Blood tests are a normal part of your prenatal care.It is a way for your doctor to determine whether your pregnancy is progressing well or not. It also helps determine whether your health is constantly good. When you visit the doctor for your first antenatal appointment, you will be asked to give a blood sample to determine certain factors. Your blood group will be checked and noted down. You will also be checked for positive or negative Rhesus. Your hemoglobin level will be checked as well as your immunity to Rubella (German measles). As part of the tests, you will also be checked for syphilis and Hepatitis B. Depending on your medical status, you could also request to be tested for toxoplasmosis as well as Hepatitis C. The HIV test is an optional one and is best taken, even if you have no such exposure.

These first few blood tests and the reports are important to your doctor as it will form your basic medical history based on which any further treatments will be prescribed. It is also a way to determine how your pregnancy will fare and if you will have any susceptibility to any complications. During your first trimester, you may be given the option of conducting a blood screening or AFP test. This will help you determine if you baby is developing with a set of abnormalities. If you have been tested as Rhesus negative, then your blood will have to be tested every month for the first 28 weeks to determine the level of antibodies. Your doctor will brief you on the necessary protocol.

At some point in the first trimester of your pregnancy, you may also be offered a screening blood test, such as the AFP test, which can tell you what your risk is of carrying a baby with certain abnormalities. If you are Rhesus negative, your blood will be tested for antibodies at four weekly intervals from 28 weeks onwards or according to the particular protocol at your hospital. No matter how routine your tests are, always have them done at a reputed diagnostic center, with experienced technicians.

Blood tests will also help determine whether you are anemic. Based on your test, your doctor will advice you on your diet as well as necessary supplements that you will need to take. The tests will also help determine if you have a chance of suffering or are suffering from gestational diabetes. It also checks for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) which is a virus that can cause mental retardation in a fetus. A check for Herpes simplex virus is also done. This results in painful sores at the edges of the mouth and genitals for infants and can result in brain damage.Routine blood tests are the simplest way to avoid any pregnancy complications.