop diabetes in pregnancy (referred to as gestational diabetes) if you are:

• Overweight
• Have had diabetes before pregnancy
• Have a close relative with diabetes

Therefore, healthcare providers check for gestational diabetes at the start and throughout the pregnancy. Especially because if you have diabetes during pregnancy, it can impact your health and the growth of the baby. Whether you already have diabetes or develop it during pregnancy, you will receive information, treatment, and support to manage the condition. Pregnant individuals are offered diabetes testing twice. The initial test determines if diabetes is already present or if there is a risk of developing it. The subsequent test indicates whether diabetes would develop during pregnancy.

READ: The Complete Guide to Home Pregnancy Tests

Other Pregnancy Tests

Besides the above-mentioned pregnancy blood tests, you might be weighed at the start of your pregnancy. Your height and weight will be used to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI). If you are overweight, you might have increased risks during pregnancy. Especially because you might put on 10 to 12 kg in pregnancy.

Therefore, you can talk to your healthcare provider about your weight. You can also have a healthy diet and continue with regular exercise during pregnancy, based on your doctor’s suggestion.

Additionally, your healthcare provider will ask you to get a urine sample at your antenatal appointments. Your urine will be checked for several things, including protein, and blood pressure, at every antenatal appointment.

How Do I Read My Pregnancy Blood Test Results?

A pregnancy blood test confirms the presence of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), the pregnancy hormone. Here’s how the hCG levels for most pregnant women looks like: 

• Non-pregnant women or under 3 weeks pregnant: less than 5 millilitres
• 3 weeks pregnant: between 5 and 50 millilitres
• 4 weeks pregnant: between 5 and 426 millilitres
• 5 weeks pregnant: between 18 and 7340 millilitres
• 6 weeks pregnant: between 1080 and 56500 millilitres
• 7 to 8 weeks pregnant: between 7650 and 229000 millilitres
• 9 to 12 weeks pregnant: between 25700 and 288000 millilitres
• 13 to 16 weeks pregnant: between 13300 and 254000 millilitres
• 17 to 24 weeks pregnant: between 4060 and 165400 millilitres
• 25 to 40 weeks pregnant: between 3640 and 117000 millilitres

Note that the values mentioned above are for guidance only. Therefore, if your hCG level doesn’t match the above-mentioned values, don’t worry, as it doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem with your pregnancy.

Take Away

If you are planning to conceive, it’s important to take routine pregnancy blood tests throughout your pregnancy. This will help pick up any complications early.