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By: ePregnancy

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Okay, Mom, get ready for the testing season! You’ve probably had some general tests by now, like a blood workup, just to make sure all systems are go. But around the tenth week, your doctor might recommend the CVS test and possibly a fetoscopy. CVS, for chorionic villius sampling, tests a sample of the chronic villius tissue from your uterus. It’s typically recommended if you are at risk for passing on certain genetic disorders, such as Tay Sach’s disease, or if you are at higher risk for carrying a child with Down syndrome. A fetoscopy can help identify birth defects that the CVS might not -- such as spina bifida. Both of these tests are completely optional, and since they are mildly invasive there is some risk, so be sure to speak with your doctor about everything involved.

Other Tests You Don't Have to Study For
These next two tests certainly aren't the only ones you'll undergo over the course of your pregnancy, but your doctor will want to perform these in the next couple of weeks.

• Nuchal Translucency Screening -- The NT is an ultrasound performed between the 10th and 14th week of your pregnancy. It looks for an increase in fluid at the back of your baby's neck -- a sign of possible abnormalities, such as Down syndrome. If abnormalities are detected, additional testing may be done to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
  
  
• Maternal Blood Testing -- These tests are often combined with your NT, and test for two substances: pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and free-beta human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Both substances are found in all pregnant women, but abnormal levels may indicate problems with your baby.