Over the course of your pregnancy, you'll be visiting your healthcare provider quite a bit. Your provider will administer a number of tests to make sure that you and your baby remain healthy throughout your pregnancy, and that neither you nor your baby are at risk for complications.

Following are the most common tests you will undergo and what they test for.

Urine culture

Tests for presence of ketones and levels of protein, bacteria, and glucose

Rh factor (Rh positive or negative)

If you are Rh negative, you are at risk for Rh incompatibility with the blood type of your baby

Hemoglobin/hematocrit

Tests for anemia

Glucose challenge test (GDM)

Tests for gestational diabetes mellitus

Oral glucose tolerance test (GTT)

Provides definitive diagnosis of GDM

Hepatitis B

Tests for the presence of Hepatitis B in the blood

Pap smear

Detects cervical cancer, precancerous cells, vaginal infections, or inflammation of the cervix

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)

Tests for Down syndrome and more than 200 other disorders

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) blood tests (or variations called the triple or quad AFP screens)

Screens for chromosomal irregularities like trisomy 18 and Down syndrome, and for neural tube defects

Cystic fibrosis screening

Screens to see if you are a carrier

Amniocentesis

Diagnoses chromosomal abnormalities, genetic disorders, and birth defects

Ultrasounds

May be used to diagnose placental abnormalities, an ectopic pregnancy, or certain birth defects