Where Can I Get A DNA Test While Pregnant

DNA holds a wealth of information about the body. When you're pregnant, the information it can share doubles because it can provide insight into what your baby may have inherited from you. This can help you prepare for any healthcare needs later in your life or the life of your baby.

DNA tests can also help when you want to confirm the alleged father of your child. Whether you want genetic testing for diseases or paternity testing, knowing where you can get a DNA test while pregnant will help you make the right decision.

Where Can You Get a DNA Test While Pregnant?

You may be surprised how easy it is to get a DNA test while pregnant. You just need to know where to look.

Drug Store

A pregnant woman can get a DNA test by visiting a local drug store such as CVS or Walgreens. They carry DNA testing kits from some of the most popular companies, such as 23andMe and AncestryDNA. While these kits provide useful information about ancestry and basic health information, there are other options that provide a much more comprehensive picture of your genetic health.

Online

The internet is also a great way to get a DNA test while pregnant because there are many more options available. Some DNA tests will only test a small part of your genome, while others will test the entire genome. With whole genome sequencing, it is possible to gain a much more comprehensive picture of your DNA so you can identify if you are at risk for a wide range of preventable genetic conditions such as heart disease, strokes, and cancer.

Sequencing is one place you can get genetic testing during pregnancy. The whole genome sequencing service reads 100% of your DNA across over 30,000 genes, providing the most complete genetic picture available. The testing process is very simple: the DNA collection kit contains a cotton swab that you roll on the inside of your cheek, place in a small tube, and mail back in the prepaid package provided.

Prenatal Genetic Tests for Your Baby

If you want to know about what your baby may have inherited, there are special types of genetic tests that can analyze the DNA of the developing fetus. These tests require the doctor to obtain the DNA of the developing fetus and then perform genetic testing on it.

There are two main types of genetic tests that analyze the DNA of the developing fetus.

Noninvasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)

Recent advancements in prenatal genetic testing now enable a doctor to obtain the DNA of a fetus simply by withdrawing blood from the pregnant mother's arm. This is the same as any other blood draw and poses no risk to the developing fetus.

The mother's blood is then sent to a special genetics laboratory that isolates some of the fetus' DNA from the mother's blood. This is possible because the mother and the fetus share a blood supply, and because of this, some of the fetus' DNA and cells can be found circulating in the mother's blood.

Once the fetal DNA is obtained, genetic testing for one or more suspected conditions can be performed on it. NIPT is not associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, making it the preferred first-line option for many expectant parents.

Invasive Prenatal Tests

For more definitive genetic diagnosis, two invasive options are available:

• Amniocentesis: This procedure is typically performed between weeks 15 and 20 of pregnancy. The obstetrician inserts a long, thin needle through the mother's abdomen and into the uterus to withdraw a small amount of amniotic fluid. The fluid contains cells from the fetus that can be used for genetic testing. Since amniocentesis involves inserting a needle into the womb, there is a small chance that this procedure may cause a miscarriage.
• Chorionic villus sampling (CVS): This is similar to amniocentesis but can be done earlier, usually between weeks 11 and 14 of pregnancy. The obstetrician inserts a needle into the placenta and removes some of the cells for genetic testing. CVS allows for direct testing of the fetus' genes but also carries a small risk of miscarriage.

Paternity Tests While Pregnant

It is possible to get a DNA paternity test before the baby is born. The only reliable way to identify the father of a fetus before birth is to obtain the DNA of the developing fetus through amniocentesis, CVS, or noninvasive prenatal testing.

Get Started With DNA Testing

Now you know where to get a DNA test while pregnant. If you are looking for paternity testing while pregnant, check with your OB. If you are looking for information on what your DNA holds and what your baby might inherit from you, Sequencing's whole genome sequencing provides the most comprehensive genetic analysis available.

Order your whole genome sequencing kit from Sequencing today or upload your existing DNA data for free to get started.