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Resources for Genetic Counseling & Testing for Pregnancy



Childbirth Connection's Genetic Counseling & Testing Resource

Planning Pregnancy: Genetic Counseling & Testing
In our section called The Stages of Pregnancy, we have outlined the planning of your pregnancy, each stage of pregnancy, giving birth, and the early period after birth. This link is devoted to genetic counseling and testing while planning for your pregnancy.


General Resources for Genetic Testing and Counseling

March of Dimes:Genetic Counseling: provides a guide to genetic counseling

Genetics Home Reference: a guide to understanding genetic conditions

March of Dimes: Birth Defects and Genetic Conditions: comprehensive list with links to fact sheets

Kids Health for Parents: An Introduction to Genetics and Genetic Testing

Kids Health for Parents: Genetic Counseling


Resources for Family History for Awareness and Prevention During Pregnancy

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General: offers a basic family medical history tree; follow their instructions to download for free

Mayo Clinic: offers good information on how to compile your family medical history

Genetic Alliance: Family History Tools: how to take your family history

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Genomics and Disease Prevention: using family history to promote health


Resource for Finding a Genetic Counselor

National Society of Genetic Counselors: find genetic counseling services state, city, counselor's name, institution or areas of practice or specialization


Resource for Benefits and Risks of Genetic Testing

Mayo Clinic: Genetic testing: Weigh benefits and risks: the pros and cons of genetic testing to help you make an informed decision


Resource for When There is a Concern Due to Test Results or Family History

Genetic Alliance: Disease InfoSearch: advocacy support groups related to specific genetic conditions, information about the clinical features of a wide number of genetic conditions, and updates on management, treatment and more

Most recent page update: 4/21/2008


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Childbirth Connection is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1918 as Maternity Center Association. Our mission is to improve the quality of maternity care through research, education, advocacy and policy. Childbirth Connection promotes safe, effective and satisfying evidence-based maternity care and is a voice for the needs and interests of childbearing families.
News and Features

"2020 Vision" and "Blueprint for Action" Reports Available
Leaders from across the U.S. health care system have prepared several reports for improving the maternity care system.
Learn about Transforming Maternity Care project
Read the "2020 Vision"
Read the "Blueprint for Action"
Read the Consumer Workgroup report
Help implement Blueprint recommendations

Rising Maternal Mortality
Analysis of maternal mortality data for the state of California, with 14% of the nation's births, strongly suggests that maternal mortality is increasing in tandem with rising rates of cesarean section and obesity.
Read article about maternal mortality in California 
Read companion Q&A 

Maternity Care Fact Sheet Available
A new fact sheet (12/09) summarizes U.S. maternity care trends and figures from the latest federal reports. The fact sheet updates background information in the 2008 Milbank Report on Evidence-Based Maternity Care.
Get the fact sheet 
Read Evidence-Based Maternity Care 

US Cochrane Center (USCC)/Consumers United for Evidence-based Healthcare (CUE)
Visit the USCC/CUE website for the latest pregnancy and childbirth systematic reviews.

Maternity Care, a Major Segment of Health Industry, Must Be Overhauled for Health Care Reform to Succeed
As competing interests work out the particulars of health care reform, Childbirth Connection reminds the nation that rapid gains in the quality, cost, and value of maternity care are achievable.
Read the press release (PDF)

National Policy Symposium Honors Childbirth Connection's 90th Anniversary

Nearly 250 leaders deliberated about Transforming Maternity Care in Washington DC in April 2009.
Learn about symposium, next steps
See 90 years of milestones for women and families (PDF)

Seton Family of Hospitals Receives First Maternity Quality Matters Award
Childbirth Connection presented its inaugural Maternity Quality Matters Award to an organization that is achieving significant gains for women and newborns.
Learn more about award winner

Maternity Care Priorities in Health Care Reform

Childbirth Connection has issued a statement about health care reform priorities for a high quality, high value maternity care system.
Read the statement (PDF) 

Evidence-Based Maternity Care Report Released
A major new report takes stock of the U.S. maternity care system and finds great opportunities for improvement. Childbirth Connection collaborated with the Reforming States Group and the Milbank Memorial Fund to develop the report.
Learn more, get the report 
Read companion USA Today article
Read the USA Today article
Read the Consumer Reports story
Take the Consumer Reports quiz
Read Our Bodies Our Blog entry

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Help Transform Maternity Care!
Help Transform Maternity Care! Please join our efforts to make quality maternity care a top national priority. Your support will help make the transformation possible.
View 2009 Supporter Roster 

New Mothers Speak Out
National Report Released

The latest report in Childbirth Connection's Listening to Mothers series is now available. Get an eye-opening look at the reality of life as a mother of young children in the United States, based on national surveys conducted by Harris Interactive.
Learn more, get the report
Read the Wall Street Journal story and listen to the podcast
Download Quick Facts (PDF)
New Content!
journey to parenthood
Journey to Parenthood
Full Book Available Online!

A family-friendly book covering the trimesters, pregnancy resources, and the latest information on baby's first year of development. Available online (free) and for purchase in the Bookstore.
Browse through Journey to Parenthood childbirth connection journey to parenthood
Buy this book and learn more journey to parenthood in bookstore
"The most frustrating thing is that they try to put a nursing mom on schedule; instead of letting the nursing mom set her own schedule. It got so irritating being woken up while the baby and I were asleep, that I left the hospital a day early so that I could get some sleep."
-Listening to Mothers® survey participant
Every woman has the right to information about the professional identity and qualifications of those involved with her care, and to know when those involved are trainees.