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genetic counseling
The Good Samaritan Hospital Seton Center, St. Elizabeth Healthcare (Edgewood), and Bethesda North Hospital all provide comprehensive prenatal genetic counseling services. Board certified genetic counselors are Masters-trained healthcare professionals who provide individual counseling to families at risk for having a child with a birth defect or genetic condition. These services are available both during pregnancy and preconceptionally. Patients are referred by their physicians to genetic counseling for various indications including advanced maternal age (having a baby over the age of 35), abnormal screening tests, family history of a genetic disorder, abnormal ultrasound findings, medication use in pregnancy and others. Genetic counselors provide patients with important information, discuss available testing options in pregnancy, provide support, facilitate decision making, and make referrals to other appropriate healthcare professionals when necessary. If you would like to schedule an appointment to see a genetic counselor, please contact the scheduling department at the location you wish to be seen by visiting the hospital's website.
REASONS FOR GENETIC COUNSELING

MATERNAL CONDITIONS

  • Blood Disorders (factor V Leiden, protein s deficiency, hemophilia, etc.) Sickle cell anemia
  • Pregestational Diabetes
  • Epilepsy / Seizure disorder
  • Recurrent Miscarriage
  • History of Cardiac Defect
  • Carrier of an Ethnic Condition (cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, beta or alpha thalassemia, etc.)
  • Personal history of a genetic disorder (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Myotonic Dystrophy, Huntington's disease, etc.)
FETAL CONDITION
  • Birth Defects
    - abdominal wall defect, cardiac defect, spina bifida, diaphragmatic hernia, etc.
  • Chromosome Abnormalities
    - Down syndrome, trisomy 13 or 18, Turner syndrome, triploidy, etc.
  • Prenatal Exposures
    - prescribed medications, substance abuse, alcohol, radiation, etc.
  • Ultrasound Findings / Trisomy Markers
    - Absent nasal bone, enlarged nuchal translucency, single umbilical artery, hydronephrosis, ventriculomegaly, etc.
FAMILY HISTORY
  • Known genetic condition, such as Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy, Marfan syndrome, Velo-Cardio-Facial syndrome, etc.)
  • Mental Retardation
  • Autism
  • Mental Health Disorders
  • Birth Defects (cardiac defects, spina bifida or other open neural tube defect, cleft lip / palate)