Only a few women require further routine tests after 28 weeks of the pregnancy. However, if you have a medical condition, or complications arise during the pregnancy, you may need additional tests, depending on the health concern. The following is a guide as to what circumstances may lead to needing further routine tests during this phase of the pregnancy.
Blood tests
Vaginal swab
Ultrasound
Kick chart
Blood tests
A few women will require further blood tests after 28 weeks of the pregnancy. One of the tests at performed routinely at 28 weeks is a
full blood count (FBC), which looks at a woman's haemoglobin level (or 'Hb'). This relates to iron levels and the possible need for iron supplements. If the level was low at 28 weeks (below 11.0 - 11.5 gm% or 110 - 115 gm/dl), then daily iron supplements are usually recommended and the blood test is repeated again at around 34 to 36 weeks to see if the level has increased. This is explained in detail in iron and
iron supplements.
If your blood group is Rhesus negative, you will also need to have a
group and antibodies blood test repeated to continue to screen for antibodies at around about 34 to 36 weeks of the pregnancy.
Vaginal swab
Most caregivers offer women a low vaginal swab test to screen for a bacterium called 'Group B streptococcus' (also known as 'Strep B' or 'GBS') at around 28 weeks of the pregnancy. However, some caregivers delay this test until about 34 to 36 weeks of the pregnancy.
The vaginal swab is taken from the lower vagina, just inside the entrance. Therefore the woman can usually perform this test herself at home (if given the swab to take with her) or in the toilet during the pregnancy visit. (Your caregiver should not need to perform a vaginal examination, or use a
speculum to take this test.) The swab used is like a long cotton bud and is placed about 2 to 3 centimetres inside the vagina before putting the swab into a sterile container.