PRENATAL TESTING

BRITTNEY HANSONKAREN RYSAVY

LEAH WILDE

What is Prenatal Testing?

* Testing for diseases/conditions in a fetus or embryo before it is born.

* Aim is to detect birth defects

* Multiple tests that can be done each trimester of pregnancy

General Tests

* Done previous of first trimester of pregnancy-Pregnancy Tests-Blood Tests• Blood type and Rh factor of mother and

child-Cervical Tests• STDs, cancer, and Group B Streptococcus

infection-Maternal Blood Testing-Ultrasounds

Ultrasound

History of Prenatal Testing

* 1963 study done on early Egyptian Theory of the 1350s BC (determining pregnancy and sex of child)

- Urinating on wheat and barley seeds- * Growth of wheat= female child- * Growth of barley= male child

** First record of prenatal testing (70% accurate)

Risk factors qualifying woman for testing

* Woman 35 years of age * Previously had premature babies or

w/birth defects * Woman with high blood pressure, lupus,

diabetes, asthma, epilepsy * Family histories or ethnic backgrounds

prone to genetic disorders * Pregnant w/twins or more * Have previously had miscarriages

1st Trimester Screening

States if the fetus is healthy or not But is unable to pinpointing any

abnormalities in the fetus

• Test the mother’s blood and an ultrasound is performed

• Can lead into further testing throughout the pregnancy

First Trimester Testing (week 1-12)

Chorionic Villus Sampling “CVS”Detects chromosome abnormalties or

genetic disorders

- * Collects chorionic villi cells by a catheter guided by an ultrasound through the cervic or abdomen to the placenta

Transcervical CVS

2nd Trimester Testing(week 13-27)

Percutaneous Umbilical Blood Sampling

(PUBS)

- Can determine prenatal diagnoses and prenatal treatment of fetus for ex: can diagnose a fetus with anemia

PUBS

Amniocentesis

* One of the first prenatal test to develop- mid 1950s

Needle is entered into amniotic sac to gather a sample of amniotic fluid

Most widely known prenatal test which examines for certain chromosomal abnormalities and neural tube defects

Amniocentsis

3rd Trimester Testing(week 28-Birth)

Biophysical Profile (BPP)

- Contains two parts: non stress test and an ultrasound

- Non stress test involves attaching 2 belts around abdomen, measuring fetal heart rate and to measure contractions-

- Evaluates heart rate, muscle tone, movement, and amount of amniotic fluid

- Physicians suggest in the third trimester BPP to be done once every week until child is born

BPP

Glucose Challenge Screening

Gestational Diabetes- diabetes brought on from pregnancy which causes risk to both mother and baby

26-28 weeks, evaluates how the body processes sugar

Positive test= body is not able to break down sugar properly, blood is drawn one hour after having a glucose drink

If positive, Glucose tolerance Test is taken

Group B Strep (GBS)

* Type of bacteria that can be found in up to 40% of pregnant woman.

*Taken 35-37 weeks of pregnancy with a swab from the vagina

*If positive the mother can be treated with antibiotics during labor

* Woman with GBS infection can pass the bacteria to her newborn during delivery

- most babies do not have problems and rarely become sick

Prenatal Testing Risks

* Misscarriage * cramping and vaginal bleeding * slowing of the fetus heart rate * Infection Rh Sensitizationj Needle injury to fetus Leaking of amniotic fluid CVS and Amniocentesis Testing

Considering Prenatal Testing

* How much value do you place on outcome of the result?

Is it going to lead to abortion?

Will the results affect the prenatal care of the fetus?

Pros of Prenatal Testing

Time to prepare for the emotional and psychological expectations of a child with abnormalities.

Time to arrange proper medical care if need be

Can detect complications that could be treated or stop further complications from occurring. For example: PUBS can detect if fetus is anemic and if in need of a blood transfusion

Cons of Prenatal Testing

Negative results may result in the pressure to consider abortion of the child because of misconceptions and stereotype of people with disabilities

Many of the disabilities of those impaired at birth are not genetically determined. Prenatal testing gives no indication of how severe a child will be affected.

In fact, more than 80% of disabled people are not born with their impairment but obtain it later

Work Cited Leavitt, Sarah A. "A Timeline of Pregnancy Testing." A Thin Blue Line. Dec. 2003. The Office of NIH History. Nov.

2008 <http://history.nih.gov/exhibits/thinblueline/timeline.html>.  Kidshealth. “Prenatal Testing in General.” Nemours Foundation. Nov. 2008

http://endoflifecare.tripod.com/juvenilehuntingtonsdisease/id48.html

Mayo Clinic Staff. "Prenatal Testing: Should You Consider It?" Mayo Clinic.com - Tools for Healthier Lives. 20 June 2008. Mayo Clinic. Nov. 2008 <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prenatal-testing/pr00014>.

Cowan, Ruth. "Women's Role in the History of Amniocentesis and Chorionic Villi Testing." Women and Prenatal Testing. 1992. Nov. 2008 <http://www.ohiostatepress.org/books/complete%20pdfs/rothenberg%20women/05.pdf>.

 Cunningham, Gary F. "Prenatal Testing." American Pregnancy Association. 2000. Nov. 2008

<http://www.americanpregnancy.org/prenataltesting/>. O'Dowd, Micheal J. "The History of Obstetrics and Gynaecology." The History of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

2000. Nov. 2008 <http://books.google.com/books?id=tetjbc7ez7kc&printsec=frontcover>. Ourbodiesourselves. "Prenatal Testing and Disability Rughts." Prenatal Testing and Disability Rights. May 2003.

Nov. 2008 <http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book/companion.asp?id=31&compid=43>.  Gregoire, Sheila W. "To Test or Not to Test." SheilaWrayGregoire.com. 2006. Nov. 2008

<http://sheilawraygregoire.com/totestornottotestprenataltestingp14.php>.