The sound waves pass through the tissues of the body and send back echoes that appear as an image on a screen that is similar to that of a small television. This test is recommended as a routine screening test by The American Diabetes Association and is done between the 24 th and 28 th weeks of pregnancy. Prior to this screening, the mother drinks a sugar mixture than enables the laboratory to screen her blood for gestational diabetes. A culture of the vagina and rectum is taken at the 35 th to 37 th week of pregnancy. If the culture is positive, intravenous Penicillin G is given when labor begins to help prevent the baby from developing an infection.
Prenatal care is the first responsibility of parenthood.
Scheduling regular prenatal visits with your obstetrician will help ensure good health for you and your baby.