How do you know about the ensuing pregnancy? Of course, the woman is not regular menses, however, during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy may be periodic neobilnye spotting Spotting - it is important to rule out pathology Which is sometimes mistaken for a month. It can enter the woman astray. And exactly to answer this question can only be a blood test for pregnancy.

Pregnancy Hormone

After conception (usually one week) in the blood and urine of women appears chorionic gonadotropin. This hormone is called the pregnancy hormone as pregnancy without his body should not be. However, it is found in humans (in both women and men) in some diseases.

Chorionic Gonadotropin outer shell of the embryo develops with naps (chorion), which are firmly embedded in the wall of the uterus. And as the fertilized egg enters the uterus week after conception, the human chorionic gonadotropin, and begins to produce from that time.

As soon as there is human chorionic gonadotropin in the blood, it activates the function of the corpus luteum (a gland that is formed in the ovary at the site exit from the egg and all the time allocated the female sex hormone progesterone). The high activity of the corpus luteum in the blood causes a large amount of progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology That maintains pregnancy during the first twelve weeks, preventing the uterus to contract, that is, preventing the spontaneous miscarriage Miscarriage - can you protect yourself from it? .

Since the first and up to 11-12 weeks of pregnancy, the number of human chorionic gonadotropin in the blood and urine of women doubled every two days. But thereafter chorionic gonadotropin first increases at a slower rate then the amount in the blood is gradually reduced. This happens because the job replaces the corpus luteum a new body - the placenta.

Human chorionic gonadotropin is the most accurate indicator pointing to the pregnancy. In addition, its planned growth within the first twelve weeks suggests that the pregnancy develops correctly.

Today found that Human Chorionic Gonadotropin consists of two substances - alpha and beta. Substance Alpha is fully consistent with the same substance pituitary hormones involved in conception and pregnancy, substance is a beta characteristic only of human chorionic gonadotropin.

How to get tested properly?

Today, a variety of available tests for pregnancy, based on the rapid determination of the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin in urine. But a more accurate study can be done by making a blood test for pregnancy. This reveals human chorionic gonadotropin in the blood. Defined as the total of its content, and the beta-substance, which is a more accurate diagnosis of pregnancy.

In order to correct a blood test for human chorionic gonadotropin, you need to know:

• analysis shall chime from a vein on an empty stomach, preferably the night before to eat only a light dinner;
• if the analysis does not give up in the morning, then you should know that after a meal should take at least four hours;
• analysis is carried out five days after a missed period; as in the early days of the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin in the blood of a minor, the analysis can be repeated after a few days;
• welcome all drugs should be either canceled or agree with the obstetrician-gynecologist;
• can not take alcoholic beverages and smoking;
• to get an accurate analysis, on the eve of the study should not be strenuous exercise and stress;
• before taking the analysis of human chorionic gonadotropin need to rest (sit quietly) about 10-20 minutes;
• you can not donate blood for analysis immediately after any medical procedure.

What else can be said a pregnancy test

If the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin below normal for this stage of pregnancy, it may indicate an ectopic pregnancy (the attachment of the ovum in the uterus is not, as elsewhere, such as in the fallopian tube). This is a very dangerous condition and better to know about it in advance to remove the fertilized egg from the pipe by means of a planned endoscopic surgery, which is carried out using a special optical equipment and is low-impact. If you do not know about ectopic pregnancy can occur rupture of the fallopian tube growing fetus. This will already require emergency surgery, during which the fallopian tube is removed.

The amount of human chorionic gonadotropin above normal may indicate a multiple pregnancy or a variety of abnormalities in the fetus. Such measures can also be in women with diabetes mellitus Diabetes - threatening and incurable disease   and hormonal contraceptives. The emergence of human chorionic gonadotropin in the blood of pregnant is an unfavorable sign, which may indicate the presence of the organism in their hormone-dependent tumors.

Today, a pregnancy test can be performed at the earliest timing, first at home, using a pregnancy test, and then - to investigate the blood that was finally install or remove the diagnosis of pregnancy.

Galina Romanenko

Since its introduction in the late 1950's ultrasonography has become a very useful diagnostic tool in obstetrics. The currently used devices known as scanners real time with them on the screen can see the movement of the fetus. This typically applies sound waves of very high frequency - between 3 and 5 to 7, 0 MHz.

These sound waves radiating transducer that is moved by the mother's abdomen; during this procedure, you can see everything that is in the womb. Reflections rays received by the same transducer.

Information obtained from various reflections of the image on the monitor screen. With such a study can determine the fetal heart rate, see the developmental defects. Ultrasound during pregnancy is an important procedure for assessing gestational age, the size and growth of the fetus.

In early pregnancy ultrasound is often recommended to do a full bladder Urinary bladder - structure and function While the pressure on the bladder may cause some discomfort. The gel, which is used during the ultrasound, does not stain. Ultrasound waves do not cause absolutely no feelings.

Why use ultrasound during pregnancy

Currently, ultrasound is considered safe, non-invasive, precise and relatively inexpensive method of investigation of the fetus. Now the US has become an indispensable tool gynecologists, and plays an important role in taking care of every pregnant woman.

Main applications of US:

• Diagnosis and confirmation of early pregnancy

Fertilized egg can be seen already in the fifth week of pregnancy. In the sixth week, the embryo can already be seen and to determine its size. Ultrasound also allows you to specify the location of the pregnancy in the uterus.

• Vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy

Vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy ultrasound may help to establish the viability of the fetus. The heartbeat is determined already at 6-7 weeks; if it is found that, even though the vaginal bleeding, the probability of continuing pregnancy is 95%. In addition, ultrasound allows you to set even death of the fetus in the early stages.

The heart rate of the fetus in the earliest stages of pregnancy often changes. The normal heart rate is considered to be the sixth week of 90-110 beats per minute, and at the ninth week - 140-170 beats per minute. Bradycardia 5-8 week (heart rate less than 90 beats per minute) is associated with a high risk of miscarriage Miscarriage - can you protect yourself from it? .

• Determination of gestational age and size of the fetus

The size of the body of the fetus allows you to draw conclusions about the gestational age of the fetus. This is especially true at the beginning of pregnancy. If it is impossible to ascertain the date of the last (pre-pregnancy) monthly, ultrasound in the early stages allows very accurately determine the time of pregnancy. Determining the size of the body of the fetus in the later stages allows us to establish whether normally passes its development.

• Diagnosis of fetal malformation

Many of the structural abnormalities of the fetus can be detected by ultrasound; they are usually unable to diagnose before the 20th week of pregnancy. Among the possible abnormalities in the fetus: hydrocephalus, anencephaly, dwarfism, spina bifida, gastroschisis, duodenal atresia, hydrops. The most modern equipment allows the relatively early stages of pregnancy to identify violations such as cleft palate (cleft palate), and congenital heart disease Heart defects - time heals? .

In addition, ultrasound can be used to detect Down's syndrome, as well as in the prenatal diagnosis of many other disorders.

• Localization of the placenta

Ultrasonography to determine the location of the placenta and thus diagnose or rule out placenta previa.

• Polycyesis

Ultrasound is indispensable for determining the amount of fruits, as well as evaluation of their development and the identification of various anomalies.