One of the most important goals of our physicians is to provide you with information that is educational and understandable. With this, we can help you make decisions that are best for you and your pregnancy.

All patients considering prenatal testing and diagnosis or prenatal screening participate in a genetic counseling session. During a session, one of our board-certified genetic counselors gathers your medical, pregnancy and family genetic histories. With this information, the genetic counselor can determine whether you are at an increased risk for having a baby with certain types of birth defects.

If your pregnancy is considered at an increased risk, the counselor will explain why and will thoroughly answer all of your questions. The counselor will then discuss your options for prenatal testing, including the risks, benefits and limitations of each test. A prenatal test can determine whether or not a fetus is affected with a certain birth defect or genetic abnormality and, in most cases, the type of abnormality. It is important to note that testing is not available for every genetic abnormality or birth defect. In most cases, patients are reassured that their fetus does not have a defect or abnormality. In cases where problem is diagnosed, the counselors work closely with you and your physician to help you make informed decisions.