The chorionic villus is what will eventually become the placenta. CVS tests the cells in the tissue for genetic abnormalities. It can tell many – not all – of the types of things that an amniocentesis (What is amniocentesis?) can, but it is done earlier, leaving parents with more time to decide if they will carry the pregnancy.

If you click on the TV screen below, you can watch a video that discusses what CVS looks for, how it’s done and who should have it:

~~~~

Image: iStock.com

Tags: pregnancy blog, chorionic villus sampling, pregancy, genetic abnormalities, amniocentesis

Post from: Blisstree

Should you have chorionic villus sampling?

Testing for genetic disorders, like Down’s syndrome, are fairly easy to get in the developed world. It was thought that once women were able to tell if their children had these genetic abnormalities, that there would be more decisions to terminate the pregnancies, to have abortions. But, according to an article on BBC News, Down’s births rise despite tests, this isn’t happening.

The article tells of a survey done with 1000 parents. They were asked why they went ahead with their pregnancy despite being told their child had tested positive for Down’s. The article said, "A fifth said they had known somebody with Down’s, a third cited religious or anti-abortion beliefs and 30% felt life had improved for people with Down’s. Almost one in five said they simply did not believe the results of the test. Most respondents said they felt supported by their family and friends and considered that the future was far better today for those with Down’s syndrome."

I think I’ve mentioned this before, maybe I haven’t. I have a brother with Down’s. He’s 31 years old now and probably has the mental capacity of a 5 year old. He’s not my biological brother. He came to our family when he was 3 months old after having been abandoned and he just never left. He is a sweetie, a complete sweetie, who needs a lot of love and supervision.

He stayed with my own family here for a month a couple of years ago, when both my parents were hospitalized at the same time. And, to tell you the truth, he exhausted me. He takes care of himself physically and he does so very well. He even has a part time job at a local daycare where he cleans toys and other things. He adores his job and he’s been doing it for years now. After a month of staying with us, he was able to go home. I missed him, but I also needed the break.

My parents and I have discussed what will happen to him when they die. We all agree that he won’t come live with my family full time, but he’s more than welcome to stay with us on some weekends, at holidays, and even just for dinner sometimes. I think that having him in our lives, especially with the month he stayed with us, taught my own family a few things. There was one evening when my daughter and I were having a disagreement. Unknown to me, my brother went upstairs to speak with her later, telling her that she shouldn’t speak to me that way. I don’t know who was more shocked, my daughter or me!

In my work as a nurse, I’ve worked with disabled children, and while all have their special and unique personalities, there’s something very special about children and adults with Down’s syndrome. So, part of me is pleased to read that the expected abortions aren’t happening. While children – and adults – with Down’s syndrome will always be limited in what they can do and the extent of the limitations range widely from person to person, they bring such a richness to life. They bring a special something to life that can’t be gotten anywhere else.

~~~~

Tags: pregnancy blog, down’s syndrome, genetic abnormality, genetic testing, prenatal testing, prenatal test

Post from: Blisstree

Prenatal test says Down’s – would you believe it?

Most women who become pregnant over the age of 35 years are advised to undergo testing to see if their baby has the extra chromosome that causes the syndrome. Undergoing an amniocentesis, a test that removes amniotic fluid for analysis (What is amniocentesis?) does have a small risk of miscarriage, so the test itself can be a tough decision.

Click here to read more.

~~~~

Tags: pregnancy blog, amniocentesis, DNA test, test for down syndrome, downs syndrome, down syndrome, test for downs syndrome, sarah palin, governor sarah palin, trig palin, sarah palin

Post from: Blisstree

Researchers working on blood test to detect Down syndrome

CVS is done as early as 10 weeks. It can be done through the abdomen, like an amniocentesis, or through the cervix. It is often recommended over amniocentesis because it can be done earlier, up to 4 weeks earlier (10 weeks versus 14 weeks). However, there was a long-standing concern that CVS carried with it an increased chance of miscarriage.

A new study, published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, has found that CVS did not increase the risk of miscarriage. The researchers looked at over 5000 women who had CVS and 4800 who didn’t. Those who had CVS had a miscarriage rate of 2.7% and those who didn’t have the procedure had a rate of 3.3% The researchers did point out, however, that some groups of women have a higher , such as African-American women.

How is CVS done?

CVS is a procedure that allows the doctor to remove a small piece of placenta tissue for examination. First, an abdominal ultrasound is done so the doctor can determine where the placenta and the baby are, as well as the gestational sac – the sac that surrounds the baby and holds the amniotic fluid.

If you are having the procedure through your cervix, the transcervical approach, the doctor will insert a small catheter (plastic tube) in through your cervix to reach the placenta. This is how the placenta tissue is removed.

If you are having the procedure through the abdomen, the transabdominal approach, the doctor will insert a needle through the abdomen and by using the ultrasound images, will guide the needle to the placenta to take a tissue sample.

Most often, you would be asked to return in 48 hours or so for a repeat ultrasound to double check that everything is ok.

~~~~

Tags: pregnancy blog, chorionic villus sampling, CVS for genetic testing, amniocentesis, placenta

Post from: Blisstree

Chorionic villus sampling no riskier than amniocentesis

Don’t forget your chance (to Aug. 30) to win a 50.00 Amazon.com gift card and a 3-pack parenting/pregnancy book set/

Gonorrhea? Did you really see that on your blood test requisition? Isn’t gonorrhea also “the clap“? Yes – and yes. And yes, that means it’s a sexually transmitted disease. If you’re shocked about being tested – don’t be. You’re not being singled out because it’s actually a routine blood test for pregnant women in North America.

According to statistics, more than 700,000 people in the United States are infected with gonorrhea each year. That number tends to shock a lot of people because many thought that the disease was pretty well non-existent now.

Click here to read more and to see how this can seriously affect your baby.

~~~

Tags: pregnancy blog, gonorrhea, the clap, gonorrhea during pregnancy

Post from: Blisstree

Did you really see “gonorrhea” on that blood test requisition?

What types of tests you have depend on if they are routine (done on all pregnant women), your age, your health, and if there are any factors that may contribute to problems with either your pregnancy or your baby.

Lab Tests Online has this informative page on the different types of blood tests that are and may be done on pregnant women, and it lists the reasons why they may be done.

~~~~

Tags: pregnancy blog, blood tests while pregnant, prenatal tests, blood tests, prenatal testing

Post from: Blisstree

Wondering about all the prenatal tests?

1. Video: Caesarian section

2. Video: Chorionic villus sampling

3. Video: What is amniocentesis?

4. Video: Fetal ultrasound

5. Video: What are doctors looking for with ultrasounds?

6. Want to make your own heating pad/rice bag?

7. Video: month 7 of pregnancy

8. Video: month 8 of pregnancy – you’re getting there!

9. Video: weeks 33 to 36 – the first half of month 9

10. Video: weeks 37 to 40 (or 42!)

~~~~

Post from: Blisstree

10 must-watch pregnancy-related videos

Was I mean putting coffee here? Some women really miss their coffee while they’re pregnant, while with others, it doesn’t bother them.

C is also for:

 Cervical incompetence: Sounds like we’ve done something naughty! But cervical incompetence is not something that women can do anything about. It’s the cervix that is unable to remain closed during pregnancy, keeping the woman at risk from miscarrying or delivering prematurely. In some cases, obstetricians can stitch the cervix closed until it’s almost time to go into labor or mothers with this problem could be put on bedrest.

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS): This test is done for many of the same reasons as amniocentesis – to check chromosomes for genetic abnormalities., but can be done earlier (as early as 8 weeks of pregnancy). There is a slightly higher risk of miscarrying after CVS than after amniocentesis but many women choose to have the CVS if there are genetic diseases in their family because if they choose to end the pregnancy, they can do so earlier than if they wait for amniocentesis.

Contractions: Contractions are the intense feeling that is felt when you go into labor. Many women say they are like very strong menstrual cramps.

Caesarian section: Women can have their babies vaginally or by Caesarian section (C-section). Although most C-sections seem to be done with an epidural now instead of a general anesthetic, it is still major abdominal surgery.

Image: iStock

~~~~~

Post from: Blisstree

ABCs of pregnancy: C is for…

A is for astronaut. Would you want your child to be one? I really don’t think I’d be thrilled about that career choice. I mean, it’s hard enough to let them go to the other side of the world sometimes, but to let them go out of this world? Yikes.

Anyway, for our purposes today, A is also for:

Amniocentesis: This is a test that allows doctors to evaluate the amniotic fluid, for genetic problems and to check if the baby is in distress. Here is some information on the amniocentesis:

• What is amniocentesis?
• Video: What is amniocentesis?

Amniotic fluid: When your baby is in your uterus, it is floating in and is protected by a fluid called amniotic fluid. Your baby will breathe this fluid in and out of his or her lungs in the womb helping the lungs to grow as well.

Apgar: When your baby is born, he or she will be quickly evaluated by a nurse who will calculate the Apgar score. This stands for:

• Appearance (skin color)
• Pulse (heart rate)
• Grimace (reaction to stimuli)
• Activity (muscle tone)
• Respiration (breathing)

The baby is assigned a score from 0 to 2 for each. A perfect Apgar score is 9 or 10. The baby is evaluated at one minute after birth and then again five minutes later.

Image: NASA

~~~~~~

Post from: Blisstree

ABCs of pregnancy: A is for…

The biggest problem with an ectopic pregnancy is most women don’t know they have one until it bursts, causing internal bleeding. According to this article, however, scientists may be close to a test to tell if there is an ectopic pregnancy: Ectopic pregnancy test which could save women’s fertility ‘within a year’.

~~~~~

Post from: Blisstree

Researchers working on test for ectopic pregnancies