| -> | | | | by performing in-utero test. The doctor will generally |
| When should I be worried? | | | | ask for an alphafeto-protein (AFP) test before asking |
| How are fetal abnormalities detected? | | | | the mother to undergo amniocentesis. Once |
| Can blood tests detect birth defects? | | | | deformities in the baby have been diagnosed, the |
| What tests detect congenital diseases? | | | | difficult decision of whether to keep the baby or |
| When should I be worried about congenital diseases? | | | | terminate the pregnancy has to be made. |
| Your baby has a higher chance of having congenital | | | | Can birth defects be detected with regular blood |
| disease if he falls in any of the three reasons given | | | | tests? |
| below. Note that there could be many other reasons | | | | Studies have shown that 90 % of birth defects |
| for congenital diseases also.o Congenital diseases in | | | | cannot be detected through prenatal blood tests. In |
| the previous babyo History of congenital anomalies in | | | | order to isolate the remaining 10 % of the identifiable |
| the family which are likely to be repeatedo Maternal | | | | birth defects, there are four main types of tests: |
| age is above 35, then there is a higher chance of the | | | | amniocentesis, chorionic villi sampling, certain blood |
| baby getting Down's syndrome | | | | tests, like the Alphafeto-Protein (AFP) test, and |
| How are abnormalities in the baby detected? | | | | ultrasound scans. |
| Down's syndrome (more common in women over 35) | | | | What tests can detect congenital diseases? |
| and many other genetic disorders can be diagnosed | | | | |