Baylor Prenatal and Reproductive Genetics — one of the largest clinics of its kind in the nation — offers the full range of prenatal services, beginning with genetic counseling for average- to high-risk pregnancies. When you’re concerned about a pregnancy complication or your risk factors for your baby having a birth defect, you want to see a specialist you can trust. Our caring and compassionate genetic counselors are here to listen to your concerns and help you make informed decisions about your pregnancy.
A prenatal genetic counseling visit may be scheduled during your pregnancy to help you better understand your prenatal testing options and your personal risk for genetic conditions or birth defects. This information is intended to help you make informed decisions about genetic testing and your pregnancy.
Your genetic counselor will evaluate potential risk factors by discussing your personal health, family history, prenatal testing and screening results as well as any ultrasound findings. Your genetic counselor can also facilitate genetic testing or screening and will help interpret the results. It can often be difficult to navigate the emotional challenges that surround pregnancy. Our genetic counselors are here to provide you with support and to help you make decisions that align with your personal values and family’s needs.
Average-risk pregnancies
Although the vast majority of pregnancies result in the birth of a healthy baby, everyone has a small chance to have a baby with a birth defect regardless of personal health, age or family history. Routine screening and testing options are available to evaluate for many of these differences.
High-risk pregnancies
Pregnancies may be at increased risk for a genetic condition, birth defect or other abnormality for various reasons including maternal age, abnormal screening results, abnormal ultrasound findings, a significant personal or family history or exposure to certain medications or potentially harmful substances.
Pregnancies affected by a birth defect or genetic syndrome
Discovering your pregnancy is affected with a fetal condition can leave you wondering, “Why did this happen?” Our genetic counselors will review your pregnancy and family history to determine the underlying cause, which will help predict the prognosis for your baby as well as the chances of the condition happening again in future pregnancies.
Our genetic counselors are here to provide you with empathetic care, compassionate family support and additional referrals and resources when needed.