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Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy (CP) is very common congenital disorder. About 500,000 adults and kids have CP and this number is
rising because of the greater number of preemies who survive.
Preemies who weigh less than 3.3 pounds at birth have a 30%
higher risk of having CP than a full-term baby.
CP is a neurological disorder than effects a child's
motor skills, making it hard for him or her to
move in a coordinated way. The effects of CP can range from mild--only affecting fine motor skills, such
as finger coordination and slight speech problems--to severe--which can affect fine and gross motor skills,
including eating problems, speech, hearing loss, osteoporosis, and behavioral problems.
Preemies should be watched and
evaluated since they are at greater risk for CP. If CP is diagnosed, the
necessary
therapies, such as
speech therapy,
visual therapy,
occupational therapy, and
physical therapy,
should be started right away. Early intervention is really the key to helping children develop and work on
the skills they need for life.
Take a look at
United Cerebral Palsy
for more information about CP. Also, check out
Prematurity.org
and Kid's Health.org for a look at CP and preemies.
Chorionic villi sampling (CVS)
This is a
genetic test that is used to detect whether the baby has cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome,
hemophilia, Huntington's disease, muscular dystrophy, sickle cell disease,
or thalassemia. (Note that while
amniocentesis is used to detect
spina bifida, CVS does not detect
spina bifida.)
CVS is performed during the first trimester, between 10 to 12 weeks gestation (12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy). It is performed either
transcervically or transabdominally.
First, the doctor uses ultrasound
to locate the uterus, baby, amniotic sac, and developing placenta which is made up of chorionic villi.
Next, when CVS is performed transcervially, a tiny tube
called a catheter is passed through the cervix into the uterus. The catheter is gently pushed into the
developing placenta in order to collect the cells used for the genetic testing.
Transabdominal CVS is performed by inserting a long needle through the mother's abdomen and through the wall
of the uterus into the developing placenta. Chorionic villi (the cells that will become the placenta)
are collected using the needle.
CVS is less accurate than
amniocentesis because the chorionic villi sample sometimes
becomes contaminated with the mother's cells.
Preliminary test results are usually available within two to four days. Final results are available within
seven to ten days. There is a very low chance of miscarriage (less than 1%). About one-third of women who
undergo CVS will experience some bleeding.
The chance of miscarriage is small (roughly 1 out of 200 women will miscarry). If you are considering
CVS, you should check out the doctor who is going to perform the test and ask some questions:
What is the doctor's miscarriage rate? How many CVS tests does the doctor perform each year? Be
proactive and listen to yourself. If a doctor doesn't feel right, look around and find one who you can trust.
[Source: Genetics & Public Policy Center.]
Complete blood count
This is a standard blood test performed during the first trimester to make sure that the mother's blood
contains normal levels of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. If you want to know more about
the complete blood count test, take a look at
MedicineNet.com for an indepth description.
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