Is Prenatal Screening Right For Me?

Many parents, but not all, want to know the chance of the baby having trisomy 18 or trisomy 21. Some want to know if there's a higher chance of the baby having a genetic condition so that they can decide what to do next, while others hope for the reassurance of being told there's a low chance. Some are worried they’ll get a false positive, where the screening says the baby has an increased chance of a genetic condition but in fact they don’t. That happens more often with two of the available screens (enhanced First Trimester Screening and Second Trimester Screening).

There’s a small risk the tests that diagnose trisomy 18 and 21 (chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis) will cause miscarriage, but they’re the only way to be sure if the baby has either condition. Screening tests can only tell you if there is a higher or lower chance of the baby having trisomy 18 or 21.

Your decision needs to be right for you, depending on your life situation, values and beliefs. Speaking with health-care practitioners, family, friends or counsellors and learning about further tests might help you make your choice.

Some people who continue their pregnancy find it helpful to have the extra time to learn more about trisomy 18 or 21, and what local resources are available or perhaps to make an adoption plan for the baby.

Prenatal genetic screening can lead to more prenatal care and monitoring. Even if you don’t have a follow-up diagnostic test but there are signs of a genetic condition or other concerns, your care may change.

Do you need more information to decide whether to have prenatal genetic screening? You might wish to learn more about the chromosome differences that are tested, and the screens available at your stage in the pregnancy.  It can also be helpful to discuss the decision with your health-care practitioner or one of our certified genetic counsellors.

No matter what choice you make, you can still have the 11-14 week ultrasound and 18-22 week ultrasound in the pregnancy. Ultrasounds offer important information about the pregnancy and even your health. These ultrasounds will give you information such as:

• how far along your pregnancy is;
• how many babies you are carrying; and
• whether there are concerns with the baby's growth and development.