8 Weeks Pregnant: Prenatal Testing

By now you have probably seen your doctor or midwife or at least scheduled your first prenatal visit. Your healthcare provider will take a complete health history and organize prenatal testing that inclueds blood and urine tests to be sure you are free of communicable diseases like HIV and hepatitis and check blood type and blood count, as well as nutrient levels if you tend to be deficient in any areas. Depending on your age, ethnic background and family history, she may recommend further prenatal testing of varying degrees of invasiveness. Remember that any and all genetic prenatal tests are optional, but your healthcare provider does not want to test you unnecessarily or stress you out, she wants to help you identify any risks early in the pregnancy so you can work together. Prenatal testing and prenatal visits are a big priority. Bigger than lunch with mom. Bigger than that assignment your boss has been hounding you for. Schedule them and make some notes to take with you if you’ve got questions or concerns so you don’t forget when you arrive at your appointment.

You’re peeing in cups and trying not to puke while the scary lady in the white coat (who you’re pretty sure is taking out her day’s anxieties on your veins) draws your blood. Meanwhile, oblivious to your torment, your baby is happily swimming and wriggling around. Surprise, surprise! She’s grown again! Now approximately five-eighths of an inch, or about the size of a kidney bean (again with the beans...), she can flex her elbows and wrists and is growing tiny finger and toe buds for you to nervously count when you first hold her. It’s okay... everyone does it. While the joints, fingers and toes are growing, the embryo’s tail is shrinking. Your baby will most certainly be born with a very human-looking tailbone instead of a very reptilian tail. Start taking bets now, because baby is also beginning to develop pigment in her eyes. Will it be mama’s big brown eyes or daddy’s piercing blues? You’ll have to wait 32 more weeks to find out...

More Pregnancy Links:

• Join our Pregnant Moms Group
• Baby Girl Names
• Baby Boy Names
  

Our pregnancy calendar is researched & written by our Pregnancy Editor, Dara Duff-Bergeron. Although she rocks, she is not a health care professional. It's just for entertainment purposes and any recommendations or information provided should not be used as a substitute for the real deal - a trained medical professional.

About the Author
Dara is a women’s fitness expert and a pre and postnatal specialist. Visit Dara at Belly Bootcamp (www.bellybootcamp.ca)

About the Author Posted by EMVA in Pregnancy Calendar on March 23, 2010 More from this author  |