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*Testing Your Baby for Sickle Cell During Pregnancy*
Introduction
There are two main ways of checking your baby for genetic problems while it is in the womb. These techniques are called amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS).
*Amniocentesis*
What is amniocentesis?
The test involves placing a needle in to the womb through the woman’s abdominal wall and obtaining a small amount of amniotic fluid).
The amniocentesis test is usually carried out between 16 and 18 weeks of the pregnancy and can be done in an outpatients clinic.
As part of the test an ultrasound scan is carried out to check the fetal and placental location.
The fluid contains cells which have come from the baby and these cells are then grown …show more content…
*Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)*
What is chorionic villus sampling (CVS)?
The CVS test is carried out at around the 9th or 10th week of pregnancy, and again it is an outpatient procedure. Rather than testing a sample of the fluid of the mother’s womb, this test take a very small amount of material from the developing placenta.
One way of doing the test is to place a thin tube through the cervix (neck of the womb) to obtain the sample.
Another method is similar to the amniocentesis test, and involves placing a needle in the womb and using an ultrasound scanner to guide it.
What type of abnormality can be detected with CVS?
The sample contains cells that are of the same genetic type as the baby and so can reveal the same sort of disorders that amniocentesis discovers. Similarly CVS can detect rare diseases caused by abnormal genes, but these tests will only normally be done if there is a family link with a particular disorder. Because no amniotic fluid is obtained the test cannot be used to look for babies with spina bifida.
*What are the risks of CVS, and how reliable is
*Testing Your Baby for Sickle Cell During Pregnancy*
Introduction
There are two main ways of checking your baby for genetic problems while it is in the womb. These techniques are called amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS).
*Amniocentesis*
What is amniocentesis?
The test involves placing a needle in to the womb through the woman’s abdominal wall and obtaining a small amount of amniotic fluid).
The amniocentesis test is usually carried out between 16 and 18 weeks of the pregnancy and can be done in an outpatients clinic.
As part of the test an ultrasound scan is carried out to check the fetal and placental location.
The fluid contains cells which have come from the baby and these cells are then grown …show more content…
*Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)*
What is chorionic villus sampling (CVS)?
The CVS test is carried out at around the 9th or 10th week of pregnancy, and again it is an outpatient procedure. Rather than testing a sample of the fluid of the mother’s womb, this test take a very small amount of material from the developing placenta.
One way of doing the test is to place a thin tube through the cervix (neck of the womb) to obtain the sample.
Another method is similar to the amniocentesis test, and involves placing a needle in the womb and using an ultrasound scanner to guide it.
What type of abnormality can be detected with CVS?
The sample contains cells that are of the same genetic type as the baby and so can reveal the same sort of disorders that amniocentesis discovers. Similarly CVS can detect rare diseases caused by abnormal genes, but these tests will only normally be done if there is a family link with a particular disorder. Because no amniotic fluid is obtained the test cannot be used to look for babies with spina bifida.
*What are the risks of CVS, and how reliable is