Necessity of a tripple test during pregnancy

Parents all hope that little angel will be born in the most stable state of health. Therefore, during pregnancy, you will need to do quite a lot of tests to make sure your baby is developing normally, one of which is the tripple test.

One of the biggest fears for pregnant women is the risk of the baby having abnormalities such as neural tube defects . This concern is understandable because the impact of the disease can negatively affect your baby in the future. Now, with the advancement of science and technology applied to the medical diagnosis, you can find the fetal defects through the tripple test.

What is the tripple test?

The tripple test is a simple non-invasive blood test that is done between 15 and 21 weeks of pregnancy. This test will measure 3 hormones, as follows:

AFP (alpha-fetoprotein): a protein produced by the developing fetus

hCG (human Chorio gonadotropin): a hormone produced by the placenta

uE3 (unconjugated estriol): the hormone estrogen is produced by both the fetus and the placenta

This test is done for the purpose of finding out if the developing fetus is at risk for birth defects.

Although tests do not necessarily identify specific health conditions or conditions, it certainly has the ability to identify a risk of negative effects on the health of the fetus.

Why is the tripple test called a screening test?

Find out what a screening test is so you can feel more comfortable with this process. The screening test is not actually a diagnostic tool. It compares some parameters like age, race, results from blood tests ... before giving indication of the risk factor for certain abnormalities.

You can learn more about screening through the article Prenatal screening test: Women aged 35 should not be ignored.

Why should a tripple test be performed?

Taking a tripple test will be of great help to pregnant women over 35 years old because it can provide important information about the pregnancy, the health of the fetus, such as:

Detects Down syndrome (50-70%) and Edwards syndrome

Early detection of most neural tube defects (involving brain, spine and spinal cord)

Confirm if you're pregnant with multiple pregnancies in order to plan your prenatal vitamin supplement, diet and more.

Look for other abnormalities to get the extra tests needed.

This test is very important if there is a family member with birth defects, diabetes and insulin use, viral infections or harmful drugs during pregnancy.

When should a tripple test be performed?

As noted above, a triple test during pregnancy should be done between 15 and 21 weeks of pregnancy. However, the most accurate results are obtained when pregnant women take the test between 16 and 18 weeks. Your test results will be available within two to four days.

What needs to prepare for a tripple test?

For this type of test, there is no need to abstain from eating and drinking. The side effects that the test causes are also negligible as it is an in-depth test performed by taking a blood sample, the risk to the mother and the baby is very low.

Who is the tripple test aimed at?

This is a test that aims to give the doctor insight into what to take if an abnormality is detected in the fetus. This test measures the hCG level and determines if the hCG level as well as the estriol are normal. The results will then be evaluated along with factors such as mother's age, weight, fetal age… to arrive at the final conclusion.

Before performing the test, pregnant mothers should share with their doctors accurate information about their own health situation to avoid affecting the final judgment.

The doctor will take the necessary precautions during blood draw to make sure the fetus is not affected by any infectious pathogens.

Interpret the results of a tripple test

The results of this test are indicative of risks that the developing baby may face. They will depend on the following factors:

Mother's age

The number of weeks of pregnancy

Mother's weight

Multiple pregnancy or single pregnancy

Whether the mother has diabetes or not.

What is the result of a low-risk triple test?

A low-risk screening result means that the risk of the fetus having a birth defect (such as neural tube defects, Down syndrome and Edward's syndrome) is quite low. However, this does not guarantee a perfectly healthy baby.

What to do when there are abnormal results?

When you get an abnormal result, your doctor will definitely want to do a few more tests to determine the exact condition your baby is having and the cause. Ultrasound is also one of the measures to be taken with attention to the brain, spinal cord, kidneys, and heart to detect the problem.

Reasons for you to have other tests

Not only can a trilogy check can help identify or diagnose birth defects and genetic conditions, but more importantly give you the chance to prepare for the worst. This helps you to make the right decision or appropriate parenting through the following factors:

Know your baby's needs

Raise awareness about a possible health condition

Consider all of your child's options including: surgery, medications, and alternative therapy.

Tripple test test will help pregnant mother prepare as well as eliminate possible problems related to the health of the fetus. Do not worry too much about having this test because it has no side effects or risks.

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