Diary of a Fit mommy
Pregnancy

Preparing for Pregnancy with Horizon Genetic Carrier Screening

Preparing for your pregnancy is probably the most important part of it all, but what if you could start planning before you ever become pregnant? Some people plan in advance to start their families – for some, it’s a big surprise! I am not a fan of surprises so I made sure to plan out accordingly to make sure things were as perfect as they can be.

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On my to-do list of preparing for this current pregnancy, I had included the following:

  1. Start prenatal vitamins.
  2. Stop drinking wine. Sigh.
  3. Alter workouts slightly.
  4. Eat more fruits & veggies.
  5. RELAX.
  6. Make sure immunizations are up to date.
  7. Limit caffeine intake.
  8. Stop or change current medications.
  9. And finally a pre-conception doctor’s visit.  Although this last to-do rarely happens with most couples, it is such a wise idea to get a check up to make sure that you are in the best physical and emotional condition to conceive a child as well as getting blood work drawn to check your complete blood count, check for STD’s, and possible even a genetic screening.

During your pre-conception visit , your doctor will often ask you about your family health history. But did you know there may be surprises in your family tree? Genetic carrier screening can help you make informed reproductive decisions as you start your family.

Did you know that it is very common for people to be carriers of 4-6 genetic conditions that usually go undetected? Well, it does go undetected.. until you have your first child, that is! This is why genetic testing prior to conception is such an important thing to consider when trying for a baby. After all, a genetic disorder in your child is not something that you want to be shocked or surprised with. If you and your partner are both carriers of the same genetic condition, you have a 1/4 chance of having an affected child.

The genetic test that can best help you in your quest to checking for any chromosomal abnormalities is the Horizon Genetic Carrier Screening through Natera. It’s goal is to help parents understand their chances of having a child with a specific genetic disease before or during pregnancy, so they can plan ahead. If you are unfamiliar with the company Natera, they are also the makers of the Panorama test.

The Horizon carrier screen is a simple test that looks at your genes to see if you are a carrier for specific autosomal recessive and X-linked genetic conditions, such as cystic fibrosis or Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It is common for people to be carriers of at least one genetic condition. Carriers are usually healthy; however, they have a risk of passing on a genetic condition to their children. If you and your partner are both carriers for the same recessive genetic disease, you have a 1 in 4, or 25%, chance of having an affected child in each pregnancy. If a woman is a carrier of an X-linked disease, she has up to a 50% chance of having an affected child in each pregnancy. Horizon can provide valuable information to you about your carrier status before or during pregnancy.

Here is a little infographic to take note of with some super helpful information about the test:

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If you are interested in taking the genetic test for yourself, have a high risk pregnancy, or are worried about the safety of your baby, you will need to find a provider who offers this test. He or she will advise you as to what tests you might want to have to help give you peace of mind.

Be sure to follow Natera and to visit the sites below for more information regarding the genetic screening:

Do you have a personal experience with one of these recessive genetic diseases? Maybe you know you are a carrier or you have a family friend who was affected? Share your story.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post through Natera Prenatal. However, all opinions, thoughts, and words stated within this post are my very own.

Your trainer and friend,

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