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Pregnant in your 30s? One needs to detect the birth defects!

Pregnant in your 30s? One needs to detect the birth defects! (Image Credit: ISTOCK)
Why are birth defects screening necessary?
Birth defects can range from small circumstances to serious complications that affect the heart, brain or other vital organs of the child. Some conditions, if implied early, can be managed with medical intervention, while others may require special postpartum care.
Major screening tests during pregnancy
Dr. Malliya states that screening tests are performed in different stages of pregnancy, playing an important role in detecting each abnormalities. Here are primary:
1. Joint screening test (first quarter)
This early screening is usually performed between 11 to 14 weeks of pregnancy. It adds:
- Blood tests: The hormones and protein levels detect hormones and protein levels to assess the risk of chromosomal abnormalities such as down syndrome.
- Nucle Translance (NT) scan: An ultrasound that measures fluid behind the childâs neck, which may indicate a potential chromosome or heart defects.
Dr. Mallaiya shared, âJoint screening test is a standard process for most pregnant women and helps quickly identify high -risk cases.â
2. Discrepancy scan (second quarter)
Operated between 18 and 22 weeks, the discrepancy scan is a wide ultrasound that examines the childâs organs, including the heart, brain, kidneys, and spine.
- This scan helps detect conditions such as spina bifida, congenital heart defects and gastrointestinal abnormalities.
- If a heart defect is suspected, the fetus can provide a clear picture of the echocardiography status.
Dr. âAnomalous scan is one of the most important tests, as it allows doctors to plan intervention if needed and ensure the best care for the child.â
3. Nonvacious Prankal Testing (NIPT)
NIPT is a state -of -the -art blood test analyzes the DNA of the fetus in the motherâs blood to examine chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patao syndrome.
- This is usually recommended for high -risk pregnancies, especially for more than 35 mothers or for people with family history of genetic disorders.
- Since it is noninvasive, it is no risk for the child.
4. Invasive confirmation test
If screening tests indicate a high risk of abnormalities, doctors may recommend confirmation clinical trials such as:
- Amaniosantisis: A small sample of amniotic fluid is taken to examine genetic conditions.
- Corionic Willus Sampling (CVS): Testing placental tissue to detect chromosomal abnormalities.
These tests are usually provided to women with high -risk pregnancies or people who had a previous child with birth defects.
What should parents do?
If the screening test shows a possible issue, do not panic. Screening tests indicate the level of risk, not a certain diagnosis. Further confirmation can help determine the exact nature of the test position.