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Prenatal Counseling

Center for Women's Health Our Services Prenatal Counseling

Center for Women's Health

OB-GYNs located in Wichita, KS

Suppose you have a higher-than-usual risk of having a child with a genetic condition or birth defect. In that case, you could benefit from prenatal counseling offered by the expert OBGYN team at the Center for Women’s Health. The counseling helps you understand your risks and how to handle the information about the health of your child. Call the Wichita, Kansas, office today to set up your appointment, or use the website to schedule online. 

Prenatal Counseling Q & A

What is prenatal counseling?

Prenatal counseling, sometimes called prenatal genetic counseling, is a service offered by the Center for Women’s Health. The OBGYN providers can help you understand:

  • How likely it might be that your child would have a genetic disorder
  • What tests are available to look for genetic defects or disorders
  • Whether you would like to have these tests run

If either partner has a family history of genetic disorders, your OBGYN may recommend you have testing performed before you get pregnant. These genetic tests are also available to test a fetus. 

Why would I need prenatal counseling?

Prenatal counseling is completely optional. But some people who are at a greater risk of having a baby with a genetic condition or defect may seriously consider it. These include couples who:

  • Have family members or children with genetic or birth defects
  • Are of certain descents, including Eastern European Jewish, African-American, or Southeast Asian or Mediterranean origin
  • Have had three or more miscarriages

If the woman trying to get pregnant was exposed to toxins known to cause birth defects or has an underlying condition, like diabetes, the fetus could be impacted, and prenatal counseling is highly recommended. 

Women older than 35 or who have an abnormal result on a pregnancy screening or unusual results in an ultrasound also benefit.

What information does prenatal counseling provide?

If you have prenatal genetic testing prior to conception, it can only give you the odds that your child will have a specific defect. If you’re already pregnant, additional tests can tell you if the baby actually has the defect. 

What you do with the information is incredibly personal. The OBGYN providers at the Center for Women’s Health can help you prepare for a child with a genetic problem, find treatment for the child once they’re born, or decide if you continue with the pregnancy. 

These are incredibly difficult issues, and the team at the Center for Women’s Health handles them with the utmost compassion and respect for your personal beliefs and values.

Find out more about prenatal counseling by calling the Center for Women’s Health office or reaching out via the online link. 

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