Perinatal screening of the 2nd trimester

Modern science does not stand still and is already able to identify various anomalies in the development of the child already in utero with the help of 1 and 2 perinatal screening. If the probability of giving birth to a sick child is high, then the woman has the option of aborting the pregnancy or delivering it to the end.

What is this perinatal screening of the 2nd trimester? It is divided into two components - a blood test and ultrasound examination. The doctor strongly recommends not to refuse the passage of this study, because it is extremely important for the health of the future baby. And yet nobody can forcefully pass this screening.

Biochemical and ultrasound perinatal screening of the 2nd trimester

This analysis is conducted from the sixteenth to the twentieth week. But he will be the most informative on the 18th week of intrauterine development. To calculate the possible risks for the fetus, a triple (less frequently a quadruple) test is done. This is a blood test for hormones such as free estriol, AFP, and hCG. Results of perinatal biochemical screening of the 2nd trimester reveal such severe developmental anomalies as Edwards syndrome, Down's syndrome, absence of brain, Patau, de Lange syndrome, Smith-Lemli-Opitsa syndrome and nonmolar triploidy.

In parallel, a pregnant woman undergoes ultrasound, which pays much attention to pathological abnormalities of the fetus. After all sorts of tests and tests, a conclusion is made about the health of the baby.

Norms of perinatal screening of the 2nd trimester, for which a conclusion is issued about an increased risk of fetal disease, is rather fuzzy, and is not yet the final diagnosis. They only reveal the possibility of deviations in the baby, but are not 100% reliable. If the prognosis is disappointing, do not despair, but should make an appointment with a qualified geneticist who can dispel doubts.