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This is a new way to screen pregnancies for the most common chromosome problems. This test looks at pieces of fetal or placental DNA in the mother’s blood. This test is available for singleton and twin pregnancies.
| How is it done? | Blood draw |
|---|---|
| When is it done? | Anytime after 10 weeks |
| Risk of miscarriage? | No added risk of miscarriage |
| Length of time for results? | Chromosomes 13, 18, 21 , Chromosomes X and Y (Gender not available for twin pregnancies) |
| Length of time for results? | 10 business days |
| Detection rate | 99% Down syndrome (Trisomy 21) , 98% Trisomy 18 80% Trisomy 13, 99% X and Y |
| False positive rate | Less than 0.1% |
| Change of inconclusive result | 5% no result 1% inconclusive result |
| Cost | Approximately $800 May be covered by OHIP if there are abnormal findings in the pregnancy, previous abnormal pregnancy or maternal age >40 |
Women who receive a “positive” (abnormal) result of NIPS will be offered genetic counselling and confirmation of this result may be through amniocentesis. Women who receive a “negative” (normal) result of NIPT, no further testing is recommended in most cases.
Harmony Prenatal Test from Ariosa Diagnostics is offered in Ontario through Gamma-Dynacare labs. For more information, please see their website at: www.ariosadx.com
Panorama Prenatal Test from Natera is offered in Ontario through LifeLabs. For more information, please see their website at www.panoramatest.com
The information that follows should help you through the days leading up to your induction and will give you some important information about where to go, what to do and what to expect.
There are many reasons why women are booked for induction. These vary from being one or more weeks overdue to high blood pressure or diabetes in pregnancy. We will be clear about why we are recommending you are induced and if you don’t understand, ask us why!
The days leading up to your induction can be exciting but many women can be a bit nervous as well. This is normal. Try to get as much rest as you can so that you are ready for the labour ahead. Try to eat healthy, nourishing food and stay well hydrated. From an emotional point of view, try to reflect on your pregnancy and what you will miss about it, think about how your family will grow and change with this new baby, spend time with family… enjoy the time leading up to your delivery because once the baby is born, everything will change!
On the night before your induction, you may be so excited that it is hard to sleep. Don’t worry. Take a long warm bath and relax. Lie in your bed and just quiet your mind. Rest without sleep is restorative as well. Even if you get a short few hours of sleep, if you rest your mind the night before you will be ready for labour.
On the morning of your induction, wake up and have a light breakfast (toast, cereal) and call the labour room before 7am (519 751-5544 ext. 2355). The staff will be waiting for your call. Tell them who you are and they will let you know what time to come in to be seen. If the labour room is quiet, you may be asked to come at 7:30, if it is busy, you may be asked to come later in the morning or early in the afternoon.
When you arrive at the hospital, a nurse will see you and perform a monitoring strip of the baby’s heart rate. The doctor will come and see you and discuss the reason for your induction and propose a method of starting labour. Some patients need a ‘gel’ which is a substance we place in the vagina to help your labour start. Some patients need oxytocin which is an IV medication to start your contractions. Some will need to have their membranes ruptured. Each woman is unique and each situation special. Some patients will be sent home for a short time after a ‘gel’ in order to give them time to rest in a comfortable environment before labour begins.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to ask! Your pregnancy and your birth experience are very important to us and we would like you to feel informed and ready!
Down syndrome (Trisomy 21)
Trisomy 18
Open Spina Bifida
| Maternal Age | Chance of Down Syndrome |
|---|---|
| 20 | 1/1650 |
| 25 | 1/1250 |
| 30 | 1/900 |
| 35 | 1/385 |
| 36 | 1/300 |
| 37 | 1/225 |
| 38 | 1/175 |
| 39 | 1/135 |
| 40 | 1/100 |
| 41 | 1/80 |
| 42 | 1/60 |
| 43 | 1/50 |
| 44 | 1/40 |
| 45 | 1/30 |