Assessment of Fetal Well-Being Diagnostic Tests

Test Purpose Procedure Nursing Actions Risks

Determines fetal activity, Transducer that emits high- Explain test to patient. No None
Ultrasonography gestational age, and any frequency sound waves need for special preparation.
malformations
Advanced ultrasound Explain test to patient. No None
Assesses placental
Doppler Blood Flow Analysis need for special preparation.
perfusion
Assess fetal heart rate post- 7% fetal loss due to
Done during the first or second
procedure. Assess maternal bleeding, infection, and
trimester. Aspiration of a small
chromosomal, metabolic, bleeding. Instruct patient to rupture of membranes.
Chorionic Villus Sampling amount of placental tissue with a
and DNA analysis report abdominal pain,
catheter either transvaginally or
leaking of fluid, bleeding,
abdominally
fever,or chills.
Genetic testing, Done between 14 - 20 weeks' Explain test to patient. Less than 1% fetal loss
assessment of fetal lung gestation. A needle is inserted Assess fetal heart rate post- rate after 15 weeks'
maturity, infection, and transabdominally into the uterine procedure. Assess maternal gestation, bleeding,
Amniocentesis hemolytic disease in fetus cavity using ultrasound to guide bleeding. Instruct patient to preterm labor,
placement report abdominal pain, maternal infection, RH
leaking of fluid, bleeding, sesitization
fever,or chills.
Tests for metabolic & Needle is inserted into umbilical Explain test to patient. Similar to
hemolytic disorders, fetal vein or near placenta with Assess fetal heart rate post- Amniocentesis
Percutaneous Umbilical
infection guidance from ultrasound procedure.
Blood Sampling

Non-stress test (NST) and 30 Explaint test to patient. None

Assesses fetal breathing, minutes of ultrasound
gross body movements, observation
Biophysical Profile fetal tone, reactive fetal
heart rate, and amniotic
fluid volume

1
Contraction Stress Test Assesses fetal well-being Monitor fetal heart rate (FHR) Explain test. Safely None
and uteroplacental and fetal activity for 20 minutes. administer oxytocin.
function while contracting Stimulate contractions to achieve Recognize adverse effects of
3 uterine contractions in 10 - 20 oxytocin. Interpret FHR.
minutes last 40 seconds

Non-Stress Test Assesses fetal well-being Monitr FHR with electronic fetal Explain test. Interpret FHR None
monitor until reactive. Usually and accelerations.
takes up to 20-40 minutes

Multiple Marker Screens Measures Alpha- Venous blood draw between 15 - Explain test to patient. None
fetoprotein, human 16 weeks' gestation
chorionic gonadotropin,
estriol levels, and inhibin -
A