Modern methods of research make it possible to determine the state of his health at the chromosomal level - even in the mother's womb. What are the advantages of prenatal diagnosis, does it imply risks for the health of the mother and the unborn child? An antenatal study of the future baby will allow mom to feel confident that her baby is healthy.
Prenatal screening of pregnant women
Any family expecting a child is in trouble and doubt. To dispel them, to reassure future parents, prenatal screening is possible in time and consciously conducted. What it is? For doctors, the word "prenatal" is denoted by the term "prenatal". "Screening" comes from English to screen and translates as "sifting". This method of diagnosis has been used in the world for the last 25 years. Its essence is to select from the number of pregnant women precisely those who need a more thorough prenatal survey. At the chromosome level, the method allows you to specify: what is the state of health of your unborn baby? Screening is primarily aimed at preventing the most common congenital pathologies: Down's disease, neural tube defects (hydrocephalus, spinal cord hernia, etc.), anterior abdominal wall injuries, congenital heart diseases, kidneys and some other less frequent abnormalities the fetus. Why does Down's disease come first in this list?
Because among newborns it occurs most often, its frequency in Ukraine and Russia is one case for 750 - 800 births. An antenatal study of a baby's future helps fight the disease at an early stage.
Any pregnant woman who cares about the question: Is my child healthy? Pregnant, deliberately rejecting the intervention in the body - and own and the child, or those who will not interrupt the pregnancy, even if there are serious abnormalities in the health of the baby.
Most violations in the development of an unborn baby can be detected only after 11 weeks of pregnancy.
When conducting screening in the first trimester (up to 14 weeks), the diagnostic accuracy is approximately 90%, and in the second (15-16 weeks) - 60%.
In order to fully verify the presence of a chromosomal malfunction in a child, an invasive procedure should be performed immediately (methods for more thorough diagnosis, including medical intervention in the mother and child), even without screening results. The normal result is not a 100% guarantee for the birth of a healthy baby. Why do you need a computer calculation?
Evaluation of the results of the pre-natal study of the baby's future and screening without computer calculation of the risk of childbirth with chromosomal abnormalities is not informative. Unfortunately, some patients take tests in laboratories and come to the doctor with the results without calculating the risk. In such a situation, it is impossible to assess whether a mother is at risk.
And it's not dangerous?
Methods of screening and prenatal study of the future baby are absolutely safe research. Screening is carried out at different times of pregnancy. At present, it is clearly proven that prenatal screening for chromosomal diseases in the first trimester of pregnancy is most effective, from 11 to 14 weeks. By the way, the gestational age should be evaluated not from the expected date of conception, but from the first day of the last month. All screening indicators are entered into a special computer program, which also includes the age of the woman, her weight, the history of previous pregnancies and childbirth. After this, the computer program calculates the individual risk of having a child with chromosomal abnormalities. And if it is high, such physicians can recommend such more accurate methods for determining the chromosome set of the fetus: a chorionic villus biopsy, amniocentesis with amniotic fluid and cordocentesis (in this case, examine the umbilical cord blood of the baby).
What method of diagnosis and prenatal study of the future baby choose?
Study of villus chorion (future placenta). It is carried out from 10 weeks of pregnancy. Allows to determine the presence / absence of disease in the early stages. High risk of abortion (2 - 3%). Patients with a high risk of having a child with chromosomal abnormalities.
Diagnostic Amniocentesis
It is carried out at 16-17 weeks of pregnancy. Fetal cells "floating" in the amniotic fluid are examined. The procedure is the safest for maintaining pregnancy, the risk of abortion does not exceed 0.2%. A sufficiently long period of pregnancy. It takes 2-3 weeks to get the result.
Patients with an average risk of having a child with chromosomal abnormalities.
Who is recommended cordocentesis
Fetal blood test. It is held not earlier than 20 weeks. Efficiency of obtaining the result is optimal even in late pregnancy. A high risk of complications, therefore, is rarely used. Mothers with a high risk of having a child with chromosomal abnormalities.
How dangerous are the invasive interventions and prenatal study of the future baby for the mother and baby?
Numerous studies confirm the safety of these procedures, provided that the doctor is highly qualified and there are no contraindications at the time of the study. If, during pregnancy, complications occur, the doctor refuses to carry out manipulations.