Antenatal tests

After the initial excitement of discovering you are pregnant, the next thought for most parents is, ‘Will our baby be all right?’ There are now many antenatal tests that can be carried out during pregnancy which will offer reassurance if you are anxious. You don’t have to have these tests, but it’s important to know what’s on offer before you decided whether or not to go ahead with testing.

• Understanding the tests
• Are they compulsory and should I have the tests?
• Going ahead with testing
• What are the tests looking for?
• Blood tests
• Ultrasound scans
• Diagnostic tests in early pregnancy
• Testing twins
• How to find out more
• Stem cell storage - your baby's health insurance?
• Antenatal testing - one mother's story about testing for Down's syndrome