While being pregnant is an exciting and anticipated time, it also has its own set of doctor appointments and tests. The biochemical blood test is one significant examination that expectant mothers frequently have to endure. This test helps make sure everything is developing normally by giving important information about the mother and the developing child.
The purpose of the biochemical blood test is to look for different chemicals in the blood that may provide information about how well the pregnancy is progressing. It assists medical professionals in spotting possible problems early on, enabling prompt interventions when needed. Knowing the test’s results can reassure you and help you decide what to do next for your prenatal care.
We’ll go over what a biochemical blood test entails, why it’s crucial during pregnancy, and potential implications for both you and your unborn child in this article. We want to provide you with clear and helpful information to support you through this important part of prenatal care, whether you’re getting ready for the test or you’re just curious about what it entails.
What is it?
In medicine, laboratory diagnostic techniques like blood tests with biochemical analysis are widely used. And with good reason—the study’s findings allow for the formation of the fullest possible picture of the expectant mother’s health, including even the smallest variations in the way her internal organs function.
Pregnancy puts a lot of strain on the kidneys, liver, heart, and endocrine system. One of the most crucial aspects of dispensary registration is keeping an eye on their activities.
Additionally, the analysis’s findings enable us to assess the woman’s intake of vital vitamins and minerals as well as the efficiency of her metabolic processes, including the metabolism of salt and carbohydrates. They are essential not only for her, but also for the baby’s healthy growth and development, as the mother’s blood provides all he needs for this. The biochemical method is used to determine the concentration of sugar, urea, creatinine, total protein, cholesterol, and many other proteins and lipids in a pregnant woman’s blood. A change in these values relative to normal can signal an internal organ developing pathology, inflammation, or an allergic reaction.
The Russian Ministry of Health only recommends the test for pregnant women to be examined; it is not required. Theoretically, any woman can decline to receive such a diagnosis. However, this shouldn’t be done because early detection of violations enables medical professionals to act swiftly, start treatment, and preserve the mother’s and her unborn child’s lives and health. It took several decades for science and medicine to identify the pathological and normal pregnancy behaviors as well as the chemical and biological components of every process going on inside the expectant mother.
Pregnant women’s biochemical blood analysis is a different story, as their blood’s indicators are very different from those of men and women who aren’t pregnant.
A biochemical blood test performed during pregnancy checks for vital indicators such as hormone levels, protein, and nutrients, helping to monitor the health of the mother and unborn child. By identifying possible problems early on, this test can guarantee appropriate care and lower pregnancy risks. It’s a standard procedure that helps inform healthcare decisions and offers insightful information about the status of the pregnancy.
How to take
Having received a referral for a biochemical blood test, the expectant mother usually does not worry about the question of how to do this study correctly. This is a big mistake, because many factors can affect the results of biochemistry. As a result, the doctor will receive an unreliable laboratory report. By mistake, a woman may begin to be treated for a disease that she does not actually have. But it is much worse if treatment of the disease that is present, but which is not reflected in the results of laboratory diagnostics, is not started. The test must be preceded by a certain preparation. Before you go to a procedural office or laboratory, a woman preferably in a couple of days limit the consumption of fatty foods, strong tea and coffee, spices, and also refuse an abundance of sweets and minimize salt intake.
The analysis is taken exclusively on an empty stomach, since only in this way will the picture of biochemical processes in the body be the most truthful. However, you should not starve for a long time, a long absence of food also distorts the result. The optimal time period from the last meal to the analysis is considered to be 6-8 hours. If you are taking any medications or dietary supplements, you should definitely tell your doctor about it, but if the situation allows, it is better to stop taking both medications and dietary supplements a couple of days beforehand. If a woman plays sports, and even during pregnancy does not limit herself in physical activity, she should temporarily reduce them, also a few days before donating blood. Loads activate and slow down certain processes in our body, which causes fluctuations in values in one direction or another, a distortion of the real picture is possible.
