According to the March of Dimes, anyone who has had unanswered questions about diseases or traits in their family should consider counseling. Particularly:
- Those who have a family history of birth defects
- Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant after the age of 35
- Couples who already have a child with mental retardation, an inherited disorder or a birth defect
- Couples who have a newborn diagnosed with a genetic disease through routine screening
- Women who have had three or more miscarriages or babies who died in infancy
- People who are concerned that their lifestyles, jobs, or medical history may pose a risk to pregnancy, including exposure to drugs, radiation, chemicals, infection, or medications.
- Couples who would like testing or more information about genetic defect that occur more frequently in their ethnic group
- Couples who are first cousins or other blood relatives
- Pregnant women who, based on screening tests, have been told their pregnancy may be at increased risks for complications or birth defects
Ultimately, the decision is yours. Factors you need to take into consideration when thinking about genetic counseling is how far will you go with the testing? What types of decisions will you make with the results? What information would you need?
These questions are not easy ones. Sometimes genetic counselors can help you sort out all the information and make informed choices. My personal experience with genetic counseling came after a positive AFP test. My counselor sat with my husband and I for hours, going over family history, work history, risk categories, and giving us unbiased information about our options. She sat there while we cried and worried, and never tried to influence us one way or the other. Despite the situation it was a good experience.
