Maternity Genetic Counseling
All parents hope for a healthy baby, free from any disorders or conditions. It's normal to worry.
Knowing the family history of both you and your baby's father will allow your healthcare provider to anticipate certain problems that can be minimized with proper care.
Prenantal tests
There are prenatal tests for more than 800 genetic disorders.
Amniocentesis is one of the most common, and is usually performed around weeks 14 to 16 of your pregnancy.
Family history
You will be asked to give a family history, which may include questions such as:
- Will you be 35 or older by your due date?
- Have you, your baby's father or anyone in your family had Down syndrome, spina bifida, hemophilia, muscular dystrophy, mental retardation, sickle cell disease, Tay-Sachs disease or cystic fibrosis?
- Have your or your baby's father produced a child born with a defect not listed in the box above or that was stillborn?
- Do you, your baby's father or a close relative in either family have any inherited genetic or chromosomal disorder not listed?
- Are you, your baby's father or a close relative of Jewish ancestry or a descendant from Eastern European people or Mediterranean ancestry?
- Have you or a previous spouse of your baby's father had three or more miscarriages?
