Mom Yiting

As a nurse and an older pregnant woman, I began exploring obstetric tests as soon as I got pregnant. I asked my colleagues working in obstetrics, but no one could give me a guarantee, so I did my own research. I always believed that amniocentesis was a must, and with Phalanx's amniotic fluid chip test, I could better understand if my baby had any genetic defects, providing peace of mind for new parents.

At first, my obstetrician and nurse provided me with information on invasive amniocentesis and non-invasive prenatal testing NIPT. They gave me a very neutral perspective, explaining that amniocentesis has a complication risk of 0.3-0.5%, which includes premature rupture of membranes, bleeding, infection, fetal death, preterm labor, uterine contractions, etc. Moms are always worried about the miscarriage risk associated with invasive amniocentesis. Early and mid-pregnancy Down syndrome screening, as well as NIPT, are screenings based on probabilities, while amniocentesis provides a diagnosis – a definite Yes or No answer.

In other words, if a high probability is indicated by NIPT, as assessed by a professional doctor, amniocentesis must be performed for a definitive diagnosis. That’s why I chose to go straight for amniocentesis, to get the most certain result. My obstetric clinic explained the amniocentesis procedure in detail, and online videos further reassured me.

Amniotic fluid can be used for specific analyses, including karyotyping and chromosome chip analysis. Karyotyping examines chromosomal structure and number abnormalities, large segmental balanced translocations, inversions, duplications, or deletions. Chromosomal chip analysis uses chips to detect both large and small chromosomal fragment deletions or duplications, particularly in chromosomal disease regions and subtelomeric regions. With current technology, 367 chromosomal abnormalities can be detected. However, amniotic fluid chips are expensive, and I hesitated for a long time because of the cost. But, for the same reason – a healthy future for the baby – knowing early that the baby is healthy gives moms peace of mind, and it's worth spending money for that reassurance!