Genetic Risks & Previous Complications

Pregnancy with previous complications

Pregnancy with previous complications

Why a prior complication changes the risk conversation Past pregnancy complications matter because many of them are not random events. They may be linked to placental dysfunction, hypertension, metabolic disease, infection, cervical factors, or an underlying medical condition that also affects the next pregnancy. For example, someone with prior preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, fetal […]

Carrier conditions and inherited risk management

Carrier conditions and inherited risk management

What carrier status means A carrier is a person who has one copy of a genetic variant associated with a condition but usually does not have the condition themselves. This is most often discussed in autosomal recessive disorders, where a child typically needs to inherit two disease-causing variants, one from each genetic parent, to be […]

Genetic screening decisions and counseling

Genetic screening decisions and counseling

Why counseling matters before any test is ordered Genetic counseling is a structured conversation that helps people understand whether a genetic condition may affect them or their pregnancy and whether testing is appropriate. Counselors typically collect personal and family history, including prior pregnancies, known inherited conditions, miscarriages, and relevant findings in relatives. That history helps […]

Pregnancy with genetic risks and family history

Pregnancy with genetic risks and family history

Understanding baseline genetic risk in pregnancy Every pregnancy begins with a baseline risk of genetic or congenital conditions. Clinicians often discuss this as a general background risk for major birth defects, chromosome abnormalities, or inherited disorders. This baseline is influenced by factors such as parental age, ancestry, medical history, reproductive history, environmental exposures, and the […]