Ways to Test Paternity During Pregnancy
Nothing is more exciting than to find out you are carrying a new baby! This brings all sorts of joy and happiness into the lives of the expectant mother, as it well should. However, in too many cases, the joy is tempered by doubt when it comes to the father’s identity. It is for these mothers-to-be that a paternity test while pregnant may take on a totally new significance.
Prenatal paternity testing is not only possible, it is more commonly conducted than most people realize. Everyone knows that paternity testing can be done on people of all ages, but testing for paternity while the baby is still in utero used to sound like something out of a science fiction movie. This has become a very handy way of heading off problems once the baby is actually born.
Do They Test Genetics?
There are two ways to conduct a paternity test while you are pregnant: Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, commonly known as CVS.
Chorionic villus sampling can be conducted as early as 10 weeks into the pregnancy and up to 14 weeks. This procedure involves a doctor inserting a thin needle through either the cervix or abdomen of the pregnant mother to collect a sample of the chorionic villi, or placenta tissue. The fertilized egg is responsible for creating both the baby and the tissue of the placenta and, therefore, carries the DNA needed to perform the testing.
Amniocentesis has been used for years to test fetuses for any problems or disorders as well as the sex of the baby. So it is little wonder that it can also be used as a paternity test while pregnant. Using an ultrasound as a guide, a doctor will insert a thin needle into the abdomen to reach the uterus. This needle is used to collect a sample of amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby. DNA is present in this fluid and can be used for paternity testing. Amniocentesis cannot be performed until 14th or 15th week of pregnancy, and even then, there are some risks. These include an increased risk of miscarriage, vaginal bleeding, and cramping as well as amniotic fluid leading.
How does a Prenatal Paternity Test Work?
There are some laboratories that offer non-invasive DNA testing for pregnant women. They claim that they can get everything they need just by taking a sample of the mother’s blood. However, this type of paternity testing has not been sanctioned by the AABB as producing reliable results. So, while it may seem easier, cheaper and less risky, this method is also the most questionable one.
Pregnant women in need of paternity testing before child birth need to be sure to seek the guidance of their doctors before committing to any type of procedure. In addition, they both require a doctor’s signature before they can be conducted. The reason for this is that the tests do contain slight risks and should be performed only in the event that the identity of the father is vital to a serious situation. Some valid reasons for a paternity test while pregnant include proving paternity, pregnancy from a rape or incest, or if the possible father may carry a devastating genetic problem that will be passed onto the baby. While there may be many reasons for needing this information, testing before birth should only happen in the most serious of circumstances.