Prenatal Testing

As modern medicine advances, new information becomes available regarding how diseases are inherited. Now parents are given different choices to make about the health of their baby even before he/she is born. Your physician may suggest certain tests for prenatal diagnosis during this stage of your pregnancy. Prenatal diagnostic testing ranges from non-invasive procedures such as ultrasound and blood tests, to more invasive procedures such as testing the amniotic fluid or sampling of placental tissues from within the uterus. Most of these tests are performed during the early second trimester of pregnancy.

Mothers who might be offered second trimester prenatal testing include those:

• with a family history of a genetic disease or chromosomal abnormality.
• who are over the age of 35.
• with a fetus with abnormalities seen on ultrasound.

Parents may want to consult a specialized genetics counselor for prenatal counseling. These counselors are trained to give parents the information they need to make informed choices. Counseling also helps parents understand the effects of a disorder and ways it may be prevented or treated.

Some types of prenatal testing and procedures carry some risks to mother, baby, or both.

Ask your physician:

• Why is the test needed for my pregnancy?
• What information will the test provide?
• What are the benefits of the test?
• What are the risks, if any, to me and to my baby?
• What other tests might be used instead?
• Who will perform the test?
• Where will it be done?
• How long does it take to get results?
• Will the test results require additional testing?
• What are my options based on the outcome of the test?
• What are my options if I choose to not have the test?