What happens if both parents are carriers?

What if both parents are SMA carriers?

What is the chance that my baby will have SMA?

Can I find out if my baby will have SMA?

Are the results of the tests definite?

Might others in my family be SMA carriers?

What if the amniocentesis or CVS results show that the baby does not have SMA?

What about future pregnancies?

If all tests show that the baby will have SMA, what are my options?


Carrier Testing home

Can I find out if my baby will have SMA?

Yes, through additional testing during pregnancy. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS), generally done around the 11th week of pregnancy, is done by using a small instrument to remove a very small portion of the placenta. This portion is analyzed to determine if the baby has SMA. Alternatively amniocentesis, generally done around the 16th week of pregnancy, is performed by removing a small amount of fluid surrounding the baby using a thin needle inserted into a woman's uterus. The fluid is analyzed to determine if the baby has SMA.

If you decide not to have this prenatal testing, you can find out whether or not the baby is affected with SMA after its birth through a simple test done with a blood sample.

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