How Can Prenatal Screening Help Your Health

Over 70% of pregnant women in United States undergo routine screening for their unborn children to check for conditions like Down syndrome, spinal cord defects and other genetic conditions. With prenatal screening, it can serve as an important tool to help your doctor determine, before birth, whether your fetus has any genetic disorders or congenital anomalies. Prenatal screening can also help mothers by detecting conditions like:

• Placenta previa – A condition in which the placenta is too close to the cervix to allow for a safe vaginal delivery. Women with placenta previa are at a heightened risk of hemorrhaging, particularly during childbirth.
• Preeclampsia – A unique pregnancy disorder in which the expectant mother has continuous high blood pressure. This disorder can lead to stroke, kidney and liver damage, fluid in the lungs and seizures.

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