When a woman experiences extreme stress combined with an adverse psychological background, her blood’s chemical makeup also varies because of certain hormones, such as cortisol. As a result, you should maintain mental equilibrium. If you are unable to do so, schedule the analysis for a later date when your "passions subside." A vein in the elbow is used to draw blood. In the event that a puncture cannot be made here, medical professionals can obtain venous blood samples for study from any other vein. The outcomes won’t be impacted by this.
Table of normal values for pregnant women
| Determined indicator | Normal value for the first trimester | Normal value for the second trimester | Normal value for the third trimester |
| Total protein | 63-83 g/l | 63-83 g/l | 63-83 g/l |
| Albumin | 32-50 g/l | 28-55.7 g/l | 25.6-66.0 g/l |
| Urea | 2.5-7.1 mmol/l | 2.5-7.1 mmol/l | 2.5-6.2 mmol/l |
| Cholesterol (cholesterol) | 6.16-13.7 mmol/l | 6.16 -13.7 mmol/l | 6.16 -13.7 mmol/liter |
| Globulin | 28-112 g/l | 28-112 g/l | 28-112 g/l |
| Sugar (glucose) | 3.5 – 5.83 mmol/liter | 3.5 – 5.83 mmol/liter | 3.5 – 5.83 mmol/liter |
| Creatinine | 32-70 μmol/liter | 32-50 μmol/liter | 32-47 μmol/liter |
| Diastase | 25-125 U/l | 25-125 U/l | 25-125 U/l |
| ALT | No more than 32 U/l | No more than 31 U/l | No more than 31 U/l |
| AST | No more than 31 U/l | No more than 30 U/l | No more than 30 U/l |
| GGT | Not more than 36 U/ml | No more than 36 U/ml | No more than 36 U/ml |
| Total bilirubin | 3.4 -21.6 μmol/liter | 3.4 -21.6 μmol/liter | 3.4 -21.6 μmol/liter |
| Direct bilirubin | No more than 7.9 μmol/liter | No more than 7.9 μmol/liter | No more than 7.9 μmol/liter |
| Indirect bilirubin | 3.4-13.7 μmol/liter | 3.4-13.7 μmol/liter | 3.4-13.7 μmol/liter |
| Alkaline phosphatase | 40-150 U | 40-190 U | 40-240 U |
| Iron | 8.93-30.4 μmol/liter | 8.93-30.4 μmol/liter | 7.2-25.9 μmol/liter |
| Sodium | 135-155 mmol/liter | 135-145 mmol/liter | 135-155 mmol/liter |
| Chlorine | 98-107 mmol/liter | 98-107 mmol/liter | 98-107 mmol/liter |
| Potassium | 3.4-5.3 mmol/liter | 3.4-5.5 mmol/liter | 3.4-5.3 mmol/liter |
| Phosphorus | 1.0-1.57 mmol/liter | 1.0-1.40 mmol/liter | 0.87-1.47 mmol/liter |
| Magnesium | 0.85-2 mmol/liter | 0.85-1.7 mmol/liter | 0.85-1.4 mmol/liter |
| Test Name | Purpose |
| Glucose | Checks blood sugar levels to screen for gestational diabetes. |
| Hemoglobin | Measures red blood cells to detect anemia. |
| HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) | Monitors pregnancy progress and helps assess risks. |
| ALT/AST (Liver Enzymes) | Evaluates liver function during pregnancy. |
| Creatinine | Assesses kidney function to ensure proper health during pregnancy. |
An essential tool for tracking the mother’s health and the developing baby during pregnancy is a biochemical blood test. It assists in the early identification of possible risks, allowing medical professionals to take appropriate preventive action.
Frequent testing also gives valuable information about the progress of the pregnancy, which contributes to peace of mind. Expectant mothers can feel more informed and engaged in their healthcare journey by knowing the implications of the results.
In the end, monitoring your health with these tests is a tiny action that can go a long way toward guaranteeing a safe and healthy pregnancy.
