Is a Prenatal Paternity Test Ideal For You?

Posted by Paternity Test in DNA Paternity Testing

With modern technology, a prenatal paternity test is now possible. However, the procedure must be performed by an experienced doctor and there are health concerns to face before deciding on having a prenatal paternity test procedure. It is important to understand your options concerning prenatal paternity tests so that you can make an informed decision that is best for you and your baby.

Reasons For a Prenatal Paternity Test

There are several reasons why you might choose to test for paternity before your baby is born. If you had multiple partners and are not sure who the father of your baby is, you have good reason to perform a prenatal paternity test because establishing who the father is will not only give you peace of mind but will give you legal recourse to ask for child support or help with medical bills.

Sometimes, peace of mind is all that’s at stake. Not knowing for sure who the father is can be stressful. Knowing can also make the father take a more active role in his child’s life after the birth because he knows with certainty that he is the father. When establishing paternity, the DNA testing lab performing the analysis can also test for the prevalence of certain genetic disorders that might be passed down to the baby and can be requested prior to the prenatal paternity test.

Types of Prenatal Paternity Tests

There are two types of reliable prenatal paternity tests available, although both are invasive and present possible negative effects, so you should make sure to discuss your options in-depth with your doctor before proceeding. A prenatal paternity test can be done early or late in the pregnancy and will either be chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis.

Chorionic Villus Sampling

Chorionic Villus Sampling, or CVS, can be performed as early as the tenth week of pregnancy and is done by a doctor who inserts a thin needle up through the cervix to the uterus wall where chorionic villi are attached. These chorionic villi are produced from the fertilized egg, just like the baby, so they contain the essential genetic information needed to establish paternity.

Amniocentesis

Amniocentesis can’t be done until at least the fourteenth week of pregnancy, or the second trimester begins. Amniocentesis has been known to cause miscarriages as well as side effects to the mother including vaginal bleeding, amniotic fluid leaks and cramping. Amniocentesis is when a doctor inserts a long needle into your uterus via the stomach to extract amniotic fluid to establish paternity.

Important Prenatal Paternity Test Considerations

If you absolutely need to establish paternity prior to giving birth, then it’s also important to make sure you choose a DNA testing lab that is AABB accredited. If you need the prenatal paternity test for legal reasons, make sure to choose a laboratory recognized by the court system and to follow all procedures as outlined by your attorney to ensure the test results will be admissible in court.

As long as you understand the risks and rewards of the method you choose, a prenatal paternity test can help bring the father closer to the baby and give you comfort in knowing for sure who the father of your child is. To read more details about the risks and costs associated with such a test, visit our article about having a Paternity Test While Pregnant.