Antenatal Screening

Pregnancy is a very exhilarating time, and being a natural function of a healthy body, it is usually embarked upon with few anxieties for the mothers' or baby's health and well-being. There are still however, some serious problems that can affect a small number of babies and pregnancies alike. You may be aware of a hereditary disorder in your family (or his), and Down's syndrome or Spina bifida, have probably crossed your thoughts, in which case such tests will be gladly received as a way of reassurance or of preparing yourself to contend with a sick or disabled baby, or may even play a necessary part in making a difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy.

Many of the tests described aren't always necessary and are usually only offered to women who are thought to be at risk of carrying a handicapped child, such as those over the age of 35, or with a family history of a particular genetic disorder. All screening tests are performed as early in the pregnancy as possible, some however cannot be done until 16 weeks, and, if there are specific worries, this can be a frustrating time to wait. The most important thing to bear in mind is that the chances of having a handicapped baby are minimal - only about two percent of babies born in South Africa are handicapped.

	Ultrasound Scanning
	Amniocentesis
	Alpha feto protein Test (AFP)
	Chorionic Villus Sampling