Normal and High risk pregnancy care
The term “high risk pregnancy” suggests that in order to have a healthy and successful pregnancy and delivery, extra care is needed. This is often the case if you suffer from a chronic illness or have other factors and conditions that may put you in the high-risk category.
It is even possible to begin a normal pregnancy and develop conditions that put you into the high-risk category. Regardless of what causes your pregnancy to become high-risk, it is likely that problems may persist with both you and/or the baby during the pregnancy, birth process, or even after the delivery.
The problems can be minor or life-threatening in severity for both the mother and the baby, requiring extra care and monitoring from your doctor.
Genetic Screening
Genetic testing is a type of medical test that identifies changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins. The results of a genetic test can confirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition or help determine a person’s chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder. More than 1,000 genetic tests are currently in use, and more are being developed.
Several methods can be used for genetic testing:
- Molecular genetic tests (or gene tests) study single genes or short lengths of DNA to identify variations or mutations that lead to a genetic disorder.
- Chromosomal genetic tests analyze whole chromosomes or long lengths of DNA to see if there are large genetic changes, such as an extra copy of a chromosome, that cause a genetic condition.
- Biochemical genetic tests study the amount or activity level of proteins; abnormalities in either can indicate changes to the DNA that result in a genetic disorder.
Genetic testing is voluntary. Because testing has benefits as well as limitations and risks, the decision about whether to be tested is a personal and complex one. A geneticist or genetic counselor can help by providing information about the pros and cons of the test and discussing the social and emotional aspects of testing
Sonograms/3D Sonogram
Like regular ultrasounds, 3D and 4D ultrasounds use sound waves to create an image of your baby in your womb. What’s different is that 3D ultrasounds create a three-dimensional image of your baby, while 4D ultrasounds create a live video effect, like a movie — you can watch your baby smile or yawn.
Parents often want 3D and 4D ultrasounds. They let you see your baby’s face for the first time. Some doctors like 3D and 4D ultrasounds because they can show certain birth defects, such as cleft palate, that might not show up on a standard ultrasound.
Cord Blood Banking Options
Cord blood can be used to treat more than 70 diseases, including blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. If you’re an expectant parent, you have several options when donating cord blood to help treat blood cancers and other life-threatening diseases. Unless you choose one of these options, the umbilical cord and placenta are typically discarded after the baby is born.