Northwest Perinatal Center Services
- Pre-pregnancy Counseling - If you are thinking of becoming pregnant and believe you may fall into a high-risk category, let us meet with you to review your high-risk issues, address your concerns, and prepare you for your upcoming pregnancy.
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- Genetic Counseling translates scientific knowledge into practical information. Our clinicians specialize in counseling for chromosomal disorders and genetic screening test options. We work with patients and families to provide counseling for inherited diseases, birth defects, effects of medications on pregnancy, and hereditary cancer screening (such as breast cancer). Our counselors are experienced in helping families understand birth defects and how inheritance works. They provide information that helps families make personal decisions about pregnancy and child care. People who might be especially interested in genetic counseling include:*
- Those who have or are concerned that they might have an inherited disorder or birth defect.
- Women who are pregnant or planning to be after age 34.
- Couples who already have a child with mental retardation, an inherited disorder or a birth defect.
- Couples whose infant has a genetic disease diagnosed by routine newborn screening.
- Women who have had two or more miscarriages or babies who died in infancy.
- People concerned that their jobs, lifestyles or medical history may pose a risk to pregnancy, including exposure to radiation, medications, chemicals, infection or drugs.
- Couples who would like testing or more information about genetic defects that occur frequently in their ethnic group.
- Couples who are first cousins or other close blood relatives.
- Pregnant women who, based on ultrasound tests or blood screening tests, have been told their pregnancy may be at increased risk for complications or birth defects.
* Information provided by the March of Dimes
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- Prenatal Diagnosis is the process of determining early in pregnancy whether a fetus is affected by certain disorders. Currently, more than 300 different fetal disorders can be detected during pregnancy. Among these are chromosomal abnormalities (such as Down's syndrome) and single gene disorders (such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Tay-Sachs disease). Because a simple screening test for all prenatally detectable diseases is not currently available, laboratory tests are specifically chosen to rule out disorders for which your fetus might be at risk. In such cases, prenatal diagnosis may likely be determined from the amniocentesis. Additional diagnoses can be made from ultrasound studies. Who should consider Prenatal Diagnosis? Women who:
- have had a previous child or fetus with a chromosome abnormality, such as Down's syndrome.
- are carriers of a known chromosomal disorder. This also applies if the father is a carrier.
- have had a positive maternal serum screening result.
- have a birth defect, such as a heart defect repaired as a child.
High-risk parents receive genetic counseling, targeted ultrasound, and amniocentesis, if appropriate, as part of our comprehensive service.
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- Ultrasound - Ultrasonography uses sophisticated equipment to produce and analyze sound waves. During your ultrasound examination, a smooth probe which emits sound waves into the body is placed on the abdomen or in some cases into the vagina. The sound waves are reflected back and an image of the fetus is displayed on a monitor screen. Light pressure is the only sensation felt during the examination. Fetal measurements made by the ultrasonographer help determine the size and age of the pregnancy. Some major birth defects may be detected by this technique. Follow-up studies have not shown any harmful effects of appropriately used ultrasound.
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- Amniocentesis involves the withdrawal of a small amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus using a very thin needle. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and requires only a few minutes. Ultrasound is used throughout the entire procedure to monitor the progress and to optimize safety. Patients can return to normal activity the day after the procedure.
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- First Trimester Screening is a recent innovation, and Northwest Perinatal Center is one of the early implementers of this new technology. This screening test for chromosomal abnormalities, particularly Down's syndrome, involves an ultrasound measurement of an area on the fetal neck (nuchal translucency) combined with a maternal blood test. This test is done near the end of the first trimester and offers the advantage of earlier assessment of patient risk and higher detection rates compared to the standard second trimester ultrasound screening and blood tests. This test allows women who are traditionally considered to be low risk (under 35 years old) to participate in screening, as well as to decrease the number of invasive tests that would typically be done in women over 35 years.
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