Patient's question:
I am 5 and a half months pregnant. Last time I went to the hospital for a check-up, the doctor said that during my next check-up, I should have a glucose screening test. He advised me not to eat or drink anything in the morning. However, I am very worried that not eating might affect the baby.What kind of help do I need: When is the glucose screening test most appropriate to be done?
Doctor's answer:
A Down syndrome screening is a method that involves drawing a pregnant woman's blood serum to detect the concentration of alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, and free estriol in the mother's serum. It also combines factors such as the pregnant woman's estimated due date, weight, age, and gestational age at the time of blood collection to calculate the risk coefficient of giving birth to a fetus with congenital defects.Recommendation: The best time is between the 9th and 14th weeks of pregnancy. It is best to adhere to prenatal check-ups if there are no special circumstances. Gestational diabetes is also quite common, so it's a good idea to get tested to rule it out. An ultrasound is also necessary, preferably before the 28th week, to monitor the fetus's condition.