Your Prenatal Test Checklist
by 3 people Here's what you should expect from screening and diagnostic tests -- and what the results will tell you.
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During the course of my prenatal visits (I'm nine months pregnant and due any day now), I was tested for everything from cystic fibrosis to Down syndrome. Whenever I went in to see my ob-gyn, it seemed to be time for another test. I thought these tests -- used to check for chromosomal abnormalities -- were mandatory, but I've since learned that your doctor is only required to offer them. You don't have to accept.
Depending on your beliefs, you might not even want to have every test. "The real question is, what are you going to do with the information you get?" says Lorien Tambini, genetic counseling supervisor at Roosevelt Hospital, in New York City. "If there's a problem, do you terminate the pregnancy or continue the pregnancy and keep the baby? It's a very personal decision."
Here's an overview of some of the common tests you should expect to get during your pregnancy. If your nerves get the better of you and you start to worry, remember that only 5 percent of all pregnant women receive an atypical test result during pregnancy, and because of false positives and erroneous results, even fewer women will have a child born with a genetic or physical abnormality.
- How Are the Tests Conducted?
