Reference no: EM131866009

Prenatal and genetic testing are both used to help determine possible conditions that might develop in a baby. Genetic testing is often used to determine whether or not to have a child based on possible diseases and disorders that the parents carry. Another possibility is to have prenatal testing done once a woman is pregnant. This is especially important if the parents are at-risk for having a child with a congenital defect. For some reason, people have started thinking that prenatal testing is used to determine whether or not you want to keep your baby if it has a congenital disorder. This is not really true. Parents can use the information from the prenatal testing to learn more about a disease or disorder so they are better prepared and equipped when the baby is born. As with most things, there are some risks that come along with prenatal testing, but it is the best chance you have for knowing the status of the baby prior to birth. Studies have already shown that the child has a better outcome when the parents are prepared to deal with the disorder from the point of birth. What do you guys think? Is prenatal testing worth the risk of possible damage to an otherwise healthy baby? What are the risks from prenatal testing? What are some other possible benefits for prenatal testing in regards to possible outcomes for the child growing up?