Pre-natal Paternity Testing

When you need to determine paternity prior to giving birth, pre-natal paternity testing is available, though it will need to be done under the care of a trained physician. Home testing is not available for this kind of paternity testing.

Why a doctor must be involved

During a pregnancy, a lot of factors play into the health and the life of the unborn fetus. While a mother may want or need to determine paternity of the child, it’s important to note that the health of the child will come first in the eyes of the doctor.

Each of the procedures that are available for pre-natal paternity testing are moderately invasive to the child, taking some of their DNA in order to determine paternity. To obtain these cells, the fetus must be slightly disturbed. While this is not harmful to the child in most cases, there are factors that need to be considered.

Factors to consider

When you are thinking about pre-natal paternity testing, the first appointment that needs to be made is with the primary physician for the pregnancy. The doctor will check to see how far along a pregnancy is, as this will determine the type of pre-natal paternity testing that can be completed. The physician will also examine the health of the fetus and mother in order to determine if complications are a possibility. Most physicians will err on the side of caution and the paternity test may have to wait until after the child is born if they feel there could be an issue.

How is the paternity test sample taken?

In order to obtain the DNA necessary to complete a paternity test, the physician will choose between two extraction methods. The first is CVS or chorionic villi sampling. This can be performed between the tenth and thirteenth weeks of the pregnancy.

The physician will obtain a sample of the placenta either through the vagina or the abdominal area. Because the material that makes up the placenta contains that same DNA as the original egg cell, a conclusive paternity test can be completed.

In the later stages of pregnancy (between the fourteenth and twenty-fourth weeks), an amniocentesis can be performed. This is done by inserting a needle into the amniotic sac and withdrawing a small amount of fluid. Because this goes directly into the place where the fetus is developing, this can be more risky, although complications are rare.

What complications are possible?

While both methods can cause harm to the mother and the child, these methods for paternity testing are generally safe for most cases. The main concern for amniocentesis is the fact that the needle may injure the fetus in the process. However, because physicians are well-trained in the process, there are fewer risks than when the procedure was first introduced. Bleeding and cramping are also concerns will both of these procedures, but making sure to keep in touch with a physician will make sure that nothing goes wrong.

What about the financial costs?

Testing for paternity prior to birth is expensive due to the invasiveness of both procedures as well as the laboratory fees that go along with extracting the DNA from the samples. Some insurance policies will cover amniocentesis if it is indicated for the health of the child, though not necessarily for the paternity.

But if the family wants to determine the paternity prior to the birth in order to receive help with the pregnancy expenses, these are the two options that are available for mothers and their child.