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Prenatal testing provides information about the health of your fetus before the baby is born. Some routine tests during pregnancy also check your health. The prenatal test may use a sample of your blood, urine or fluid from your vagina, cervix, or rectum.

Since some health conditions can be treated before your baby is born, it's important to find them early. But even if they cannot be treated, it can still be helpful to know about the problem early on. This gives you time to learn about the condition and prepare for any challenges you may face after the baby is born.

At your first prenatal visit, your health care provider will test for various conditions, including problems with your blood, signs of infections, and whether you are immune to rubella (German measles) and chickenpox.

Throughout your pregnancy, your provider may recommend additional tests as well. Some tests are suggested for all women, such as screenings for gestational diabetes, Down syndrome, and HIV.

Your provider might offer other tests based on your:

• Age
• Personal or family medical history
• Ethnic background
• Results of routine tests

There are two types of tests:

• Screening tests check if you or your fetus may have certain health issues. They look at risk but do not diagnose problems. If your screening test result is abnormal, it does not mean that there is a problem. It means that more information is needed. Your provider can explain what the test results mean and possible next steps. You may need diagnostic testing.
• Diagnostic tests help determine whether you or your fetus have a certain health problem.

It is your choice whether to get prenatal tests. You and your provider can talk about the risks and benefits of the tests, as well as the type of information they can give you. Then you can decide which ones are right for you.

National Women's Health Information Center

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a group of genetic diseases that damages and kills motor neurons. Motor neurons are a type of nerve cell in the spinal cord and lower part of the brain. They control movement in your arms, legs, face, chest, throat, and tongue.

As the motor neurons die off, your muscles start to weaken and atrophy (waste away). The muscle damage gets worse over time and can affect speaking, walking, swallowing, and breathing.

There are different types of SMA. They are based on how serious the disease is and when the symptoms start:

• Type l is also called Werdnig-Hoffman disease or infantile-onset SMA. It is the most severe type. It is also the most common. Babies with this type usually show signs of the disease before 6 months of age. In more severe cases, the signs show up even before or just after birth (Types 0 or 1A). The babies may have trouble swallowing and breathing and may not move around a lot. They have chronic shortening of muscles or tendons (called contractures). They usually cannot sit up without help. Without treatment, many children with this type will die before 2 years of age.
• Type ll is a moderate to severe type of SMA. It usually first noticed between 6 and 18 months of age. Most children with this type can sit without support but cannot stand or walk without help. They may also have trouble breathing. They can usually live into adolescence or young adulthood.
• Type lll is also called Kugelberg-Welander disease. It is the mildest type that affects children. The signs of the disease usually show up after age 18 months. Children with this type can walk by themselves but may have trouble running, getting up from a chair, or climbing stairs. They may also have scoliosis (curvature of the spine), contractures, and respiratory infections. With treatment, most children with this type will have a normal lifespan.
• Type IV is rare and often mild. It usually causes symptoms after 21 years of age. The symptoms include mild to moderate leg muscle weakness, tremors, and mild breathing problems. The symptoms slowly get worse over time. People with this type of SMA have a normal lifespan.

Most types of SMA are caused by a change in the SMN1 gene. This gene is responsible for making a protein that the motor neurons need to be healthy and to function. But when part of the SMN1 gene is missing or abnormal, there isn't enough protein for the motor neurons. This causes the motor neurons to die off.

Most people have two copies of the SM1 gene - one from each parent. SMA normally only happens when both copies have the gene change. If only one copy has the change, there usually aren't any symptoms. But that gene could be passed down from parent to child.

Some of the less common types of SMA may be caused by changes in other genes.

Your health care provider may use many tools to diagnose SMA:

• A physical exam
• A medical history, including asking about family history
• Genetic testing to check for the gene changes that cause SMA
• Electromyography and nerve conduction studies and a muscle biopsy may be done, especially if no gene changes were found

Parents who have a family history of SMA may want to do a prenatal test to check to see whether their baby has an SMN1 gene change. An amniocentesis or in some cases a chorionic villi sampling (CVS) is used to get the sample for testing.

In some states, genetic testing for SMA is part of newborn screening tests.

There is no cure for SMA. Treatments can help manage symptoms and prevent complications. They may include:

• Medicines to help the body make more of the proteins that the motor neurons need
• Gene therapy for children under 2 years of age
• Physical, occupational, and rehabilitation therapy to help to improve posture and the mobility of the joints. These therapies may also improve blood flow and slow muscle weakness and atrophy. Some people may also need therapy for trouble speaking, chewing, and swallowing.
• Assistive devices such as supports or braces, orthotics, speech synthesizers, and wheelchairs to help people stay more independent
• Good nutrition and a balanced diet to help maintain weight and strength. Some people might need a feeding tube in order to get the nutrition they need.
• Breathing support for people who have muscle weakness in the neck, throat, and chest. The support may include devices to help with breathing during the day and to prevent sleep apnea at night. Some people might need to be on a ventilator.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke