Pregnancy screening tests are an important part of prenatal care — for both you and your baby.
These tests help providers learn about your physical and mental health and your baby’s development. They also help your care team know how to support you throughout your pregnancy.
Here’s what the prenatal screening timeline looks like, and how to prepare for appointments.
What Screenings Happen in the First Trimester of Pregnancy?
Your prenatal screening timeline starts at your first prenatal visit. Your provider will run routine tests and screenings to check your overall health and identify conditions that may affect your pregnancy. These typically include:
- A complete blood count (CBC).
- Blood typing, including Rh factor.
- Rubella immunity testing.
- Screening for infections such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted infections.
- Tuberculosis screening.
- Urinalysis and urine culture.
These test results give your provider a snapshot of your baseline health. For example, a CBC shows whether you have anemia or an infection. Urinalysis can find signs of infection, kidney problems, or other health conditions.
Which Genetic Screening Options Are Offered During Pregnancy?
Some health conditions have clear genetic markers and inheritance patterns, meaning they’re 100% genetic. You either have a gene, or you don’t.
For other conditions, it’s more about risk or predisposition. For example, although cancer has some hereditary features, genes are only part of the story.
Genetic screening options in pregnancy include screening tests and diagnostic tests.
Pregnancy screening tests
Screening tests estimate the chance of certain genetic or chromosomal conditions. Screenings don’t diagnose medical conditions, but they can help you and your provider decide if more testing might be helpful.
While genetic screening tests are offered to all pregnant patients, it’s your choice to have them. The most common genetic screening tests include:
- Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening — Also called noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT), this blood test looks at small fragments of fetal DNA that circulate in your bloodstream. You can have cfDNA screening as early as 10 weeks. It’s one of the most sensitive screening tests for trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edward’s syndrome), and trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome).
- Multiple marker or AFP test (second trimester) — The alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test or a multiple marker screen (sometimes called the “quad screen”) is usually offered between 15 and 22 weeks. These blood tests estimate the chance of certain conditions, including neural tube defects and chromosomal differences.
Your provider can help you understand what screenings measure, their accuracy, and what results might mean for the rest of your pregnancy. A genetic counselor can also help you make sense of the results.
Diagnostic tests
Diagnostic tests, which confirm whether a condition is actually present, include:
- Amniocentesis — Amniocentesis is usually done later, most often between 15 and 20 weeks. During this test, a doctor or specialist removes a small amount of amniotic fluid and then sends it to a lab for testing. Since the fluid contains fetal cells, it can reveal chromosomal conditions, genetic disorders, and certain neural tube defects.
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) — CVS is typically done earlier in pregnancy, usually between 10 and 13 weeks. A doctor collects a sample of placental tissue (called chorionic villi) to test for chromosomal or genetic conditions. Because it’s performed in the first trimester, CVS gives answers sooner, which some people prefer when planning next steps.
Unlike screening tests, which estimate risk, diagnostic tests look directly at fetal cells or genetic material. Your provider may suggest CVS or amniocentesis if:
- A screening test shows a higher chance of a genetic or chromosomal condition.
- An ultrasound shows something that needs closer evaluation.
- You have a family history of inherited disorders.
- You or your partner has a known genetic condition.
- You’re 35 or older, which increases the chance of certain chromosomal differences.
Deciding what’s right for you
Genetic screenings are optional. They’re available to help you get clearer information so you can make decisions that feel right for you and your family. To decide whether to have them, consider:
- How you might use the results.
- Whether you want early information.
- Your age.
- Your comfort with follow-up testing.
- Your pregnancy or family history.
Your provider, genetic counselor, or maternal fetal medicine specialist can help you understand your options and what each test can tell you.
Ultrasound Screening Throughout Pregnancy
Ultrasound screening is a key part of prenatal care. It uses sound waves to create images of your baby and tracks growth and development.
First-trimester ultrasound
Early ultrasound helps verify gestational age and ensures the pregnancy is developing in the uterus.
Anatomy ultrasound (second trimester)
Often done between 20 and 22 weeks, the anatomy ultrasound screening examines your baby’s organs, limbs, spine, and overall growth. It can detect many structural differences that blood tests cannot.
One of the most important screenings of the second trimester, the anatomy ultrasound gives a comprehensive look at fetal development. You can also choose to learn your baby’s sex during this scan.
Third-trimester ultrasound
Not everyone needs a third-trimester ultrasound screening. Your provider may order one to check growth, fluid levels, or your baby’s position. This scan is typically used when they’re concerned about:
- Complications like low amniotic fluid.
- Fetal growth.
- Movement.
What questions should I ask about my ultrasound screening results?
