First Trimester Pre-eclampsia Screening

Pre-eclampsia is a serious complication in pregnancy that can affect mother and baby. This complication affects 5% of pregnancies and results from abnormal adherence of the placenta to the uterus. It can result in serious complications related to high blood pressure in pregnancy and clotting abnormalities in mothers and malnutrition and growth restriction in unborn babies. In the most severe form, Pre-eclampsia can be life-threatening to the mother or baby or both.

The chance of Pre-eclampsia can be calculated by combining maternal factors, including blood pressure in early pregnancy; a simple blood test; and an ultrasound scan of the maternal uterine arteries.

The result of your Pre-eclampsia screening test is described as the probability of developing the condition before 34 weeks of pregnancy. Research has shown that if your results indicate that you are at elevated risk of developing Pre-eclampsia, a simple treatment of low dose aspirin, under the supervision of your doctor, can prevent the onset of the most severe type of the disease.

Pre-eclampsia screening at Women’s Scan Room

If your doctor requests for you to have Pre-eclampsia screening, there are three steps that you should be aware of.

Firstly, you will be required to have a blood test. Your blood has to be collected between 11 weeks and 13 weeks 6 days of gestation. Usually your doctor will request for you to have this blood test, or alternatively, request for us to organise the blood test for you.

Secondly, you will need an ultrasound scan between 11 weeks and 13 weeks 6 days. At this appointment, you will be required to fill out a questionnaire regarding your health and previous pregnancy outcomes. Subsequently, at the same appointment, your blood pressure will be taken. At the ultrasound, we will measure the blood flow in your uterine arteries.

Thirdly, the information obtained from your questionnaire; results from the blood tests and ultrasound of your uterine arteries are combined to calculate a probability of Pre-eclampsia in your pregnancy. The risk is described as a probability of developing Pre-eclampsia before 34 weeks gestation.

At Women’s Scan Room, we calculate the risk based on the Fetal Medicine Foundation algorithm.

Cost

Women’s Scan Room will charge you the usual fee for your first trimester ultrasound which incorporates the first trimester fetal anatomy scan and Pre-eclampsia screening..

The laboratory that performs your Pre-eclampsia screening blood tests will send you a separate invoice for the laboratory charges.