Prenatal Genetic Counseling

What Is a Prenatal Genetic Counselor?

Prenatal genetic counselors are board certified healthcare professionals with a master’s degree in medical genetics and counseling. They provide expertise and compassionate guidance to individuals and couples before and during pregnancy to help them understand and adapt to the genetic risks of potential health conditions.

Our genetic counselors have advanced degrees and are board certified by the American Board of Genetic Counselors. They will work closely with physicians specializing in maternal-fetal medicine and genetics to provide comprehensive genetic information and services to patients. Their services help patients make the most informed decisions about their pregnancy based on their personal circumstances.

Meet the Prenatal Genetic Counselors

Patients who come to us for prenatal testing and/or genetic counseling will receive the benefits of knowledge plus compassionate counsel. The counselors will provide information on risk for genetic disorders, explain the appropriate genetic tests, and make the needed arrangements for testing. We offer a full range of services that can detect fetal abnormalities. Expectant mothers are reassured through our knowledge, experience and emotional support as they seek to make the best decisions with the information they are given during sometimes stressful situations. 

Who May Benefit From Testing?

Common indications for prenatal genetic counseling include (but are not limited to):

  • Maternal age (> 35 years old at the time of delivery).
  • Individuals who are known to be at risk for carrying genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, sickle cell disease or other conditions.
  • Individuals who have had a positive carrier screening test result.
  • Individuals who have had a laboratory test such as NIPS (non-invasive prenatal screening), or other aneuploidy screen result that indicates an increased risk for genetic disorder.
  • Parents of a child with a genetic disorder, birth defect or intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
  • Individuals diagnosed with a birth defect or intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, or who have a family history of a genetic disorder.
  • Individuals of ethnic groups in which particular inherited diseases are more common, including African-American, French-Canadian, Jewish, Mediterranean or Asian backgrounds.
  • Individuals or couples who have had multiple miscarriages or pregnancy losses.
  • Women exposed to certain medications or drugs, significant radiation, and/or particular infections during pregnancy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about prenatal genetic testing, please call 317-621-9210. The counselors can see patients who are located anywhere in the state of Indiana (virtual appointments available).