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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.
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