Testing Methods for Fetal Fibronectin, An Outline

depends on how far along in the pregnancy the woman is. In the very early stage of the

Views today demonstrate a viable singleton fetus at 31 weeks 0 days in vertex presentation with an anterior placenta. Fetal biometry appears symmetric and corresponds with stated EDD falling at the 56%ile. Interval growth is noted; however, the growth percentage did trend down from the 80%ile to the 56%ile. Follow-up fetal anatomy visualized as normal or was previously documented as normal. Ductal velocity today measured at 69.2 cm/se, which falls within normal limits. AFI remains reassuring at 12.6 cm. BPP 8/8. Doppler studies are normal in value and wave form.

On today’s ultrasound, a single living IUP is identified with the fetus currently in cephalic presentation with a 3-vessel cord with normal insertion into an anterior right-sided placenta. Fetal biometry today demonstrates an EFW at the 31%ile for reported gestational age. A detailed anatomic survey is without any notable structural abnormalities; however, portions of the fetal face and heart remain to be well visualized due to the fetal position. There was some concern on outside ultrasound for possible cervical shortening and due to this a transvaginal ultrasound was performed that

Prenatal testing is used to help understand the health and state of an unborn child concerning any birth defects or any other health concerns to help families prepare for the child before it is born. Many physicians and families use prenatal testing in order to help determine whether or not a mother will want to continue with a pregnancy if there is “fetal impairment (that) is detected” (1650). This would then allow for the mother to make a selective abortion. While some information is helpful concerning the health state of the unborn child, there needs to be a distinction between acute injury and chronic disability. However, Asch reiterates that the terms “such as ‘heath,’ ‘normality,’ and ‘disability,’ are not clear” terms and that they vary

As stated by Penny Simkin, April Bolding, Ann Keppler, Janelle Durham, and Janet Whalley, the authors of the number one best-selling book, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide, “While maternity care practices are continually changing the way women are helped to give birth, childbirth itself hasn’t changed. How a women’s body functions during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period—and what she needs during these things—hasn’t changed since the beginning of humankind.” The process of birth is one of God’s greatest miracles. Although all babies go through the same stages of conception and development while in utero, that “average gestation period is 280 days, but it can be shorter or longer by as many as 14 days. At the end of the gestation period, the fetus has reached full term and is positioned for the birth process. The process, generally referred to as labor, includes three stages” (Wittmer, Petersen, Puckett, 2013, pg. 103). However, not all babies are born through vaginal births and as technology has increased many doctors are beginning to see a trend of patients asking for elective C-sections for non-medical reasons for convenience and avoiding the pain of labor, as well as concerns about vaginal tearing, incontinence, or other complications.

i. Amniocentesis is one type of prenatal testing that can be used. The doctor takes a sample of amniotic fluid from the mother and tests the fluid for a mutation in FMR1.

Near term, the pregnant woman starts to have many hormonal changes, which will prepare her to give birth; however, prostaglandin plays the most critical role in this process. When the pregnant woman reach around 39 to 40 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus’ growth is completed as fetus’ organs are matured enough to start working on their own. Giving birth or what it is scientifically known as parturition or labor is a combination of hormonal and physiological changes that affect maternal tissue in order to facilitate the expulsion of the fetus through the birth canal. This labor process is divided into 4 stages, and it is initiated when fetal and placental corticotropin-releasing hormone increases and down-regulate progesterone hormone. Progesterone

Umbilical cord mesenchymal cells would be isolated from Wharton’s jelly of babies born by c-section with the mother’s consent. The umbilical cords would be placed in Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution containing penicillin, streptomycin sulfate, and amphotericin B. The umbilical cord would be washed in alcohol and phosphate-buffered saline. With the amnion and blood vessels removed the left over umbilical cord would be chopped up into 5mm diameter pieces and placed into 35x10mm petri dishes. The umbilical mesenchymal cells would be cultured as per Yousefifard et al.’s methods. Excess blastocysts that would otherwise be discarded during in-vitro fertilization were collected from a local fertility clinic with full informed consent of the mothers. The embryonic stem cells would be then isolated from the inner mast cells of those blastocysts. These embryonic stem cells would then be cultured and differentiated into neural stem cells as per Nicoleau et al.’s methods. To ensure the identities of both cell types their surface antigens were checked using flow

Foetal blood sampling is the last method and known as cordocentesis or percutaneous umbilical cord sampling (PUBS). This procedure is when a needle is being inserted into the umbilical cord and foetal blood is taken and evaluated for metabolism and hematologic abnormalities (blood disorders). The use of cordocentesis is decreasing since technology can now provide the same information from tests that have smaller risk of miscarriage, such as amniocentesis and CVS, with limitations of structural chromosomal abnormalities smaller than the achievable optical resolution to be undetected.

by sampling the amniotic fluid, which contains cells and chemicals which are fetal in origin.”(4) This

These calculations can offer understanding information into pathologic processes and microstructural abnormalities during fetal development (Qiu, Mori, & Miller, 2015).

As the name implies it includes both first and second trimester screening. The results are reported after the completion of both tests. This

Studies have shown that diabetic mother’s fetuses can become deformed during the early weeks of pregnancy. During the later weeks of the pregnancy the mothers excess blood glucose goes to the fetus, making it overfed. Now the fetus needs more iron because of their levels in insulin, which means the fetus needs more oxygen. To get the oxygen the fetus needs it produces more oxygen carrying red blood cells, which needs iron. To get the extra iron the fetus will need to take it from its liver, heart, and even the brain.

Genetic amniocentesis is performed with the intention of testing for chromosomal abnormalities. During this the loose skin cells that are floating around in the amniotic fluid are collected, then sent to a lab, and from there they will be grown or cultured for a few weeks. After the skin cells have had a chance to grow to a respectable size, the lab will test for chromosomal issues. For this particular type of amniocentesis, the procedure is done while the woman is between her 15th and 19th week of pregnancy. Maturity amniocentesis is done on the amniotic fluid to test for the maturity of the fetus’ lungs and whether they will be able to function during birth. Maturity is done during the 32nd and 39th week of pregnancy when the doctor has concerned about the women being able to carry to term (Harms, 2004). Other reasons amniocentesis may be used during the third trimester “is your healthcare provider may recommend the procedure if your membranes have ruptured prematurely to assess for uterine infections. Amniocentesis may also help determine the severity of fetal anemia in babies with Rh disease and assist your physician determine whether the fetus requires life saving blood transfusions”(American Pregnancy Association,

Since the 1970s electronic fetal monitoring has grown to be the single most prevalent obstetrical intervention, used in over 85 percent of hospital births as of 2010 (ACOG Practice Bulletin 132). Electronic fetal monitoring is intended to detect abnormalities in