Healthy pregnancy (18)
- Pregnancy nutrition: Healthy-eating basics
- Twin pregnancy: What multiples mean for mom
- Childbirth classes: Get ready for labor and delivery
- see all in Healthy pregnancy
First trimester (7)
- Fetal development: The first trimester
- Prenatal care: First-trimester visits
- First trimester pregnancy: What to expect
- see all in First trimester
Second trimester (7)
- Second trimester pregnancy: What to expect
- Prenatal care: Second-trimester visits
- Fetal development: The second trimester
- see all in Second trimester
Third trimester (9)
- Overdue pregnancy: What to do when baby's overdue
- Third trimester pregnancy: What to expect
- Fetal development: The third trimester
- see all in Third trimester
Pregnancy problems (16)
- Bed rest during pregnancy: Get the facts
- Heart conditions and pregnancy: Know the risks
- High blood pressure and pregnancy: Know the facts
- see all in Pregnancy problems
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
continued:
Prenatal testing: Is it right for you?
Questions to consider
Prenatal screening tests for fetal abnormalities are optional. It's important to make an informed decision about prenatal testing, especially if you're screening for fetal conditions that can't be treated.
- What will you do with the test results? Normal results can ease your anxiety. However, if prenatal testing indicates that your baby may have a birth defect, you may be faced with wrenching decisions — such as whether to continue the pregnancy. On the other hand, you may welcome the opportunity to plan for your baby's care in advance.
- Will the information shape your prenatal care? Some prenatal tests detect problems that can be treated while you're pregnant. In other cases, prenatal testing alerts your health care provider to a condition that requires immediate treatment after birth.
- How accurate are the results? Prenatal testing isn't perfect. The proportion of false-negative and false-positive results varies from test to test.
- What are the risks? Weigh the risks of specific prenatal tests, such as anxiety, pain or possible miscarriage, against the value of knowing the results.
- What is the expense? Insurance coverage for prenatal testing varies. If the test you're considering isn't covered by your insurance plan, are you willing and able to cover the cost of the test on your own?
The decision is yours
Prenatal testing can provide information that influences your prenatal care. Keep in mind, however, that some screening tests introduce the need for careful personal decisions. Ultimately, the decision to pursue prenatal testing is up to you and your partner. If you're concerned about prenatal testing, discuss the risks and benefits with your health care provider. A trusted friend or loved one, genetic counselor or spiritual adviser also may be able to help you make the best decision.
Previous page(2 of 2)
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Ethics. ACOG committee opinion no. 363. Patient testing: Ethical issues in selection and counseling. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2007;109:1021.
- Diagnosing birth defects. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp164.cfm. Accessed Feb. 15, 2010.
- Your first tests. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/159_519.asp. Accessed Feb. 15, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on