Blood Drug Testing

What are the blood tests taken for on you first Prenatal visit?

I went yesturday for my first prenatal. I had to get my blood taken. I had seven vials of blood taken all marked different. What kind of tests do doctors want done with your blood?

Public Comments

1. i only had one vial on my first blood test. they tested my blood for a full blood count - iron and white blood cells, liver function, cell size etc. they also tested me for HIV and Rubella. hope this helps.
2. According to my medical notes they tested me for; blood group antibodies (is this rhesus related?) rubella (ie german measles) hepatitis b syphilis Hiv ferritin sickle cell thalassemia and Hb and MCV, unfortunately I don't know what they are. Somewhere in there they test your iron levels for anaemia, anyway. You will have had to consent to the tests being done, at least verbally.
3. they test your blood group, your immunities (if you've had tetanus shot etc..), rhesus +/-, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, iron levels, HCG level, AIDS tests, other STD's and the like ,.....ummmm.....anyway its all stuff like that! It looks like a fair bit of blood but its actually just a couple of table spoons altogether. Don't worry, its all really normal. They are just going to be able to get a really good indication of your overall health and then they can make sure that you don't need to take extra vitamins or anything. congratulations!
4. The blood tests are to test your blood for all of the above. Diseases and so forth. They need to do these tests incase something may be harmful for your baby. Also, your babies blood could at some point be different then yours. My sisters friends had her blood tests done. They found out that her blood type was considered poisoness to the baby. So she had to get shots puriodically to help prevent her from miscarrying (and this was with all 3 of her pregnancies). They also check for HIV (Aids), not saying you have it but they do this test automatically for your protection and for the baby. They need to check your blood to see what type of prenatal vitamin is right for you. Say you may have too much iron in your blood, so they will need to give you a vitamin that can balance that out. This also may not be the only time they wish to take blood. They do this several times if needed to keep a eye out for any changes that may accure during your pregnancy. I personally have never been pregnant yet. I am up there in age and I wish I could have a baby. I was married first at 21 years old. At that time I was not ready to be a mother. It was my first time sexually and I felt I needed to wait a while before I was to conceive. Of course the marriage did not work out for us. I dated throughout the years but was careful to not get pregnant. I felt I still was not ready to bring a child into the world by myself. You never know what can happen, atleast for me it was like that. I am now on my second marriage to a wonderful man, but I am not able to conceive as of yet. So from my friends being pregnant this is why I was told they take your blood. Just to make sure you and the baby are okay. Congradulatins to you. I wish you luck. Oh, before I leave I want to let you in on a secret my sister did while pregnant. She went out and bought some CoCo Butter lotion and vitamin e capsuls. She would make a mixture of these two, but watch thay you don't make it too oily (like too much vitamin e), which you can add more lotion if you do. She mixed this up in a bowl. She rubbed it in around her breasts, avoid the nipple area. She put this all over her belly outward towards the back, around the hip areas as well as her butt and lower butt and sides. She did this faithfully every day. Being that summer time is coming, don't cake this on. Put what you feel is enough. You will sweat and be miserable.For instance, when I shave my legs and put lotion on then I go outside to do what ever, I feel nasty and slippery because you sweat, you know what I mean? So I go lighter on my lotions in the summer time. She now has hair line (very small if none actually) stretchmarks. For her this worked. You may want to try this to help prevent strechmarks. You still may get some, but they will not be that bad. Unless it is your body type to get them anyways. But it is worth a try. Again, good luck hon.