Genetic Testing in Pregnancy
Pregnant?
Your Genetic Testing Decisions Maximum babies are born healthy but
there is always a risk that something can go wrong. The risk will be
greater for various couples than others depending on age and life
issues and medical history.
One of the most mutual genetic testing pregnancy
problems that a baby can have is a genetic condition called Down
syndrome. While women are typically directed to have genetic testing,
the choice to do so is yours. It’s a good idea to think about why you
want to be tested and the significances for you and your family if you
learn that your baby does have an inherited disorder.
Before Pregnancy: Screening for genetic carriers
If you have a genetic factor for a disorder but don’t have the condition yourself, you’re called a carrier. Predictive gene testing tells you if you and your partner have these genes. So there are chances of passing them on to your children. Genetic testing in pregnancy is most important for the baby.
You can get the tests before or during pregnancy, but they’re most useful earlier.
First-trimester joint screening test
This
test syndicates the results of a blood test taken at about 10–12 weeks
and an ultrasound at 11–13 weeks. The test will display the risk or
your chance of having a baby with Down syndrome or Trisomy 18. It will
not tell you if your baby has Down syndrome.
If
you are at increased risk you will be accessible to a diagnostic test,
either a CVS (Chronic Villus Sampling) or amniocentesis.
Motherly serum screening
This
is a blood test collected between 15–20 weeks of pregnancy. The test
shows your risk of having a baby with Down syndrome, Trisomy 18 or
neural tube imperfections such as spina bifida. If the prenatal paternity test shows you are at increased risk you will be offered amniocentesis and ultrasound.
Non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT)
This
blood test is done after the 10th week of pregnancy. It screens for
Down syndrome and certain other chromosomal indiscretions in a baby. In
Australia, it is only available in some specialist centers.
Diagnostic tests
A
diagnostic test is testing the fetus’s inherited material and can
therefore tell whether the fetus actually has a genetic disorder. You
can take various genetic consulting programs.
Chorionic Villus Biopsy
In
this test a small sample is taken from the placenta. The sample from
the placenta can be tested for Down syndrome or in some cases other
genetic situations such as cystic fibrosis.
Amniocentesis
A
sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby is together and
can be used to diagnose Down syndrome or some other genetic conditions.
Ultrasound scans
This second-trimester scan is used to identify physical and structural irregularities with spina bifida, heart and limb faults.
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