Prenatal Testing: What Exams to Get During Your Second Trimester?

It's the second trimester, and you've known you are pregnant for some time now. You may have told friends and family that you and your partner are expecting. But what can you expect yourself? What tests will you get during the fourth, fifth and sixth months of pregnancy?

While the tests may get a bit more complicated, it is only because your baby is getting more complex. He or she is growing steadily, forming features that are some combination of you and your mate. While you may have gotten an initial ultrasound during the first trimester to confirm your baby's basic health, it is during the second trimester that an ultrasound may confirm whether your baby is a boy or a girl.

Also, this ultrasound will probably be the first in which you can see your baby's features in profile. You may ask to have a copy of the ultrasound image to keep, since this is the first time you will ever see your little boy or girl's face.

During the second trimester, you will probably be encouraged to take a so-called triple test, a blood test that checks three hormone and protein levels in your blood. It is quick and relatively painless, involving nothing more than giving a vial of blood. A similar exam called the quad test may also be performed at that time.

An important part of the triple test is the alpha-fetoprotein screening (MSAFP) test. The MSAFP, which is usually performed between weeks 15 and 20, checks the level of alpha-fetoprotein in your bloodstream. Alpha-fetoprotein is a key indicator of fetal health. All women are typically given this test; it is not just for at-risk pregnancies.