What is the NIPT & How Does it Support Prenatal Care in Austin, TX?

What's the NIPT test & why should I consider it for my prenatal appointment schedule?

NIPT stands for Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening Test. It’s a new test which you may wish to include on your prenatal appointment schedule. As its name implies, the NIPT is less invasive than other tests which require intrusion into the uterus. Instead, it uses blood drawn from a pregnant woman to screen for her baby’s cells and DNA. Based on this material the baby’s gender and other important information can be determined. 

Why is the NIPT better for gender determination and other screening?

Although a week 10 ultrasound is important for dating, the NIPT will more accurately determine your baby's gender. It can also screen for genetic problems like Down syndrome. Additionally, this test identifies your baby's blood type. If it's Rh negative there's no need for the RhoGAM injection. So, less expense and worry

Where does the NIPT fit within my trimesters & prenatal appointment schedule?

The NIPT can be added to your prenatal appointment schedule during week 10 in your first trimester or anytime afterward. Since the Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening Test is new, expectant moms should discuss it with their midwife when they start care. For reference, here's the breakdown of trimester weeks:

1-13 weeks is the first trimester

14-27 weeks is the second trimester

28-42 weeks is the third trimester

Where can I get more prenatal appointment schedule information?

As midwifery professionals, we use and recommend the website https://perinatology.com. From the home page click on the Pregnancy Due Date Calendar under Most Popular links. There, you’ll find a calculator for your due date and other important milestones in your prenatal appointment schedule. Just fill in the first day of your last menstrual period to get started. The milestones are explained and there are helpful abstracts and references. All of these can help you better understand how the dates in the schedule work.

What other reliable pregnancy information sources are available?

We like both https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/uptodate and https://evidencebasedbirth.com.