First trimester screening for birth defects consists of three parts. These are as follows:

- Fetal ultrasound is basically done to check the area behind the neck to ensure that there is no thickening or increase in fluid.
- Maternal blood test checks for two things -- Pregnancy associated plasma protein or PAPP-A and human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG. If the levels of PAPP-A and hCG are abnormal, there is risk that the baby has some chromosome defect.
- The third test is performed if the results of the other two are abnormal. This can involve taking samples of chorionic villus or amniotic fluid.

Through first trimester screening, certain birth effects Down Syndrome, Patau Syndrome or Edward Syndrome can be determined. But all tests have to be done together to give a doctor greater ability to diagnose a birth defect. The problem with all first trimester screenings is that they are not always accurate. These tests actually determine the risk of a fetus having birth defects and sometimes it is quite possible to get a false-positive result when a fetus is healthy or a false-negative when in fact the fetus has some sort of birth defect which will be identified only after birth.

However first trimester screening for birth defects is important and it is usually done between the tenth and the fourteenth week of pregnancy.

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