How to Test for Cystic Fibrosis If Pregnant

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder in which the mucus produced by the body is much thicker than normal and very stick. The unusually thick mucus in the body coats the passages of the lungs and inhibits the pancreas from functioning normally. Cystic fibrosis leads to dangerous lung infections and problems breaking down food, which are especially hazardous to pregnant women and their fetuses.

Instructions

Test for Cystic Fibrosis in Pregnant Women

1. Have regular check-ups during your pregnancy. Cystic fibrosis blocks the body's enzymes from breaking down food, making it unable to absorb nutrients properly. Pregnant women with cystic fibrosis may not be able to provide their baby with enough nutrients and display poor weight gain as a result.

2. Watch for coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and recurring infections in the lungs. These are the most common signs of cystic fibrosis. If you notice these symptoms along with your inability to gain weight during pregnancy even though you're eating normally, go see your doctor right away.

3. Undergo carrier testing from a geneticist. Genetic carrier testing can alert those with the defective gene that causes cystic fibrosis to its presence so they can understand the chances of passing the disease on to their children. Genetic carrier testing is highly recommended for all expectant mothers, especially those with a family history of cystic fibrosis.

4. Get a sweat test performed at a designated cystic fibrosis care facility. This is the best test to do when pregnant because it is non-invasive. A doctor will measure the amount of salt concentrated in the blood. Very high salt concentrations are indicative of cystic fibrosis.

5. Test for cystic fibrosis during the eleventh week if you are pregnant. During this week, doctors can administer a test called a chorionic villus sampling, also known as a CVS. In this test, doctors remove a small piece of the mother's placenta to test for signs of cystic fibrosis.

6. Test for cystic fibrosis during the sixteenth week after you become pregnant with a routine amniocentesis. Most women are familiar with this more common procedure that involves removing some of the fluids surrounding the fetus with a needle.

Tips & Warnings

• Know your odds of passing on this very serious condition, especially if both parents carry the CF gene. When both parents are carriers their offspring have a 1 in 4 chance of carrying the gene and having CF, a 1 in 4 chance of not carrying the gene and not having CF and a 1 in 2 chance of carrying the gene but not developing CF.