Expectant parents often worry that their baby might be born with health problems. While most babies are born healthy, understanding the options available for obtaining valuable information about your unborn baby's health can go a long way toward easing your anxiety.
Prenatal testing includes both screening and diagnostic tests. Screening tests cannot make a definitive diagnosis but, rather, are used to determine whether your baby is more or less likely to have birth defects, many of which are inherited disorders. Screening tests are non-invasive and include blood tests, a specific type of ultrasound, and prenatal cell-free DNA testing.
Diagnostic tests typically are given after a positive result from a screening test. They are more invasive and can carry a slight risk of miscarriage. Learn more about what to expect at each stage of pregnancy, in this guide to the most common prenatal tests and screenings.
