The OB-Gyn's Advantage

Recommendations

A prenatal screening looks at DNA from your baby’s placenta through a sample of your Surrogate’s blood.

Test purpose

This test is used to identify whether she’s at an increased risk of giving birth to a child with a genetic disorder. However, NIPT cannot definitively determine whether your baby has a chromosomal disorder, only the likelihood of having a certain condition.

Prescriptions

While an NIPT test can’t tell for sure whether your baby has a genetic abnormality, it’s highly accurate. It’s 97 to 99 percent accurate for detecting the following common conditions:

• Down Syndrome
• Trisomy 18
• Spina bifida

Recommendations

This test offers early information about a baby’s risk of Down Syndrome (trisomy 21) and extra sequences of chromosome 18 (trisomy 18).

Test purpose

Since first-trimester screening can be done earlier than most other tests, you’ll have the results early in the pregnancy. This will give you more time to decide whether or not further testing is needed, map out a plan for the rest of the pregnancy, and get any medical treatment if needed.

Results

If your baby is at high risk for Down Syndrome and you decide to continue the pregnancy, you’ll have more time to prepare for the possibility of caring for a child who has special needs.

Recommendations

The nuchal translucency scan (also called an NT scan) uses ultrasound to assess your developing baby’s risk of having Down Syndrome (DS-trisomy 21), congenital heart problems, and other chromosomal abnormalities.

Test purpose

Other conditions may include: Patau (trisomy 13) and Edwards (trisomy 18) syndromes. These are rare and often fatal chromosomal abnormalities. The test is typically performed alongside the First Trimester Screening blood test.

Recommendations

A maternal blood screen that is similar to the Triple Screen Test (also known as AFP Plus and the Multiple Marker Screening). However, the quad screen looks for not only AFP, hCG, and Estriol, but a fourth substance known as Inhibin-A.

Test purpose

A quad screen is used to evaluate whether the baby has an increased chance of having Down Syndrome or neural tube defects. The test also identifies the following:

• Trisomy 18
• Spina bifida
• Abdominal wall defects

Recommendations

This test is recommended in all IVF/ICSI pregnancies in accordance with recent American Heart Association practice guidelines.

Test purpose

Testing will improve prenatal diagnosis, management, and referral of the affected pregnancies for delivery and prenatal/postnatal interventions, with the goal of improving outcomes.

Specialist

This test is typically performed by a specially trained ultrasound sonographer and the images are interpreted by a pediatric cardiologist who specializes in fetal congenital heart disease. Some maternal-fetal medicine specialists (Perinatologist) also perform fetal echocardiograms.

Prescriptions

A limited evaluation of the fetal heart is possible during regular obstetric scanning and is appropriate for women at low risk. However, women who have one of the risk factors, such as a pregnancy conceived through IVF should have a detailed echocardiogram performed by a physician who is specially trained in fetal cardiac evaluation.