Ultrasounds give you a real‑time look at how your baby is growing, but the images can be hard to interpret on your own. Asking a few clear questions helps you understand what your provider sees and whether anything needs follow‑up.
You might ask:
- “Are there any results you’ll need to compare with future tests?”
- “Do you see anything that needs follow-up?”
- “Is everything developing as expected?”
- “Is my due date still accurate based on today’s measurements?”
- “Should I schedule another ultrasound?”
Because of everything ultrasounds check, it’s helpful to ask how today’s scan fits into the bigger picture of your prenatal care. You can also ask whether the findings match what your provider expected based on earlier screenings or your prenatal timeline.
Gestational Diabetes Screening
The gestational diabetes test is a simple, routine part of prenatal care.
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy — and can be dangerous for you and your baby. It happens when your body cannot make enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range.
Pregnancy hormones also make it harder for the body to use insulin effectively. So, some people develop higher‑than‑normal blood sugar during pregnancy.
The gestational diabetes screening helps protect you and your baby from complications of gestational diabetes, such as:
- High birth weight.
- Preeclampsia.
- Preterm birth.
When is the gestational diabetes screening test done?
Routine gestational diabetes screening is usually done between 24 and 28 weeks. But your provider may test you earlier if you have certain risk factors, such as:
- History of gestational diabetes.
- Obesity.
- Strong family history of diabetes.
What is the gestational diabetes test like?
At your gestational diabetes screening appointment, your provider will give you a sugary drink to finish within a few minutes. It tastes like a very sweet soda.
After you drink it, you’ll wait in the office for one hour without eating or drinking anything else. When the hour is up, you’ll give a blood sample to see how your body handled the sugar.
Most people describe the screening as straightforward: drink the liquid, wait, and get a quick blood draw. It’s designed to catch gestational diabetes early so you and your provider can take steps to protect your health and your baby’s health.
If your blood sugar is higher than expected, your provider may ask you to return for a longer follow‑up gestational diabetes screening. The second screening will measure your blood sugar several times.
How can I prepare for the gestational diabetes screening?
Most people can eat normally before the screening unless their provider gives different instructions. It can help to bring a snack for after the blood draw. The drink makes some people hungry or feel lightheaded once the hour is over.
Wearing comfortable clothing and drinking water beforehand can make the blood draw easier.
Depression and Anxiety Screening During Pregnancy
Mental health is a vital part of prenatal care. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends depression and anxiety screening multiple times:
- At the first prenatal visit.
- Later in pregnancy.
- During postpartum visits.
Mental health conditions are among the most common complications of pregnancy and postpartum, which is why routine screening isn’t optional. These screenings use validated questionnaires that help your provider understand how you’re coping with mood changes, stress, sleep, and daily functioning. They’re quick, private, and designed to open the door to support if you need it.
Regular depression and anxiety screening during pregnancy helps your care team track how you’re doing over time, not just at one appointment. If symptoms appear or worsen, they can connect you with therapy, support groups, or medication safe to take during pregnancy and postpartum.
Remember, mental health screenings aren’t a judgment — they’re a tool to help you stay healthy. Reaching out early can make a meaningful difference in your well‑being and your ability to care for yourself and your baby.
How does depression screening work during pregnancy and postpartum?
Screenings use short questionnaires to check how you’re feeling. They ask about mood, sleep, interest in activities, and stress. These tools help providers identify depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders that may otherwise go unnoticed.
If you’re struggling, share openly about:
- Anxiety.
- Feeling overwhelmed.
- Mood changes.
- Past mental health history.
- Sleep problems.
Sources
American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Patient Screening. Accessed April 2026. https://www.acog.org/programs/perinatal-mental-health/patient-screening#:~:text=Everyone%20receiving%20well%2Dwoman%2C%20prepregnancy,depression%2C%20if%20not%20previously%20done. Link.
American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Routine Tests During Pregnancy. Accessed April 2026. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/routine-tests-during-pregnancy#:~:text=Several%20routine%20lab%20tests%20are,tuberculosis%20(TB). Link.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Screening for Birth Defects. Accessed April 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/birth-defects/screening/index.html#:~:text=First%20trimester%20screening%20(11%E2%80%9313,measured%20in%20the%20mother's%20blood. Link.
Policy Center for Maternal Health, Universal Screening for Maternal Mental Health Disorders – Issue Brief. Accessed April 2026. https://policycentermmh.org/universal-screening-for-maternal-mental-health-disorders-issue-brief/#:~:text=Six%20month-,Postpartum%20Support%20International,The%20recommended%20timing%20of%20screenings:&text=First%20prenatal%20visit,OB%20and%20primary%20care%20settings. Link.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office on Women’s Health. Accessed April 2026. https://womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/youre-pregnant-now-what/prenatal-care-and-tests. Link.