Prenatal Assessment & Issues

Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D.

Chorionic villus sampling

Sample of tissue from the end of one or more villi.

8-13 weeks of pregnancy.

Maternal Blood tests

16-18 weeks of pregnancy Alfha fetaprotein in blood tested

Ultrasound (sonogram)

Low risk Photographs of uterus, fetus, and placenta

Umbilical cord blood sampling Take needle and get sample of blood vessels

of umbilical cord Information about fetus, infection, anemia,

immune and heart disorders

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis For in vitro fertilization Can test for certain disorders

Early Life in the Womb

Due to unhealthy living…..diabetes? Cancer? Cardiovascular disease?

Life in the womb – during gestation! Dr. Peter Nathanaielsz of Cornell University Conditions can program how our liver, heart,

kidneys, & brains will function.

Gestational conditions

Reprogram the fetus’s physiology Examples: fat. Shows up decades later. Growth factors, e.g. estrogen crossing the

placenta from MOM. The role of cortisol (enzyme) & stress.

Undernutrition

During the 1st trimester. Diabetes in MOM. Cholesterol. Cancer. Antibody IgE. Hearth disease.