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Paternity Testing in Pregnancy

For some women, there may be a question about the paternity of the baby. If this is the case, you may want to find out as quickly as possible. There is less risk to the baby if you wait until he or she is born. Unless there is an extreme situation that must be resolved immediately, it’s best for your baby to wait and take a blood sample after the birth. The two tests used to determine paternity during pregnancy are the amniocentesis and the chorionic villus sampling (CVS) test. amniocentesis can be done between 14 and 20 weeks. The … Continue reading →

My Experience with Amniocentesis

I had an amniocentesis with my second baby. The test was offered to us after we got a positive result on the alpha fetoprotein blood test. The results came back showing an increased risk of Down’s Syndrome. The funny thing is that I didn’t want the blood test in the first place. When I was pregnant with my first daughter, my doctor had actually advised against the test. He told me the test had a high rate of false positives. After six years of infertility and six weeks of bed rest in early pregnancy, he felt that I didn’t need … Continue reading →

New Prenatal Test for Mid-Life Moms

If you’re pregnant and over the age of 35, a new test called Early Screening is now available to help ease any concerns you may have concerning your baby’s risks of being born with a birth defect. Although the test is designed for all pregnant women it is especially useful for the mid-life mom. As you know by now, mid-life moms have a greater risk of giving birth to a child with a birth defect and often doctors recommend genetic testing to determine a pregnant woman’s risk. When I was pregnant I took the first phase of tests but stopped … Continue reading →

A New Blood Test for Down’s Syndrome

Diagnosing Down’s syndrome has just gotten easier. Researchers at Stanford University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Lucile Packard Hospital have developed a maternal blood test that offers a non invasive way to detect Down’s syndrome and other chromosome disorders in the fetus. There is currently a blood screening test done during pregnancy to check for Down’s syndrome. This is called the alpha feto protein, triple screen or quad screen and is done in the early second trimester. However, this is merely a screening tool and doesn’t offer a definitive diagnosis. It only shows if a woman is at greater risk … Continue reading →

Chorionic Villus Sampling

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) is a prenatal test that is useful for detecting certain genetic disorders. The test is used for the same reasons an amniocentesis may be done. The main advantage of CVS is that it can be done much earlier than an amnio. CVS tests can be done as early as the eleventh week of pregnancy. During the test, a sample of the chorionic villi is taken. The chorionic villi sample can be taken abdominally or vaginally. The sample will be sent out and will grow in a lab before the results are read. You will get the … Continue reading →

Nuchal Translucency Screening

The Nuchal Translucency Screening is a test that can help determine your baby’s risk of having certain birth defects, most notably Down’s Syndrome. In addition, the test can show certain heart defects and other chromosomal abnormalities. This test is most often done on mothers who are considered at increased risk due to advanced maternal age. If you are offered this test, it’s important to understand that this is a screening test. It does not give a definitive diagnosis, but shows that a baby may be at increased risk of having certain abnormalities. A combination of ultrasound and a blood test … Continue reading →

What is Chorioamnionitis?

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Chorioamnionitis is an infection of the two membranes of the placenta, the chorion and the amnion, as well as the amniotic fluid. In some cases, the condition can cause a blood infection in the mother and the baby. This condition is very serious and requires immediate treatment. Chorioamnionitis occurs in about two percent of all pregnancies. E Coli and Group B strep are the most common causes of the infection. In most cases, the water breaking allows the organisms to make their way into the uterus. Symptoms Include: * Fever * Bad odor in the fluid * Pain in the … Continue reading →

Made to Order Babies

Ever since the first “test tube” baby was born, I have long since struggled with the ethics of fertility treatments, and prenatal testing. I certainly don’t judge anyone who has gone through extensive lengths to have a child. But I’ve struggled with the idea of where it all ends. At what point have we breached ethical boundaries and simply crossed the line? Such is the question surrounding the idea that you can pick your child’s gender. Some say that it seems unethical–you should just take what you get and be happy. But other parents feel strongly that they want one … Continue reading →

AFP Tests – What do they mean?

Between the 16th and 18th weeks of pregnancy, you will receive a screening test called an AFP. It’s a blood test and you will need to give your permission before the test is done. There are so many blood tests and urine tests and just tests that we go through when we are pregnant and seeing our obstetricians that it is hard to keep them all straight. The following is some information on the AFP, I am not a physician by any stretch of the imagination so be sure to consult with your physician if you have any questions or … Continue reading →