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CTV.ca News Staff

Scientists are investigating whether ultrasound scans during pregnancy may harm the brains of unborn babies.

The move follows a U.S. study which showed the developing offspring of pregnant mice suffered brain abnormalities when they were exposed to ultrasound waves.

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Sheryl’s comment

Some natural advocates recommend avoiding prenatal ultrasound altogether because of both the known and the unknown risks. Why subject to your child to damage that you might find out about twenty years from now?

I am torn on the issue quite honestly and I am not sure whether I will choose to have a prenatal ultrasound if I am fortunate enough to have another child. For the most part I believe they are totally useless. Gestational age is only an issue for the providers who are trying to make money off of your labor and delivery. If you are choosing a natural childbirth then the baby will arrive when he or she is quite ready.

I am aware however, that certain conditions like placenta previa can be life threatening for both the mother and the baby and that this type of condition would legitimately necessitate a C-section. Ultrasound is the best way to diagnose this condition and because it is potentially fatal, I think I would personally get one (and only one) very short ultrasound. Naturally I reserve the right to change my mind.

I once knew a woman who had access to unlimited ultrasounds because her husband happened to work in radiology and managed to sneak her in. She had an irrational fear of her children being born with a cleft palate. I am quite certain that she would not have aborted in either event, but the fact remains that she repeatedly exposed her helpless babies to damaging ultrasound rays because of her own vain and quite insane preoccupations. She brags about the countless ultrasounds she received during all of her pregnancies. This is what we are adamantly against. We are supposed to protect our children at all costs.

Check out The Center for Unhindered Living’s guide to prenatal care. She has a great list of common prenatal tests and why they are largely unnecessary. It is also arguably the best resource on the web for do-it-yourself prenatal care.

read full story at Babble.com

This is a sweet and moving story about a woman who becomes pregnant for the first time in her mid thirties. While it is very touching, the majority of the article focuses on the prenatal tests that she is “required” to take before she can enjoy her pregnancy or tell anyone about it.

Please understand that none of the tests are “required”. They are scare tactics plain and simple. If you are a healthy female with a good diet and a minimum level of fitness then for the love of God, don’t let them stick a needle in your womb! Think of your baby. Trust your instincts. It just does not make any sense. These “diagnostic tests” are only for parents who will chose to abort a fetus that does not meet their criteria for joining their family. If you will not hold your prospective child to such high standards, then refuse the tests. You have every right to do so and your baby will thank you.

A paternity test is conducted to prove paternity, that is, whether a man is the biological father of another individual. This may be relevant in view of rights and duties of the father. A maternity test can also be carried out but this is much less common, because except in the case of a pregnancy involving embryo transfer or egg donation, it is obvious who the mother is.

Older methods of paternity testing have included ABO blood group typing, analysis of various other proteins and enzymes, or using HLA antigens. For the most part however, DNA has all but taken over all the other forms of testing.

The DNA of an individual is almost exactly the same in each and every somatic cell. >Sexual reproduction brings the DNA of both parents together randomly to create a unique combination of genetic material in a new cell, so the genetic material of an individual is derived from the genetic material of their parents. This genetic material is known as the nuclear genome of the individual, because it is found in the nucleus.

Comparing the DNA sequence of an individual to that of another individual can show if one of them was derived from the other or not. Specific sequences are usually looked at to see if they were copied verbatim from one of the individuals genome to the other. If that was the case, then this proves that the genetic material of one individual was derived from that of the other (i.e.: one is the parent of the other). Besides the nuclear DNA in the nucleus, the mitochondria in the cells also have their own genetic material termed the mitochondrial genome. Mitochondrial DNA comes only from the mother, without any shuffling.

Proving a relationship based on comparison of the mitochondrial genome is much easier than that based on the nuclear genome. However, testing the mitochondrial genome can only prove if two individuals are related by common descent through maternal lines only from a common ancestor and is thus of limited value (for instance, it could not be used to test for paternity).

Non-paternity rates
Meta-analysis of a wide variety of genetic studies appears to show that the rates of non-paternity in the general population are on the order of 4% [1] to over 30%, depending on the social group involved. Many find these rates surprisingly high.

How is DNA Used in Paternity Testing?
Certain regions of human DNA show variations between people. At each of these regions a person possesses two genetic types (known as alleles), one inherited from each parent. By looking at a number of these variable regions in a person a DNA profile is produced. By comparing the DNA profiles of the mother and child it is possible to determine which half of the child’s DNA was inherited from its mother (maternal alleles). The other half must therefore have been inherited from the child’s biological father (paternal alleles). The alleged father’s profile is then examined to determine whether he has the DNA types in his profile that match the paternal alleles in the child. If the man’s DNA types do not match the child’s, he is excluded as the biological father. If the DNA types match, then he is not excluded as the father.

About the Author:
Smruti Ranjan Sarangi has authored many articles on a diversified topics like Technical, Management, and Humanity. For information on Paternity Testing and DNA Paternity Testing visit Testing Master

Buy the: Home DNA Home Paternity Testing System

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With advances in technology, even if there was a problem with the prenatal development of your baby, doctors are able to respond sooner. This is all made possible due to technologies such as ultrasound. It is a common misconception that pregnancy testing takes place only once, at the beginning of your pregnancy. Nothing could be further from the truth - from ultrasounds to blood tests, you will be bombarded with test after test up until even the very morning of your delivery date.

1. Primary Testing
Quite a lot of blood work is performed initially for various reasons including whether you are Rh negative or positive, your immunity to viruses such as rubella, and whether you have a more serious condition such as hepatitis B, or HIV. At this initial visit you will also receive a physical and internal examination to check your capability for giving birth, and if necessary, a PAP smear.

2. Ultrasound
Ultrasound, unfortunately, is not merely a tool that allows the mother to see her child before it is born, or to determine the sex of the child prior to childbirth. The real purpose of an ultrasound is to detect fetal development problems in advance or to pinpoint potential delivery problems such as placenta previa. Don’t worry, however, this is actually a routine procedure carried out at 18 weeks for all pregnant women.

Ultrasounds can:

• Determine early the gender of the baby
• Measure the placenta
• Check embryonic fluid composition
• Ensure the umbilical cord is not causing any complications
• Ensure there is no internal bleeding

3. Gestational Diabetes
Testing for gestational diabetes is carried out on all pregnant women during their second trimester. This primarily involves fasting until the test, then drinking a special glucose drink, waiting a specified period of time and then checking the blood sugar level with a simple finger prick blood test. If the blood sugar levels are off the charts then you will have to go for additional blood testing at a later date.

4. Amniocentesis
You are only eligible for this level of testing if you are over 35 years of age or if you have a medical history in your family such as Down’s syndrome. Usually carried out between 14 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, there is a slight risk of miscarriage as a result of this test so it is not compulsory.

5. Chorionic Villus Sampling
The most feared and invasive of all pregnancy tests, this is an exhausting test for a woman to endure. Carried out between weeks 10 and 13 of pregnancy. This test is only carried out when there is an absolutely urgent need to determine the health status of the baby.

About the author:
For more great pregnancy related articles and resources check out great-pregnancy.info

Sheryl’s comment:
Please do not assume that just because these tests are routine that they are safe. They are certainly not natural. If you love your child with your whole heart and there is no way you would terminate your pregnancy despite Down’s syndrome or some other condition, then refuse the CVS or the amniocentisis (unless you are really concerned about your OBGYN’s Mercedes payment).

Check out the Center for Unhindered Living for excellent information on prenatal testing and instructions on how to do your own.

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