Performing DNA testing before birth is becoming more commonplace. Clinicians can do a genetic test with small samples of tissue or blood. If you are pregnant you and your partner and fetus can be tested for genes that could carry inherited illnesses.

To perform genetic testing on a fetus, mothers undergo one of two tests. Chorionic villus sampling is done between weeks 10 and 12 of the pregnancy and involves the removal of a tiny piece of the placenta to check for potential genetic defects in the child. There is a risk of miscarriage with this test as it is considered an invasive procedure.

Amniocentesis is more common and performed between the 16th and 18th week of pregnancy. A needle is inserted into the woman’s abdomen to extract a small sample of amniotic fluid from the womb. This test can detect genetic defects and gender; it can also determine the maturity of the baby’s lungs in cases of premature birth. As with chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis carries with it a small risk of miscarriage.

Sometimes couples or their physician believe there is a genetic risk for the baby and he may order genetic counseling on the fetus.

If a close relative has an illness that runs in families the parent may want to be tested for a recessive gene. This occurs when an individual carries the gene that can cause a disorder but does not have the disorder himself or herself. However, as parents they might pass the gene, and the risk, down to their child.

If a woman has had two miscarriages or more, there may be an underlying genetic cause. Lastly, if a woman delivered a stillborn child with birth defects, she may want DNA testing before birth to give future pregnancies a better outcome.

Note: We are not doctors and we do not present any of the content on this website as medical information. We have presented information to the general public through research that we have been able to find. You should always consult with a physician or your medical specialist before any such procedures.