 |
 |
 |
| |
There are two types of test:
- Screening tests such as blood tests and nuchal fold scans predict your chance of having a baby with a particular condition. They cannot tell whether or not your baby is actually affected.
- Diagnostic tests such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis tell for certain whether your baby has conditions such as Down's syndrome. These tests are invasive and carry a 1 in 100 risk of miscarriage.
Ultrasound scans are used for both screening and diagnosis. They are non-invasive, give instant information and are not believed to pose a risk to the baby. Scans can show:
- the stage your pregnancy has reached
- defects in the development of limbs and organs — though not all problems can be detected
- signs that may indicate Down's syndrome and spina bifida.
|
|
^top
|
| |
Which tests to have
You do not have to have any tests that you do not want. Think through the implications of each test carefully:
- If you are already in a higher risk category because of your age, you might want a diagnostic test for Down's syndrome.
If a screening test showed a high risk of abnormality, what would you do? Some parents continue with the pregnancy without further tests, while others want a conclusive result from a diagnostic test despite the slight risk of miscarriage.
|
|
| |
If a diagnostic test were positive, what would you do? Some women continue with the pregnancy, while others make the painful decision to terminate it. Either way, you can get useful support from experts and from other parents who have been in a similar situation.
|
|
^top
|
|
|
