Understanding Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT): A Guide for Expecting Parents

Becoming a parent is a life-changing experience filled with excitement and anticipation. As technology advances, so do the options available to soon-to-be parents, especially in the realm of prenatal testing.

One such development is Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT). This blog article aims to provide expecting parents with a comprehensive understanding of NIPT as a screening service, its benefits, and considerations to make informed choices during their pregnancy journey.

What is Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)?

Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing or NIPT, is a cutting-edge screening test that focuses on analyzing the risks related to genetic conditions of the developing baby. It is done through a simple blood draw from the expecting mother as early as 10 weeks into the pregnancy, with little or no risk.

How Does NIPT Work?

NIPT relies on the analysis of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) circulating in the maternal bloodstream. During pregnancy, a small fraction of the DNA in the bloodstream comes from the placenta and the developing fetus. By isolating and analyzing this fetal DNA, NIPT can provide valuable information about the baby's genetic makeup.

Conditions Detected by NIPT

Non-invasive Prenatal Testing screens for the most common chromosomal abnormalities, including Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21), Edwards Syndrome (Trisomy 18), and Patau Syndrome (Trisomy 13). NIPT also screens for sex chromosome abnormalities like Turner syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome. With Cordlife NIPT, up to 142 conditions can be detected.

Advantages of NIPT

Non-invasive Prenatal Test poses no direct threat to the fetus or the mother and since it can be performed as early as 10th week of pregnancy, you can get early insights into your baby's health and be more prepared for their arrival. NIPT boasts high sensitivity and specificity rates, offering reliable results.

Another thing that parents love about NIPT is that it also provides the option to know the gender early.

Screening, Not Confirmatory

NIPT is a screening tool and does not provide definitive diagnostic results. Positive findings may require confirmation for diagnostic test.

Cordlife Philippines Non-invasive Prenatal Testing with free Chromosomal Microarray Analysis

Cordlife PH offers basic and comprehensive options for NIPT with its available plans: Lite, Premium, and Premium Plus. With Cordlife NIPT Premium Plus, high-risk patients can avail of free Chromosomal Microarray Analysis (CMA) diagnostic testing.

Cordlife NIPT Price

Cordlife NIPT price ranges from P21,500-P44,500 with a free genetic counseling session and the option to have a home service maternal blood extraction.

Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing is a safe, accurate, and convenient option for expectant parents to assess the risk of certain chromosomal abnormalities in their unborn child. Informed choices during pregnancy contribute to a healthier and more secure start for both parents and their precious new addition to the family. Ask your OB-GYN about NIPT today!

Full month party ideas

A baby's full moon celebration is one of the most significant milestones that follow birth. If you are planning a full moon celebration for your baby, we hope this guide can help you plan a full moon party for your baby.

What is a full moon or full month party?

The Chinese usually celebrate the full month or full moon (满月) when a baby is about to or has reached the age of one month. This practice dates back to ancient Chinese culture, when infant mortality was high. These events were held to commemorate the baby's survival of the first month of life, which meant that he or she was more likely to survive into adulthood.

A traditional Chinese way to celebrate this event is with a red egg and ginger party. Guests are served dyed red eggs and pickled ginger. The eggs are a sign of happiness and new life, while the pickled ginger is a sign of getting back to normal after giving birth.

When is the best time to start planning?

As you eagerly wait for your bundle of joy to arrive at any time between now and week 40, you could start looking for ideas to celebrate your precious baby's full month and plan ahead of time. Time flies after the child is born, so it is best to plan ahead of time to avoid scrambling at the last minute.

What kind of party do you want to throw, and prepare a guest list?

Depending on you and your family, the celebration of your newborn can be extravagant or quiet. To begin, determine the type of party you want to throw and who will be invited.

Even if you are not hosting a full-month party, it is customary to give red eggs and full-month cakes to relatives, friends, and colleagues to announce the birth and to thank them for gifts. Instead of the traditional butter cake, parents can now choose from a wide range of cakes, such as cupcakes with beautiful designs. Alternatively, you can also give them cake vouchers to redeem later.

Set a date and time

Most Chinese families choose to throw the party on a weekend so that their guests can attend. Whichever day you choose, keep in mind that Chinese do not believe in celebrating after the baby's full month, so the date should ideally be on or before the actual day.

Determine your budget

Once you've decided on the type of party you want and who to invite, you'll be able to choose an appropriate venue and caterer based on your budget. Make a list of potential locations so you have options if your first choice is unavailable or out of your price range. Some places require a minimum number of guests, so ask your guests if they can make it before you book. To avoid unpredictable weather conditions, consider booking an indoor venue.

Make a spreadsheet to track your expenses so you don't go over budget. If you're on a tight budget, keep your guest list small or ask a friend who lives in a condo to book a function room for you so you don't have to pay for the venue.

Choose a party theme and plan the menu

What theme to go with is one of the most important decisions you'll make when throwing a party. The theme can influence the mood, decorations, and even the food. Since your baby won't be able to tell you the theme he or she prefers, pick one that appeals to you. There are numerous party themes to choose from. You could, for example, choose a garden theme or a colour theme and have your guests dress up in matching colours. The options are limitless. Create your own party mood board with free platforms such as Pinterest to help you organise your thoughts.

Send official invites to your guests

Take advantage of the fact that we live in the digital age. Make your own digital invitations online and send them out to friends and family one to two weeks before the party. You can even use technology to keep track of RSVPs by creating a Facebook event invite or a Google Form.

Daddy's day out

Bond with your baby before he arrives

This is the time for you to step up as a father and support your wife during her pregnancy. However, it is likely that you do not fully comprehend what the mother of your child is experiencing during her pregnancy.

