Many prenatal tests are performed routinely in all pregnant women. Blood tests, urine tests, and ultrasounds pose little or no risk to the mother or baby. These tests can provide valuable information to help your doctor care for you and your developing baby. Other tests come with significant risks. Therefore, these test are only considered for women with high risk pregnancies.

Some maternal factors that can make a pregnancy high risk include:

• Increased age (35 or older)
• Previous birth of a premature baby
• Previous birth of a baby with a birth defect
• A serious medical problem, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, lupus, moderate to severe asthma, or a seizure disorder
• Ethnic background in which genetic disorders are common (in the mother or the father)
• Family history of intellectual disability (in the mother or the father)

Your doctor may recommend more invasive tests if your pregnancy is high risk, but the decision to have a test is yours. Understanding each test and what it measures, how reliable it is, and the risk associated with the test will help you make your decision. It is important to discuss your options with your doctor, especially if the test indicates there may be a problem.

Couples may choose to have certain prenatal tests for different reasons, including to:

• Allow for possible medical interventions that may be needed
• Begin planning for a child with special needs
• Identify support groups and resources
• Make a decision about whether to continue the pregnancy