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Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Optional Prenatal Tests For Birth Defects
Prenatal screening tests are blood tests that can help you find out if you have a higher or lower chance of having a baby with certain birth defects. Taking these blood tests is optional, and does not increase the chance of miscarriage. Screening tests do not look for all types of birth defects or health problems, but can help detect:
- Down syndrome - a chromosome abnormality that causes intellectual disability and some physical problems.
- Trisomy 18 - another chromosome abnormality which causes severe mental and physical problems.
- Open neural tube defects - openings along the baby's spine and/or brain.
- Abdominal wall defects - openings along the baby’s abdomen or belly.
- Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome - a rare genetic condition that causes intellectual disability and physical problems.
We can discuss your interest in optional prenatal screenings tests and schedule them if you wish.
Serum integrated screening
This involves two blood tests that can look for a variety of health conditions. For each blood test you need a special lab form filled out by our office. Once you have the form, testing can be done at any of our laboratories.
- The first blood test is done between 10 weeks and 13 weeks, 6 days of pregnancy.
- The second blood test is done between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.
The test results are available about 2 weeks after the second blood test.
Full integrated screening
Full integrated screening uses the same two blood tests as serum integrated screening. It also includes a special ultrasound, called a nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasound. It tests for a variety of health conditions and has a slightly better detection rate for Down syndrome and trisomy 18 than the serum integrated screening test
- The first blood test is done between 10 weeks and 13 weeks, 6 days of pregnancy.
- The second blood test is done between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.
- The NT ultrasound is done between 11 weeks, 2 days and 14 weeks, 2 days of pregnancy.
- A preliminary result for Down syndrome and trisomy 18 is available after the ultrasound and first blood test.
- Final results are available about 2 weeks after the second blood test.
Quad screening
If you started prenatal care at 14 weeks or later, you can still have a screening test for all of the conditions we mentioned. Quad screening involves one blood test done between 15 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. Results are available in about 2 weeks.
What do the screening results mean?
Your chance of delivering a baby with birth defects is very low. According to the March of Dimes foundation, about 120,000 babies are born every year with major structural birth defects in the United States (about 3 percent of live births).
Most women who have a screening test receive "screen negative" results. This means that it is unlikely the baby has one of the screened birth defects. The chance is low enough that further testing is not routinely offered. It is not a guarantee that your baby has no health problems or birth defects.
Some women who have a screening test receive a "screen positive" result. This means the chance for a birth defect is high enough to consider more testing. Women with screen positive results are contacted by our genetics department. A genetic counselor will discuss the choices for further testing to help determine why your test was screen positive. Based on your results, you may decide to have a prenatal diagnostic procedure.
The chance of having a screen positive result is higher as women get older. However, most women with screen positive results go on to have healthy babies.
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.