| Many couples who become pregnant find out that | | | | on to your child. This is usually done by blood tests, |
| they need genetic counseling. There are all kinds of | | | | but sometimes requires tissue samples. Your DNA |
| blood and urine tests, family history questions, | | | | combines with your partners during conception and |
| medical exams and prenatal tests that can help | | | | the baby grows, replicating the new DNA chain over |
| determine if you and your partner need genetic | | | | and over. If certain genes or DNA sections are |
| counseling. Genetic counseling will help you determine | | | | damaged or abnormal, then diseases or disorders can |
| the health of you and your baby, protecting against | | | | result. Keep in mind that most of the genetic |
| and preventing certain health risks. | | | | disorders that your child could inherit would need to |
| You and your health care provider may determine | | | | come from both parents to manifest. |
| that genetic testing could help you identify certain | | | | Down syndrome and some other disorders are not |
| genetic diseases and disorders that may affect your | | | | inherited, but occur during cell division. If you have |
| child. Genetic testing can help identify Down | | | | genetic counseling and malformations or errors are |
| Syndrome, Tay-Sachs disease, cystic fibrosis, spina | | | | found, the genetic counselor will help you to |
| bifida and sickle cell disease. If you are at risk for | | | | understand the findings. |
| having a child with any of these problems, then your | | | | Birth defects are not very common and most that |
| doctor may suggest going to genetic counseling. | | | | occur are treatable. Cleft palate and clubfoot are the |
| A genetic counselor will evaluate the health and family | | | | two most common birth defects and are almost |
| history of you and your partner. Based on the | | | | always surgically treatable. Standard screening tests |
| information collected, or lack of information available, | | | | done when you are pregnant may give you cause |
| the genetic counselor may suggest certain genetic | | | | for concern and warrant seeking genetic counseling. |
| testing. The counselor will help you decide which risks | | | | Your age alone could be a factor in determining if |
| are worth taking, but the final decisions will be up to | | | | you should have genetic counseling. Women over |
| you and your partner. Genetic counselors are | | | | thirty five years of age have a higher chance of |
| experienced in dealing with these types of tough | | | | having a child with Down Syndrome. If you or your |
| decisions and delicate matters. They can help you | | | | partner know of inherited diseases, disorders or birth |
| cope with any emotional distress that you may be | | | | defects in the family then you may decide to seek |
| feeling. | | | | genetic counseling. |
| Gene testing on you and your partner will help | | | | If you have had problems getting pregnant or |
| identify hereditary disorders or diseases that you | | | | sustaining a pregnancy, seeing an infertility specialist |
| may be carrying in your DNA that could be passed | | | | as well as a genetic counselor can be helpful. |