(KUTV) There are a lot of things you should think about before and during pregnancy.

For example, is there a risk of passing on an inheritable disease to your baby?

There are genetic tests that can help answer this question, but you don’t necessarily need one.

Women do have choices during their pregnancy, and one choice is genetic counseling.

Genetic counseling is good if you want to know if your child has a birth defect, or downs syndrome before they are born, or if you want to know if there is any risk of you passing on an inheritable disease to your baby.

Genetic counseling should be considered by couples who have abnormal results from prenatal testing, or by couples who already have a child with a birth defect or a genetic disorder.

Women over 35 years old should talk to their doctors as well.

If you are interested in talking to a genetic counselor, just ask your obstetrician.

For more information on genetic counseling, go to http://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/genetics/learn/Pages/GeneticCounseling.aspx

(Copyright 2013 Sinclair Broadcasting Group)
Genetic Counseling