Making a choice
Prenatal screening is not required. It is up to you to decide if you want to have a screening test.
Would you like more information about screening tests during pregnancy?
Then you can have a long talk with the midwife (counseling). This is usually before week 12 of pregnancy. This talk is to help you make a decision about the screening tests. You will get the information you need to decide, and you can ask any questions you may have.
Here are some questions to consider beforehand:
- How much do you want to know about your child during pregnancy?
- If you are told that your child has a chromosomal or physical abnormality, what do you want to do?
Preparation
You can already think about how you feel about screening tests for abnormalities. You could write down any questions you have and bring them with you to the midwife.
Bring someone with you
Sometimes it is good to have another person along to make sure you get all the information you need. You can always bring someone with you to talk to the midwife. It is better not to bring children along, though. It is easier to talk without interruptions.