Pregnancy: Conception – Maternity – Trimester
Blood pressure monitoring and preeclampsia detection

Blood pressure monitoring and preeclampsia detection

Why blood pressure monitoring matters in pregnancy Blood pressure reflects the force of blood against artery walls, recorded as systolic pressure over diastolic pressure. In pregnancy, clinicians watch these values closely because hypertensive disorders can develop even in people who have never had high blood pressure before. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific condition most often arising […]

Group B strep test and when testing is done

Group B strep test and when testing is done

What group B strep is Group B Streptococcus is a bacterium that commonly colonizes the lower gastrointestinal tract and may also be present in the vagina or rectum. Colonization means the bacteria are present without necessarily causing infection. Many people have no symptoms and would not know they carry GBS without testing. In pregnancy, the […]

Macronutrient balance in pregnancy diet

Macronutrient balance in pregnancy diet

Why macronutrient balance matters in pregnancy Pregnancy increases metabolic demands, but the goal is not simply to eat more. The goal is to nourish two interconnected physiologic systems: the pregnant person and the developing fetus. A balanced diet helps support normal gestational weight gain, expansion of maternal blood volume, placental function, fetal tissue accretion, and […]

Routine blood tests in pregnancy

Routine blood tests in pregnancy

Why routine blood tests are part of prenatal care Pregnancy places extra demands on the cardiovascular, hematologic, endocrine, renal, and immune systems. Routine blood testing gives clinicians a baseline early in pregnancy and helps detect conditions that may be silent at first. For example, anemia may develop gradually, hepatitis B infection may be asymptomatic, and […]

Calories needed during pregnancy by trimester and weight gain relationship

Calories needed during pregnancy by trimester and weight gain relationship

The basic trimester calorie pattern Pregnancy increases energy requirements because the body is building fetal tissue, placenta, amniotic fluid, expanded maternal blood volume, uterine and breast tissue, and metabolic reserves for late pregnancy and lactation. However, this increase is staged. Early embryonic development is biologically complex, but the absolute energy cost is usually modest in […]

Non-stress test (NST) and biophysical profile (BPP)

Non-stress test (NST) and biophysical profile (BPP)

What is a non-stress test? A non-stress test, or NST, is a fetal monitoring test that records the fetal heart rate over time, usually along with uterine activity. It is called “non-stress” because it does not intentionally stress the fetus or trigger contractions. Instead, it observes the fetal heart rate pattern under usual conditions. The […]

Blood type Rh factor and Rh incompatibility

Blood type Rh factor and Rh incompatibility

What is the Rh factor? The Rh factor, often referring specifically to the D antigen in the Rh blood group system, is a protein on red blood cells. A person whose red blood cells carry this protein is Rh-positive. A person whose red blood cells do not carry it is Rh-negative. Rh status is inherited […]

Glucose screening test and OGTT explained

Glucose screening test and OGTT explained

Why glucose testing is done in pregnancy During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones that help support fetal growth but can also make the pregnant person’s cells more resistant to insulin. Insulin is the hormone that helps move glucose from the bloodstream into cells. As pregnancy progresses, especially in the second and third trimesters, insulin resistance […]

Anatomy scan (20-week ultrasound)

Anatomy scan (20-week ultrasound)

What is the anatomy scan? The anatomy scan is a structured ultrasound examination performed in the second trimester to evaluate fetal anatomy and growth. It is commonly called the 20-week ultrasound because it often takes place near the halfway point of a 40-week pregnancy, though the usual window is approximately 18 to 22 weeks. Unlike […]

Amniocentesis procedure risks and recovery

Amniocentesis procedure risks and recovery

What amniocentesis is and why it may be recommended Amniocentesis is a diagnostic test, not a screening test. This distinction matters. Screening tests estimate the chance of a condition, while diagnostic tests can often confirm or rule out specific chromosomal or genetic findings with much greater certainty. In amniocentesis, a clinician uses ultrasound to identify […]