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2006 Press Releases

Fetal Screenings Can Pinpoint Potential Problems.

LONG BRANCH, NJ, April 25, 2006 - Any woman who is considering getting pregnant should speak to her doctor first and, once she is pregnant, should have fetal screening tests, says Dr. David Wallace, of the Long Branch-based Monmouth Medical Group, perinatologists who specialize in maternal-fetal medicine and high-risk pregnancies.

"It's important to talk preconceptually about what the maternal risks are," Wallace says, noting the risks of problems with a fetus or the pregnancy increase with older women, ranging from babies born prematurely to early miscarriages.

Medically, "older women" are defined as age 35 and up when it comes to pregnancy, he says. "Ideally, women should talk with their doctors before getting pregnant," he says.

Women should be sure their doctors have their complete medical history, including any history of hypertension and information about any vitamins or medications, including over-the-counter or alternative medicines, that the woman is taking, he says.

Once pregnant, women should have a targeted image scan, a noninvasive test that looks at the anatomy of the fetus, he says. This is done when the woman is about 18 to 20 weeks pregnant and examines the heart, spine, lungs and more for any abnormalities, he says.

"Whether you're 18 or 48, most should have a targeted image scan," Wallace says.

The chance of having a baby with a chromosomal problem, such as Down syndrome, increases as a woman gets older but is not limited to women 35 and older. Other noninvasive tests, such as specific blood tests, also screen out such problems.

"A 19-year-old woman also can have a Down syndrome baby," Wallace says. "Her risk is roughly in one in 1,200, but if her screening puts her risk higher, she can choose to have amniocentesis."

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