The Wonders of Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a phase in a woman's life that is both frightening and beautiful. It is a time that a woman deeply cherishes, knowing a new life is growing inside her. A new life that is a mini version of herself and her partner. While carrying her baby, she goes through numerous emotions in those nine months. The love a woman develops for her baby during this time is unexplainable. She shares this moment with her partner, who gives her the emotional support and love she deserves for carrying his child.
A father would want to know whether the time and love he invests in the baby is directed in the right direction. Similarly, a woman would like to find out whether the baby she carries belongs to the partner currently supporting her. To clear out any doubts, prenatal genetic testing is now available. It can be done just a few weeks into the pregnancy.
Is DNA Testing Possible in Pregnancy?
Yes, testing the baby's DNA before it is born is possible. The baby's DNA can be tested for multiple reasons. These include the baby's risk of developing genetic diseases, determining the father of the baby, discovering the baby's gender, etc.
Different Options to Opt From
When considering the baby's genetic testing, you can go for invasive or non-invasive tests.
Invasive Tests:
Invasive tests include Amniocentesis and Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS).
In Amniocentesis, the amniotic fluid of the baby is withdrawn with a needle and sent for lab testing.
CVS requires a sample of the placenta of the baby for genetic testing.
Both of these procedures may lead to a miscarriage; hence, they are considered unsafe for genetic sequencing. Likewise, it may pose a health hazard for the mother, causing pain and discomfort.
Non-invasive Tests:
Non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) is changing the dynamics of conventional genetic testing methods. A mother's blood sample is used to extract the baby's DNA. When the mother's blood provides nutrients and clears the waste materials for the baby, the DNA of her baby (coda) may enter the mother's blood. The laboratory extracts the cf DNA of the baby present in the mother's blood and sends it for sequencing, making it an easy and pain-free process. For this reason, invasive tests are becoming obsolete.
Why is There a Need for Paternity Testing?
Paternity testing before birth is beneficial for the parents. It may ease the stress of not knowing the actual father of the unborn child, along with eliminating any suspicions. Likewise, it allows the father to relieve him of the unwanted burdens of someone else's child, financially and emotionally. Or entitle him to the responsibility of his unborn child.
Sometimes, legal cases require you to clear up paternal relationships for inheritance, child support, visitor ship or granting guardianship. Consequently, legal testing and non-legal testing can be carried out.
Paternity Test of an Unborn Child
Non-invasive Prenatal Paternity (NIPP) Test is a modern method of genetic testing currently in use for uncovering the paternal relationship of an unborn baby. It is a convenient and hassle-free method of finding the child's father. In an NIPP test, the DNA of the potential father is taken from a cheek swab or a blood test, and the baby's DNA is extracted from the mother's blood sample. The DNAs are sequenced and matched to determine the probability of a paternal relationship with the child.
DNA Ancestry Testing
Apart from assessing paternal relationships, genetic testing looks into a baby's ancestry. Parents curious about the genetic features that have been transferred to the baby from their ancestors can also get DNA ancestry testing done. This genetic testing will allow the parents to explore their baby's heritage.
Reasons to go for NIPP
The NIPP test is a game-changer in the modern world, enabling a less invasive and pain-free testing of a baby's DNA prenatally. Following are the reasons why you should prefer NIPP test over invasive procedures like CVS:
Convenient
Easy to perform
Less pain and discomfort
Minimum chances of infection
99.99% accuracy
Reliable
Why You Should Get a NIPP Test
Getting a NIPP test can reduce the burden of uncertainty.
Right of inheritance
Claiming of custody rights for legal cases
Peace of mind of the parents
At-Home DNA Test Kits
Home DNA test kits are available for those parents who aren't comfortable with going to a laboratory for genetic testing. Anxious parents can use these kits according to the instructions provided by the testing companies and send these samples to trusted laboratories to get their child's genetic sequencing done. Test results arrive via email, online or by mail in a few weeks.
DNA Testing Services Provided by Face DNA
Face DNA provides both invasive and non-invasive methods for DNA testing. It provides 99.99% precise and accurate results for legal and non-legal objectives. Face DNA also offers authentic legal genetic testing for inheritance, custody, and child support cases. They provide you with genuine and legally approved labs that are acceptable in the eyes of the court. Face DNA furnishes insights into an unborn baby's health by looking for anomalies. Other services offered by Face DNA include the exploration of ancestral lineage.