- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- pregnancy today articles
- pregnancy today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Analyzing Amnio
The Ins and Outs of Amniocentesis
By Laura Cone
"First, you would go to your doctor if you were pregnant and get your prenatal checkup," Kling says. "You would be offered a number of screening tests. These are mostly blood tests. Ninety-nine percent of women in the United States get these screening tests, which screen for a variety of disorders [including] spina bifada, Down syndrome and a number of different disorders."
She says if your doctor sees unusual results from a screening, he or she will offer a diagnostic test, which includes amnio. "There are people who have amnio and they think if their amnio results are normal that means the baby has no problems, but that's not true," Kling says. "You are only looking for something specific based on the result of the screening test or, alternatively, if there is history in your family of a certain disorder, you will be looking for that disorder."
Kling says prenatal tests provide valuable information, even for women who would never consider terminating their pregnancies. "I think the March of Dimes' advice is if there is a disorder that runs in your family and you are 
worried about it, the best time to get tested is before you are pregnant," Kling says. "You could find out before you get pregnant whether or not you are a carrier for the gene you are worried about. That can put your mind to rest."
One of the positive aspects of learning your child has a birth disorder is the fact it means you have time to prepare, says Kling. "It can help [parents] prepare for the special care their child is going to need," she says. "And you can prepare emotionally, financially and by seeking out experts in your child's disorder."
Want to see more?
Comments
There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to 
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||
