Abnormalities may also be caused by problems that occur in the very early stages of pregnancy when the egg (ovum) has been fertilised and errors occur in the development and structure of the rapidly dividing cells. These are called chromosomal abnormalities and they may or may not be hereditary. Some of these conditions cannot be treated and their effects are lifelong.
For these reasons, nearly every pregnant woman is offered screening tests in pregnancy. This leaflet explains what these tests are able to check for as well as those conditions they are not able to detect. Choosing whether or not to have screening tests in pregnancy is an important decision for you and your family. Most women consent to screening tests not expecting to be told that there could be a problem with their baby`s development, and so are unprepared when this is found to be the case.
The information in this section will help you to make your decision and to think about what the results might mean for you, your pregnancy and your baby. Having considered all the information, you may also choose the option of `no testing` in which case your decision will be fully respected and supported by your health care professionals.
What is a screening test?
Screening tests look for signs of possible problems with the way that your baby is developing. The tests help to identify those women who have an increased chance or risk (from now on, we will use the word chance) of having an affected baby, but they do not give a definite `yes` or `no` answer...
What do screening tests tell you?...
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Additional information and resources
UK National Screening Committee
NHS Screening
Down"s Syndrome Screening Programme
Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme
Regional Screening Teams
Continuous Professional Development
NSC Screening Timeline
Resource Cards
Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC)
73 Charlotte Street, London W1T 4PN
Tel: 020 7631 0285
Email: info@arc-uk.org
Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (ASBAH)
42 Park Road, Peterborough PE1 2UQ
Tel: 0845 450 7755
Email: helpline@asbah.org
Contact a Family (CAF)
209-211 City Road, London EC1V 1JN
Helpline: 0808 808 3555
Tel: 020 7608 8700
Email: info@cafamily.org.uk
Down`s Syndrome Association
Langdon Down Centre, 2a Langdon Park, Teddington
TW11 9PS
Helpline: 0845 230 0372
Email: info@downs-syndrome.org.uk
MENCAP
123 Golden Lane, London EC1Y 0RT
Tel: 020 7454 0454
Email: information@mencap.org.uk
Healthtalkonline
PO Box 428, Witney, OX28 9EU
Email: info@healthtalkonline.org
In addition to these organisations, there are often local organisations and support groups.
Contributors include:
Mr. Peter Young, MB; ChB; MRCOG;
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Prof. Moira Plant, RN; RMN; PhD;
Professor of Alcohol Studies
Anne Viccars, MA; BSc (Hons); PGDipEd; RM; RN;
Senior Lecturer in Midwifery
Dr. AP Madden, MA; BM; BCh; FRCA;
Consultant Anaesthetist
Dr. Julie Dallison, MSc; DPhil
Dr. Jenny Ingram, PhD; BSc (Hons)
Dr. Mary Stewart, PhD; RN; RM; ADM; BSc (Hons);
MSc; PGDipHE
Prof. Christine MacArthur, PhD;
Professor of Maternal and Child Epidemiology
Dr. Sally Marchant, PhD; RN; RM; ADM; DipEd
Prof. JG Thornton, MD; FRCOG;
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Rona McCandlish, RM; RMN; RN; MSc (Epid);
Sarah Beake, MSc; RM; RN; Research Midwife
Prof. Alison Macfarlane, BA; Dip Stat; C Stat; FFPH;
Professor of Perinatal Health
April Bolding, DPT; Childbirth Educator; Doula, USA
Dr. Helen Churchill, PhD; BA (Hons); Senior Lecturer
Dr. Louise Howard, PhD; MSc; MRCP; MRC Psych;
Senior Lecturer in Women's Mental Health
Sharon Hodgkiss, RN; RM; DipHE; BSc (Hons); MPH;
West Midlands Regional NSC Antenatal & Child Health
Screening Coordinator
Vicky Carne, MSc; BA (Hons); ADM; RM; RN;
Head of Midwifery, MIDIRS
Glenda Augustine, MPH; BSc (Hons); RM; DipHV, RGN
Debra Kroll, MSc; PGCEA; ADM; RM; RN;
Midwifery Lecturer in Practice
Michelle Lynn, BEd (Hons); ADM; RM; RN;
Midwifery Advisor, Nursing and Midwifery Council
Chrissie Hammonds, MSc; RM; RN;
Midwife Ultrasonographer
Sara Wickham, MA; BA (Hons); RM; PGCE (A);
Midwife & Author
Dr. Sandy Oliver, PhD; BA; Reader in Public Policy
Sally Cottrell, RM; BSc; MSc; MICG; NNEB; Consultant
Midwife Public Health, Women & Family
Dr. Gillian Flett, FRCOG; FFSRH; MIPM; Consultant in
Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinical Lead, NHS Grampian
Amanda Mansfield, BSc (Hons); MSc; RM;
Consultant Midwife
Dr. Joyshri Sarangi, MBBS (Lond.); MBA; MRCP (UK);
MRCGP; FFPH; Consultant in Communicable Disease Control
