Prenatal assessment
Prenatal assessment is when expectant women undergo a procedure through which screening tests are done to find conditions that may put them and the fetuses into complications. These tests are done through blood and urine analysis, screening, and diagnostic tests. Ultrasound, amniocentesis, and chorionic villus are some of the screening tests that are done.
Screening tests have various advantages. Parents can know if their child has any congenital disability allowing an early detection allowing them to receive a successful outcome. It also allows them to ease their anxiety about their baby’s wellbeing since mothers can go on, usually with their pregnancy without worrying. For those whose babies might have genetic disorders, they can seek counseling and make the right decisions on what to do. Prenatal screening tests nowadays are taken by many expectant women in the world, and this has created a significant platform for those who are not educated. They get relevant knowledge from their family members who have gone through screening before. It also allows parents to arrange procedures during and after birth, depending on whether their baby has a condition. If there’s a condition present, they may make plans to fix the problem and also get an idea of the best place to give birth that will have the equipment needed and the right medical personnel.
However, some risks come along with it. Prenatal screening tests may sometimes give uncertain results in some cases. It makes parents unsure about the welfare of their child, and they have to wait until birth to see for themselves. These uncertain results lead to increased anxiety and stress for some mothers, which is not good for them or the baby. Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling tests have a risk of miscarriage, which makes mothers think twice about the tests.
Some mothers may decide not to have these tests due to cases of miscarriage, uncertainty in some tests, and they may also want to avoid stressing about their baby.