Pre-natal Tests

Question 1

What are prenatal tests?

Answer 1

Prenatal tests can assess the health and development of a baby during pregnancy.

→ Prenatal screening tests cannot tell if the baby has a genetic condition but they might be a good indicator to further testing that may be considered
↪ Usually low risk as they are non invasive.
↪ Includes Ultrasound, NIPT and Nuchal Screening

→ Prenatal Diagnostic tests are test that can assess the chromosomes of a baby and detect variations in chromosome or single gene (So can detect genetic disease with really high accuracy).
↪ Does not check for every possible problem
↪ Risk of miscarriage is involved.

Question 2

Prenatal Tests: Ultrasound

Answer 2

→ Done when baby is 8-12 weeks
→ Uses harmless sound waves to create images of developing baby in uterus
→ Can confirm how much pregnancy has progressed, whether there is more than one baby and the position of the baby and the placenta

Question 3

Placenta

Answer 3

An organ that develops during pregnancy and is attached to the wall of the uterus. The umbilical cord connects the placenta to the baby.

→ It provides oxygen and nutrients to a growing baby
→ It removes waste products from a baby’s blood.

Question 4

Prenatal Tests: Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)

Answer 4

→ Can be done when the baby is 10 weeks or older
→ A sample of the mothers blood is taken as during pregnancy some of the DNA from the baby crosses into the mother’s bloodstream.
→ Can check for down syndrome and other chromosome conditions but, it can only estimate the risk of the conditions has the fetal and maternal DNA are mixed in a genetic material called cfDNA

Question 5

Prenatal Tests: Nuchal Translucency

Answer 5

→ Can be done when the baby is 11.5-13.5 weeks old
→ Nuchal Translucency is the collection of fluid under the skin of the baby’s neck. A specialized ultrasound scan measures the amount and estimates the chance of the baby of the chromosome syndrome like down. Some times a blood test is involved
↪ Identifies 75-90% of babies with down syndrome

Question 6

Prenatal Tests: Amniocentesis

Answer 6

→ Can be done when baby is 15-19 weeks old
→ Chromosomes are examined from the amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby in the uterus and contains cells from the baby
↪ Using ultrasound a needle is used to extract the fluid
→ Used to check from trisomy 18 or trisomy 21 are present
→ Increased risk of miscarriage.

Question 7

Prenatal Tests: Chronic Villus Sampling

Answer 7

→ Can be done when the baby is 11-13 weeks old
→ Small piece of tissue is removed from the chorion (Apart of placenta and responsible for diffusing oxygen and nutrients).
↪ Needle is either inserted through the abdomen or vagina
→ It is done to confirm the presence of trisomy 18 or 21
→ Increased risk of miscarriage and baby limb deformity