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Many pregnant women want to take full advantage of the various tests and scans on offer to check that their baby is healthy.

So what exactly are these tests, and what happens if the results aren't what you'd hoped for?

Worrying about the health and development of your unborn baby is normal and is likely to continue until the day you give birth. But whereas once everything was left in the hands of fate, nowadays there are seemingly countless tests on offer that will monitor your baby's development and flag up any serious concerns. So, what does each test look for, how is it performed and what do the results tell you?

Your options

The fact remains that you don't have to have any tests or scans at all throughout your pregnancy if you don't want to. When you attend your first antenatal appointment, you'll be handed leaflets explaining what each one is and, if you want, you'll usually get booked in for your nuchal or dating scans and may be given a date for your 20-week anomaly scan.

Not surprisingly, at the point when the pregnancy is still a little surreal, it's tempting to slip into autopilot as you head off for your scans or blood tests and not think about what they're looking for until you're actually confronted with a possible problem.

Tests can be extremely reassuring, but bear in mind they can also cause needless worry and anxiety. So although your chances of having a healthy baby have never been better, it's worth thinking about, and discussing with your partner, if you have one, what you would want to do if there was a problem.

There are two types of tests available: screening and diagnostic. Diagnostic tests, such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS), give a 99.9% reliable answer if there is a defect. Screening tests, such as blood tests and ultrasounds, simply look for signs of possible abnormalities and give you a 'higher or lower than average' risk assessment.

- Next: Screening tests

More help and advice

- All you need to know about ultrasound scans
- Advice on finding a midwife
- More info on measuring your baby's growth

By Charlotte Pearson

• Next: Screening tests

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