Medical screening tests are a great way to stay on top of your health. Think of them as basic maintenance, just like checking the oil and tire pressure to keep your car gunning down the highway. To help make it simple, we've compiled a list of the most important medical tests every mom should have.

Periodontal Exam

What it is: A routine cleaning and examination of your gums by your dentist to keep your teeth and gums healthy and free of infection and disease.

What it measures: The connection between teeth and gums and inflammation around your gums.

Why you need it: Women who have gum disease have up to a sevenfold higher risk of premature birth. There's also a chance you could simply be more prone to gum disease if you're pregnant or on the Pill. Hormone changes seem to cause your gums to become more inflamed, although we're not really sure why.

How often should you have it? Twice a year, but some pregnant women may need to see their doctors every three to four months. If your gums are bleeding frequently, it's a red flag that you need to go in sooner.

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Test

What it is: A blood test that screens for an underactive (hypothyroid) and an overactive (hyperthyroid) thyroid.

What it measures: Whether your thyroid hormone levels are normal.

Why you need it: Pregnancy and the postpartum period tend to bring on these conditions. Still, mild forms of thyroid disease may affect from 5 to 10 percent of all women. It gets worse: More than half of all these cases may remain undiagnosed. Feeling tired, being forgetful, and gaining weight-classic symptoms of being a new mom-are all signs of hypothyroidism.  

The opposite condition, hyperthyroidism, usually shows itself with a racing heart, trouble sleeping, or weight loss, which might be dismissed as anxiety or stress. If you're trying to have another baby, this is a crucial test, since a thyroid disorder can stop you from ovulating and increase your risk of miscarriage or premature delivery. If you're diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you'll be put on a synthetic hormone supplement for life; hyperthyroidism is usually treated with radioactive iodine to reduce thyroid hormone production.

How often should you have it? Once a year.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

What it is: A blood test that evaluates how well your bone marrow and immune system are working.

What it measures: White blood cells (high levels mean an infection), hemoglobin (low levels indicate anemia), and platelets (low levels signify your blood may have trouble clotting).

Why you need it: You're more likely to have heavy periods after having children, which can make you susceptible to anemia.  

How often should you have it? Every year.

Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Tests

What they are: Two tests that assess how healthy your heart is and your risk of heart disease.

What they measure: A blood pressure "cuff" test measures how hard your circulating blood is pushing against the walls of your arteries. Cholesterol tests measure the HDL ("good" cholesterol), LDL ("bad" cholesterol), and triglycerides in your blood.

Why you need them: Moms often think of heart disease as occurring later in life, but studies show you can have dangerous plaque buildup as early as your twenties unless you have a healthy lifestyle that includes a good diet, exercise, and no smoking. Blood pressure less than 120/80 is ideal. But don't panic if yours is slightly higher. Simple lifestyle changes can often bring it down. Your LDL cholesterol should be below 130 and your HDL above 50.

How often should you have them? Blood pressure should be checked annually. Cholesterol screening should start at age 20 and be repeated every five years, but you'll need to be tested more frequently than that if it's elevated. Know you're at risk? Ask your doctor whether you should have the c-reactive protein test. It measures levels of a substance your liver makes called c-reactive protein (CRP), which can cause inflammation in the blood vessels, increasing your risk of heart disease or a heart attack. It's recommended for women over thirty with two or more risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol, being overweight, and a family history of the disease.

Pap Smear

What it is: A swab test to detect precancerous and cancerous changes in your cervix. Your doctor may also ask the lab that analyzes your Pap smear to check for the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted virus. Certain strains of HPV, when left unchecked, can lead to cervical cancer over time.

Why you need it: Just because you're married doesn't mean you don't have or couldn't get HPV-or cervical cancer. You or your husband could have gotten the virus earlier in life, but it might not show up on a Pap smear for years. If the results come back abnormal, the laboratory may run an HPV test. If the Pap's abnormal, your doctor may biopsy suspicious areas on your cervix to check for precancerous cells.

How often should you have it? If you have a normal Pap smear three years in a row and you're in a monogamous relationship, you need this test only every three years, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. But if you've recently had an abnormal Pap smear, or recently tested positive for HPV, you'll need to get one every three to six months.

Make the most of your Memorial Day weekend by eating healthy, without sacrificing taste.  Your guests will love these flavor-packed recipes:

Mozzarella-Stuffed Turkey Burgers These tasty turkey burgers, served on toasted focaccia and dressed with marinara sauce, are reminiscent of a sausage pizza. Shredded mozzarella combined with fresh basil melts beautifully inside these gems.

Grilled Pizza with Pesto, Tomatoes & Feta Dazzle your guests, and keep
the kitchen cool, by baking pizza on the backyard grill. For convenience, this recipe uses prepared pizza dough, found in most supermarkets, and pesto from a jar.

Oven-Fried Chicken Great news - crunchy, flavorful fried chicken can be healthy. We marinate skinless chicken in buttermilk to keep it juicy. A light coating of flour, sesame seeds and spices, misted with olive oil, forms an appealing crust during baking. And with only 7 grams of fat per serving rather than the 20 in typical fried chicken- that is good news.

Garden Pasta Salad This lightly dressed pasta salad gets lots of flavor from kalamata olives and basil. A colorful mix of diced bell pepper, shredded carrot and tomatoes adds vitamins and minerals. Serve on a crisp bed of greens. Toss in canned chunk light tuna, cooked chicken or flavored baked tofu to add protein and make it more substantial.

Country Potato Salad This updated picnic potato salad gets subtle flavor from smoked ham. If you can find them, small, thin-skinned early potatoes are best in this salad.

Dark Fudgy Brownies We like to use chocolate with 60-72% cacao content in these rich, fudge-like brownies, as it imparts a deeper, fuller flavor than less-chocolaty choices.

No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake This no-bake cherry cheesecake is an easy summertime treat. This no-bake cheesecake recipe has omega-3-rich walnuts in the graham cracker crust and uses nonfat Greek yogurt and reduced-fat cream cheese in the filling to keep saturated fat in check. If you want a bright red topping, use sour cherries. Sweet cherries give it a more purple hue. To make gluten-free no-bake cherry cheesecake, use gluten-free graham crackers.

For healthier Memorial Day recipes, visit Eating Well. 

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