The period of pregnancy is one of the most beautiful,but at the same time very exciting for a woman, because she is responsible for the health and proper development of the unborn child. In order to react in time to changes in the development of the fetus, doctors prescribe a huge number of tests, from which the future mother has a head around. Despite this, I want to control the results myself and know what happens to the unborn baby.
One of the tests that make nervous many pregnant women is the analysis of AFP (alfa-fetoprotein). It is assigned to identify vices thatmay occur during the development of the fetus. The embryo begins the production of alfa-fetoprotein from about 5 weeks. Until this time it is a function of a woman's ovaries. By 13-16 weeks, the level of AFP in the blood reaches the optimal amount for diagnosis. Therefore, it is during this period that AFP analysis is assigned. The pregnancy rate for this analysis depends on the timing: the longer the period, the greater the allowable value.
AFP-norm at pregnancy on 14 - 15 week - 26,0 - 30 IU / ml; at 16-18 weeks - 34-48 IU / ml; 19-20 week - 50-57 IU / ml.
AFP analysis is performed during pregnancy by methodtaking blood from the vein, at the same time with the last meal should take at least 6 hours, it is better to take the test in the morning on an empty stomach. To prevent the result from getting distorted, it is recommended to adhere to a diet for three days before taking blood: do not eat fatty, salty, eggs, brightly colored fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, berries, dairy products, stop taking vitamins.
The waiting time for the results of the AFP analysiscan range from a week to three, depending on the laboratory base of the clinic. Not every medical institution has the necessary equipment, and in some cases the blood has to be sent to other laboratories, which increases the waiting time for the result.
What can AFP tell about during pregnancy?
If the result is below the norm, it cantestify to the low location of the placenta, obesity, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus in a future mother, the possibility of developing a Down syndrome or a delay in development in a child.
If the result exceeds the norm, it canpoint out the disorders in the development of the nervous system, such as a partial lack of brain tissue or the entire brain, softening of the spine, which as a result can lead to paralysis.
Also exceeding the norm AFP may indicate a threat of miscarriage, low salinity, rhesus-conflict, renal pathology, liver necrosis, umbilical hernia or even possible fetal death.
AFP-norm during pregnancy for everyone's own anddepends on many factors. Therefore, having obtained a result that seems anomalous, one should not immediately panic. Perhaps the doctor incorrectly determined the duration of pregnancy, or the future mother suffers by increasing the level of AFP in the blood of diseases, and maybe even in place of the putative one of the embryo, several. These and some other reasons can provoke a false positive result. According to statistics, out of 100 AFP-tested patients, the pregnancy rate is only found in 20. The remaining 80 are sent for consultation to a geneticist and other qualified specialists. They will analyze in detail the health of the mother and various factors that could affect the inflated or underestimated levels of AFP in the blood. Also will be sent for additional blood tests and ultrasound. And only one pregnant woman out of 80 can have real complications in fetal development.
It should be remembered that on the basis of oneThe analysis of AFP can not be diagnosed by the doctor, therefore, to obtain accurate results, a triple analysis is prescribed, which includes studies on AFP, hCG and E3.
