Through breakthroughs in prenatal testing, doctors can diagnose health issues and congenital anomalies early in the pregnancy. But the knowledge comes at a price. Results from one test can very well launch you into a series of unexpected tests. You’ll be thrown into a very anxious, and very expensive, rollercoaster ride.
The decision to go for prenatal testing is up to you. Some parents believe that ‘forewarned is forearmed’ and want as much information as they can possibly have. Others don’t want to add to an already stressful pregnancy. Here are the pros and cons of prenatal testing to help you know what’s best for you
Pros of prenatal testing
Doctors usually recommend prenatal testing for parents who have a strong family history of disorders, know they are carriers of a particular disease, have been exposed to infection or a substance that is known to increase risk for disorders, have previously given birth to a child with a disorder, or have had one or more pregnancy complications.
If a congenital problem or health issue is detected early on during the pregnancy, you can already begin to seek treatment for him (ex: if your baby is Rh incompatible, you can already make arrangements for blood transfusions). You and your doctor can also talk about the best method of delivery, like a caesarian to minimize fetal stress for a baby with a heart defect. You can also ‘shop’ for a hospital with good neonatal care, or a neonatal specialist who has handled similar cases.
Cons of prenatal testing
Prenatal testing is not 100% accurate, and even the best screening tests administered by the best technicians can render a false positive. And while a test can diagnose whether or not your child has a certain condition, it cannot measure the kind of quality of life he can have.
Weighing the emotions
A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself, ‘Will this test increase or decrease my stress? Will I feel empowered to make the best decision for myself, my family and my baby, or will I feel burdened with information that I am not ready to face? Will this information give my baby a better chance of survival?’
Think about the actions you would take based on the results. Would you really do things differently? Terminate the pregnancy? Get subsequent tests that may put the baby’s health at further risk?
Also find out if the tests can significantly detect the disorder that you’re at high risk for. For example, no prenatal testing can spot metabolic disorders.
Photo from dnatestingnow.wordpress.com
Leave a Reply