Prenatal

The prenatal genetics team provides care for people who are planning a pregnancy, currently pregnant, or are planning recently lost a pregnancy. Genetic counseling (with or without genetic testing) can help patients better understand and prepare for all of these moments in their reproductive healthcare.

Common reasons for referral include

• Advanced gestational age (people who are 35 or older at delivery)
• Personal or family history of a birth defect, genetic  conditiongenetic condition, or intellectual disabilities
• Abnormal prenatal testing results such as maternal serum screeningnon-invasive prenatal screening, ultrasoundserum screening, or carrier screen findings
• Abnormal finding on ultrasound
• Discussion of pan-ethnic and Ethnic-based carrier screening (i.e. sickle cell, cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs)
• Consanguinity (couple is related by blood)
• Exposure to medications, drugs, alcohol, radiation or infections (teratogens)
• Recurrent pregnancy loss or infertility

Tests Available at Boston Medical Center

• First and second trimester maternal serum screening
• Non-invasive prenatal testing via cell-free DNA (NIPT)
• Ultrasound
• Ancestry-based or pan-ethnic carrier screening
• Non-stress tests
• Fetal echocardiogram (performed in Pediatric Cardiology)
• Amniocentesis and CVS (chorionic villus sample)

Appointments

Genetic counseling is available Monday-Friday in Boston Medical Center’s Antenatal Testing Unit, Shapiro 5th Floor.

What to Expect at Your Visit

Please allow 45 minutes to an hour for your initial visit.

The genetic counselor will often start by asking you questions about your pregnancy, medical history, and family history. They do not expect you to have the answer to every question and whatever information you have is typically helpful. They will then review any pertinent prenatal testing results, as well as any potential risk factors to consider. Based upon these risk factors, various prenatal testing options may be discussed. Genetic Counseling is available to all patients. Prenatal testing is optional, and a very personal decision to make based on the risks and benefits testing options present to each individual patient. Even if you do not think you want prenatal testing, a genetics visit can still be helpful in managing your pregnancy. If you do elect to have testing, the genetic counselor will arrange testing and coordinate giving you the results.