Pregnant & Over 30? These 10 Tests Help Keep You & Your Baby Healthy

Pregnancy is an exciting journey, but as you get older, your risks shift. If you’re over 30, your body may respond differently to pregnancy than it did in your 20s. While most pregnancies after 30 are completely healthy, there are certain conditions that become more common, such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and thyroid imbalances.

The good news? Many of these complications can be caught early with the right screenings. These 10 tests help ensure you and your baby stay safe throughout pregnancy.

1. Genetic Screening

👉 Why It’s Important: Genetic screening helps identify the risk of inherited conditions like Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell disease.

🔎 How It Works: A simple blood test, usually done in the first trimester, can assess the risk of certain chromosomal abnormalities. If the results show a higher risk, further testing—like an amniocentesis—may be offered.

💡 Who Should Get It: While all pregnant women are offered genetic screening, it’s especially important for those over 35 or with a family history of genetic conditions.

2. Blood Sugar Testing (Glucose Tolerance Test)

👉 Why It’s Important: Pregnancy increases insulin resistance, and after 30, your risk of gestational diabetes rises. Uncontrolled gestational diabetes can lead to excessive fetal growth, preterm birth, and even complications during delivery.

🔎 How It Works: Around 24-28 weeks, you’ll drink a sugary solution, and your blood sugar levels will be tested. If your levels are high, you may need a longer, follow-up glucose tolerance test.

💡 What You Can Do: Stay active, eat balanced meals, and follow your doctor’s recommendations to prevent or manage gestational diabetes.

3. Blood Pressure Checks

👉 Why It’s Important: High blood pressure during pregnancy (gestational hypertension or preeclampsia) can increase the risk of preterm birth, organ damage, and complications during delivery.

🔎 How It Works: Your doctor will check your blood pressure at every prenatal visit. If it’s consistently high (140/90 or above), additional tests may be needed.

💡 What You Can Do: Watch for symptoms like severe headaches, swelling in the face or hands, and vision changes—these could be warning signs of preeclampsia.

4. Growth Ultrasounds

👉 Why It’s Important: Some babies may grow too large (due to gestational diabetes) or too small (due to placental issues), which can affect labor and delivery.

🔎 How It Works: Standard ultrasounds track your baby’s size, movements, and amniotic fluid levels. If any concerns arise, your doctor may recommend extra growth scans later in pregnancy.

💡 Who Needs It: Women with high blood pressure, diabetes, or a history of previous pregnancy complications may need extra growth ultrasounds.

5. Thyroid Function Test

👉 Why It’s Important: Your thyroid controls metabolism and plays a vital role in fetal brain development. Undiagnosed thyroid disease increases the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, and developmental delays in the baby.

🔎 How It Works: A simple blood test measures levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free T4 to check for hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).

💡 What You Can Do: If you have fatigue, weight changes, or heart palpitations, ask your doctor to check your thyroid levels.

6. Fetal Non-Stress Test (NST)

👉 Why It’s Important: This test monitors your baby’s heart rate and movements in the third trimester to make sure they’re getting enough oxygen.

🔎 How It Works: You’ll sit with a belt around your belly that tracks the baby’s heart rate in response to movement. If the test shows concerns, further monitoring or delivery planning may be needed.

💡 Who Needs It: Women with high blood pressure, diabetes, or decreased fetal movement may need this test regularly in late pregnancy.

7. Amniocentesis (If Needed)

👉 Why It’s Important: If earlier genetic screenings show an increased risk, amniocentesis can provide a definitive diagnosis for chromosomal abnormalities or genetic conditions.

🔎 How It Works: A small sample of amniotic fluid is taken with a needle for lab testing. While this test carries a small risk of miscarriage, it provides more accurate genetic results than blood tests.

💡 Who Needs It: Typically recommended for women over 35 or those with high-risk genetic screening results.

8. Iron Levels Check

👉 Why It’s Important: Low iron (anemia) can cause extreme fatigue, dizziness, and increase the risk of preterm birth. Severe anemia can also lead to complications during labor.

🔎 How It Works: A routine blood test checks your hemoglobin and ferritin levels to see if you need iron supplements.

💡 What You Can Do: Eat iron-rich foods like spinach, red meat, and beans, and take iron supplements if prescribed.

9. STD Screening

👉 Why It’s Important: Untreated infections like syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV can pass to the baby, causing serious complications. Some STDs can lead to premature labor or low birth weight.

🔎 How It Works: A blood test and vaginal swab check for infections. If positive, treatment can prevent transmission to the baby.

💡 What You Can Do: Get tested early in pregnancy and, if at risk, repeat testing in the third trimester.

10. Cervical Length Screening

👉 Why It’s Important: A short cervix increases the risk of preterm labor, especially if you’ve had previous preterm births. Early detection allows for interventions like progesterone treatment or a cervical cerclage (a stitch to reinforce the cervix).

🔎 How It Works: A vaginal ultrasound measures the cervix’s length, usually between 16-24 weeks.

💡 Who Needs It: Women with a history of preterm birth or certain uterine conditions may need this screening.

What You Can Do Now to Stay on Track

✅ Ask your doctor which of these tests are right for you—some are routine, while others depend on your health history.
✅ Keep a record of your test results and follow up on any abnormal findings.
✅ Pay attention to warning signs like severe headaches, swelling, dizziness, or decreased fetal movement—these could signal a problem.

Every pregnancy is unique, and the goal of these tests is to provide early detection and prevention so you and your baby can stay as healthy as possible. If you’re unsure about any of these tests, talk to your doctor and make sure you’re getting the care you need.

💬 Are you 30+ and expecting? Have you had all these tests? Let’s talk about your experience in the comments!