Prenatal Testing in the Second Half of Pregnancy
Pregnancy Podcast
Vanessa Merten
4.5 • 970 Ratings
🗓️ 3 May 2026
⏱️ 36 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Prenatal testing in the second half of pregnancy is a different conversation than the testing offered earlier. Many of these tests produce results in real time, and many can directly affect your birth plan. As a result, decisions at this stage can feel heavier, both because you are closer to birth and because the consequences of these results land more immediately. This episode is a comprehensive, evidence-based guide to prenatal testing in the second half of pregnancy. We walk through gestational diabetes screening, group B strep testing, fetal well-being tests, and growth ultrasounds. We also cover what to do when test results prompt additional evaluation and what is unique about partner involvement when results arrive in real time.
Full article and resources for this episode: https://pregnancypodcast.com/prenataltestingthirdtrimester/
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Follow your pregnancy week-by-week with the 40 Weeks podcast. Learn how your baby grows, what's happening in your body, what to expect at prenatal appointments, and get tips for dads and partners: https://pregnancypodcast.com/week
Find more evidence-based information on the Pregnancy Podcast website: https://pregnancypodcast.com
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You are listening to the pregnancy podcast with Vanessa Merton. |
| 0:10.6 | Hello, thank you for tuning into the pregnancy podcast. In today's episode, we're talking about |
| 0:18.1 | prenatal testing in the second half of your pregnancy. This is a different |
| 0:23.5 | conversation than the tests that are offered earlier. Many of these tests give you results in real |
| 0:29.8 | time and many can affect your birth plan. So as a result, decisions at this stage can feel a lot |
| 0:37.2 | heavier. |
| 0:38.1 | One, because you're closer to birth and because the consequences of these results land more |
| 0:44.4 | immediately. |
| 0:45.6 | So in this episode, this is your comprehensive evidence-based guide to prenatal testing |
| 0:51.2 | in the second half of pregnancy. |
| 0:53.7 | We'll walk through gestational diabetes screening, |
| 0:57.5 | Group B strep testing, fetal well-being tests, and growth ultrasounds. And what's unique about |
| 1:05.5 | your partner's involvement when results are arriving in real time? You can see the full article and all of the resources |
| 1:14.0 | for this episode at Pregnancypodcast.com slash prenatal testing third trimester. |
| 1:24.3 | There's a lot to navigate in pregnancy, and prenatal testing is one of the more confusing pieces. |
| 1:32.1 | Pregnancy podcast premium is built to take the confusion out of every decision and question that you have. |
| 1:40.1 | When you are a premium member, you get the entire library of episodes all ad-free in your favorite podcast app. |
| 1:47.3 | So you have access to evidence-based answers and information for every question from your first trimester through life with a new baby. |
| 1:57.5 | Check out Pregnancy Podcast Premium at Pregnancypodcast.com slash premium. |
| 2:06.6 | VTEC is the number one baby monitor brand in North America and trusted by millions of families. |
| 2:13.3 | The VTEC RM 7968 monitor has 4K video and a 7-inch parent unit with 360-degree pan, tilt, |
| 2:23.9 | and zoom to follow every move. Save $20 at Target from May 3rd to May 9th only, and you can check out |
... |
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