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Guidance

Screening tests for you and your baby: easy guides

These 8 easy read guides explain the screening tests offered during and after pregnancy for people with learning disabilities.

Updates to this page

From:
NHS England
Published:
10 February 2017
Last updated:
25 September 2025
Show all updates

  1. Small amendment to blood spot test easy guide (from 'We test for 6 of these diseases' to 'We test for some of these diseases'), plus updated publication information on final page and removed PHE references.

  2. Removed obsolete paragraph - 'Please note that the Screening for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome easy guide does not yet include information about non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT)'.

  3. Changed content type to guidance. Removed PHE reference numbers.

  4. Changed lead organiser to NHS England

  5. Easy guide to screening for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome updated and replaced to include non-invasive prenatal testing.

  6. Added notification that Screening for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes easy guide does not include NIPT information.

  7. Content of all 8 easy guides updated.

  8. Updated section on screening for hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis.

  9. Updated artwork for pregnancy sections 1, 3, 4 and 5 and for baby section 1.

  10. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Screening for hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis: an easy guide to screening tests when you are pregnant

PDF, 339 KB, 9 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email england.contactus@nhs.net. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Screening for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia: an easy guide to screening tests when you are pregnant

PDF, 320 KB, 9 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email england.contactus@nhs.net. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Screening for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome: an easy guide to screening tests when you are pregnant

PDF, 2.72 MB, 11 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email england.contactus@nhs.net. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Screening for problems with your baby’s body: an easy guide to screening tests when you are pregnant

PDF, 334 KB, 9 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email england.contactus@nhs.net. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Screening for eye problems for pregnant women with diabetes: an easy guide to screening tests when you are pregnant

PDF, 259 KB, 6 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email england.contactus@nhs.net. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Looking at your baby’s heart, eyes, hips and balls (testes): an easy guide to screening tests for your new baby

PDF, 346 KB, 9 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email england.contactus@nhs.net. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Looking at your baby’s hearing: an easy guide to screening tests for your new baby

PDF, 304 KB, 9 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email england.contactus@nhs.net. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Blood spot tests: an easy guide to screening tests for your new baby

PDF, 910 KB, 12 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email england.contactus@nhs.net. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Health professionals should download and print off copies of these easy guides to use when explaining screening tests offered during and after pregnancy to people with learning disabilities.

These easy guides are adapted from the Screening tests for you and your baby information provided to women when they book their pregnancy.

If possible, you should print them in colour and single sided to improve understanding and accessibility for people with learning disabilities.

To request another format, you can phone 0300 311 22 33 or email england.contactus@nhs.net.

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