In the past, the only option for determining paternity during a pregnancy was through invasive procedures that were designed for complicated pregnancies. These days, however, there is a new option to find out the biological father of your child before it’s even born. This non-invasive method is safer and does not interfere with the baby by any means.
Invasive Prenatal Paternity Testing
There are two methods of getting a paternity test during pregnancy that are considered invasive. These procedures carry a risk of miscarriage, making them a relatively dangerous choice.
Amniocentesis is one method of getting paternity results during a pregnancy. The process involves a long needle being injected into the abdomen to obtain amniotic fluid from the womb. The amniotic sac contains DNA from the growing fetus. The test can be done during the second trimester. According to Medical News Today, “Amniocentesis is not a routine test, they are only carried out on mothers with a significant risk of having an offspring with a serious condition or abnormality. It is an invasive procedure with a slightly elevated risk of miscarriage (approximately 1%). The risks are greater if the test is carried out before 15 weeks.”
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) can be performed between the 10 and 13 week of pregnancy. This is a different invasive procedure in which part of the tissue from the placenta is removed and studied. According to the mayo clinic, finger-like villi that make up the placenta carry the baby’s DNA.
Non Invasive Blood Testing
Of course, as medical advances progress, easier ways are found to get the same results. It is like comparing how surgeries used to take six to eight weeks to recover from because of the invasive cuts, but new technology has made it possible to have laproscopic surgery that consists of a few small incisions and a recovery period lasting only a few days. The latest method of paternity test during pregnancy is a simple, non-invasive blood test performed on the pregnant mother.
The American Pregnancy Association states that Non Invasive Prenatal Paternity (NIPP) is the “most accurate non-invasive way to establish paternity before the baby is born.” The other benefit this method has over the more invasive option is they they are both only available during a small window of the pregnancy. Sometimes it is too late in the pregnancy to perform these tests. Blood testing can be done on the mother virtually any time after the eighth week though.
Keep in mind, however, that this type of testing is not admissible in court. It can, on the other hand, provide the mother peace of mind and determine how she will proceed. Finding out who the father is early on can change the nature of the pregnancy, changing the level of support the mother might receive. She may also choose to abort the pregnancy, depending on who the biological father is.
