Can You Get a DNA Paternity Test Before the Baby is Born?

Pregnancy is an exciting time but, if you are expecting and have questions about the paternity of your growing baby, it can be really stressful. Many couples use at-home paternity testing kits to determine the paternity of the child following the birth, but in some cases, couples may want to confirm the biological father of the child before it’s born. A prenatal paternity test can determine the paternity of the child even before it comes to the world.

Paternity testing while pregnant is a DNA test that can be done as early as 7 weeks of pregnancy without any risk to the baby or the mom. The technology has become extremely reliable and doesn’t pose any kind of risk to the mother or the baby. Taking a paternity test before the baby is born eliminates the stress of not knowing who the father is and helps in making sure that you have the right person by your bedside through the pregnancy and the delivery. Not only that but taking a prenatal paternity test can also help you figure out the legal arrangements including child support and custody of the baby once it’s born.

Here are a few reasons why a prenatal paternity test is a better choice than a postnatal paternity test:

• Less stress

Constant stress can have a direct negative impact on the unborn child and not knowing who the father of your unborn child is can be a huge stressor. Getting a prenatal paternity test can help take a load off your mind.

• Legalities

If you don’t see the relationship with the father of your unborn child working out in the future, results from a prenatal paternity test can help you in making arrangements for child support and custody after the baby is born.

• Support

It might be important for you to have the right person beside you during the delivery when the baby comes to the world. A prenatal paternity test can ensure you have the right person by your side.

• Preparations

There’s a lot that goes into the 9 months of pregnancy, including birthing classes, doctor’s appointments, and financial and emotional support so, you want to confirm the paternity of the unborn child as soon as possible.

Postnatal paternity tests are performed after a baby is born either taking a sample from the umbilical cord, a cheek swab, or a blood sample. Prenatal Paternity tests can be done by taking a blood sample from the mother and a sample cheek swab from the possible father. The tests are completely non-invasive so there’s no risk to the pregnancy.

• Non-invasive prenatal paternity

The non-invasive prenatal paternity test is the most accurate paternity test during pregnancy. It involves taking a blood sample from the possible father and the mother. The blood is taken to conduct a fetal cell analysis to figure out the paternity of the unborn child. The non-invasive prenatal paternity test can be done as soon as the 7^th week of pregnancy and has a 99% accuracy rate.

• Amniocentesis

During pregnancy, the fetus is surrounded by the amniotic fluid which contains the fetal cells and alphafetoprotein (AFP). During Amniocentesis, a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed from the sac surrounding the fetus for testing. A sample of the amniotic fluid is taken with a fine needle inserted through the uterus into the abdomen using an ultrasound machine. Amniocentesis is not only used to determine the paternity of the unborn child but also to detect birth defects such as Down Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell Disease, Muscular Dystrophy, etc.

Chorionic Villus Sampling

In this method of prenatal paternity testing, a thin needle is inserted through the vagina of the mother using an ultrasound machine and samples of small tissues called chorionic villi are taken through the needle or tube. These small tissues are attached to the uterine wall and can help in determining the paternity of the unborn child with a 99% accuracy. A Chorionic Villus Sampling can be performed as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy.

If you are a mother who wishes to read more about amniocentesis, CVS and non-invasive testing as well as some of the legalities of prenatal testing and paternity or if you want to order a paternity testing kit, visit dnaweekly.com.