In your opinion, why should prenatal testing be routine for all pregnant women?
I think prenatal testing is extremely important and should be routine for all pregnant women. There are so many diseases and conditions that babies can be born with, and it is such a miracle when a baby is born healthy. If some simple prenatal tests can help bring a healthy baby into the world then those tests need to be performed. Most birth defects occur within the first trimester of pregnancy and risk factors that increase the chances of having birth defects include previous children with birth defects, certain medications used during conception, diabetes and women over age 35 when the baby is due (Alexander, et al., 2010). Simple tests such as lab tests and sonograms can help reveal abnormalities with a pregnancy or with the baby and some of these abnormalities may be treatable. Other advanced testing such as an amniocentesis can help detect more complex abnormalities such as Down's Sydrome. Hopefully the tests would be conclusive that the baby is going to be healthy but if results are abnormal then parents would need support to make important decisions regarding their baby's future. Prenatal testing can help give parents information on their baby so they can plan for the future. If a baby is going to be born with a syndrome then a least the parents can find out in advance and be prepared. There are even women's clinics that perform testing for free or low costs for those that have no insurance and can't afford to see a physician. With all of the medical advances that are available now there is really no reason not to have routine prenatal testing performed.
References
Alexander, L., et al., (2010). Pregnancy and Childbirth. New Dimensions in Women's Health(p.145.). Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
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I completely agree with you, Jennifer. The information is available to any and everyone who seeks it out. Doctors can find anomalies even earlier than years ago. Once the doctors find something critical, the parents can be given a choice. They can either choose to deal with whatever problems the child may have, or they may choose to terminate the pregnancy. Often times, terminating the pregnancy prevents any serious problems from occurring with the child or even the mother. We have advanced technology, we should not be afraid to use it!
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, if we as a world leader in medicine cannot provide simple prenatal testing to all pregnant women, what kind of example are we setting for other countries? Especially with simple lab work that can be done early in pregnancy at little or no cost to the mother? I feel as though we should set a good example for others to follow. Prenatal testing is just one way of insuring the health of a baby.