Trimester by Trimester

Most parents-to-be can't help but have occasional worries about their baby's health. Fortunately, the techniques and tests used to monitor the health of you and your baby have never been more sophisticated. Prenatal tests are available to put your mind at ease. These tests can help your doctor determine if your baby is at risk of developing certain birth defects such as Down syndrome or neural tube defects, which are abnormalities in the brain and spinal cord. But which test is right for you? While many options are available, it's important to know the benefits and drawbacks of each procedure.

Currently, there are two types of prenatal tests: screening and diagnostic. Screening tests assess your risk of having a baby with a certain birth defect. These tests can provide you with the basic information you'll need and help you determine if more invasive testing is necessary. Screening tests are routinely offered to women under the age of 35. However, it's important to remember that most screening tests cannot diagnose a birth defect. So if you receive abnormal test results, don't panic. This may simply mean you will need some additional tests, which usually help rule out the problem.

Diagnostic testing, while more invasive, can provide you with nearly definitive results. Unfortunately, some prenatal procedures can carry a very small risk for miscarriage.

If you're a mom-to-be who's over the age of 35, your healthcare provider may recommend diagnostic tests instead of screening because your age puts you at an increased risk of having a baby with birth defects.