You may feel as if you will not connect with your wife and will not know what you can do for her if you do not go through the pregnancy yourself. Being prepared for some of your partner's issues and stressors is an excellent way to maintain connection with her and your child. During pregnancy, it is common to focus on a woman's physical changes rather than her emotional and hormonal changes. Here are some tips to help dads prepare for the big day.

Show consideration

The most important thing is to be considerate of your pregnant partner, who will be physically and mentally unsettled. Accept that housework will not be completed; instead, take the initiative and lend a helping hand around the house. While you may be busy, remember that the most important thing right now is to cooperate and encourage the expectant mother so she can have a healthy baby. If you smoke, try not to do so in the same room. A supportive father is the single most important source of happiness for an expectant mother.

Give her a feet rub

Foot massage is an excellent stress reliever because it not only relieves stress but also provides some private time to discuss issues.

Show interest

Okay, you may be discussing the baby's name for the 1000th time, but always show interest. This could save both of you. Dump one or two soccer matches or have them recorded to watch later, but make time for important appointments and workshops.

Clean the bathroom

This may appear to be low on priority, but you wouldn't let her puke in a filthy toilet, would you?

Remain calm

She could be sick to her stomach, tired all the time, giddy, depressed, ravenous, completely without appetite, glad, mad, sad, or just plain miserable. Her ankles and breasts may swell and ache. Her back could hurt, and she could develop new allergies. She may also blame you in secret for her condition, especially if you don't show any sympathy for her. Your job is to show her you care in a calm way and resist the urge to brush off her problems and bad feelings.

Read her a book

There will be nights when she will not be able to sleep; be a good father and tuck her in or read her a book until she falls asleep. Consider it foreplay before reading your baby to sleep.

Love is in the air

Return to the places where you first fell in love with her; take her to the location where you proposed to her; take her to a restaurant to keep the romance alive. Always make her feel special; more than anything else, she needs your presence and attention right now.

Feel the baby

You've heard it before, "Just put your hand right here…". She suddenly reports that the baby has stopped moving. Try resting your hand on her belly while watching TV or lying in bed. The longer you leave your hand there, the more likely you will be rewarded with the thumps and flutters she craves.

Get ready to be a dad!

By the time the third trimester arrives, you'll have gone from expectant to full-time dad in a flash. Pregnancy is only a small part of a father-son or daughter relationship's life. Your true role in this pregnancy is to prepare to be a major player in the family and to take personal leadership in raising your new child.

Meanwhile, think about the kind of father you want to be, the values you want to instil in your child, and the lessons you want to teach your child. By the time your baby is born, you will be a different person with a different outlook on life. After all, at the end of this process, two will have become three.

5 interesting facts about autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the world's most rapidly growing developmental disorders. According to Statista's John Elflein, Singapore ranks ninth in the world in terms of reported autism cases in 2022, with 67 per 10,000 children.¹

Here are five interesting facts about autism:

Fact #1

10% of autistic people are thought to have special abilities in areas such as music, art, mathematical calculations, memory, and manual dexterity. The majority of people, on the other hand, may excel in areas related to their special interests. These skills are often referred to as 'splinter skills', because they are normally inconsistent with skills in other areas of development.

Fact #2

People with ASD are said to be emotionless and incapable of showing affection. This has been proven to be false. Due to differences in how they process sensory information and understand social cues, neurotypicals and neurodiversities may show emotions and affection in different ways.

Fact #3

Every autistic child is unique in their own way. There are no two children with autism who exhibit the same symptoms. Early intervention therapists must be trained and knowledgeable about the various teaching strategies for autistic children. The way a child is taught should be based on what he or she needs in order to learn useful language and ideas that will help them reach their full potential.

Fact #4

If autism symptoms are detected in a child at an early age and the appropriate type of early intervention is provided, the child has a good chance of living successfully, working, and contributing to society, just like any neurotypical individual. Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Andy Warhol, and Bill Gates are all thought to be autistic.

Fact #5

Many people are unaware that umbilical cord stem cells have shown promising results in the treatment of childhood autism when it comes to autism research. A recent research study led by renowned cord blood expert Dr Joanne Kurtzberg found significant improvements in children with autism when umbilical cord blood was infused into patients as a form of treatment.²

This article was written by Emuna House:

Emuna House is an inclusive, child-centred learning organisation. They provide programmes designed for both typical and atypical children from as young as 15 months to 14 years of age, particularly for children who are on the Autism Spectrum. These programmes focus on building and strengthening base skills to allow progress to mainstream schooling and to better participate in society. All their programmes have Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) therapy principles and techniques at their core. This approach enables them to discover and improve each child’s base skills, and repeat. Progress is made with gradual, but consistent, adaptation, fine-tuning, and goal-setting. They follow the progress of each child meticulously and encourage open communication between their team and their children’s families. They work together to provide a well-balanced and strong support system for the child as he or she learns to navigate the world.

Contact Information: +65 9012 4694

References: 

1. Elflein J. Autism rates among children by country page. Statista website. https://www.statista.com/statistics/676354/autism-rate-among-children-select-countries-worldwide/. Accessed February 26, 2021. 

2. Dawson G, Sun JM, Baker J, et al. A Phase II Randomized Clinical Trial of the Safety and Efficacy of Intravenous Umbilical Cord Blood Infusion for Treatment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2020;222:164-173.

How parents can manage their children with autism

After learning that your child has autism, you'll find yourself filling a variety of roles. At the same time, you'll get a lot of information from different sources, which can make you feel confused and frustrated. As parents, we often have to play more than one role, such as teacher, therapist, activity planner, and so on. 

However, the most important role to play at this time is that of your child’s advocate. Being your child’s advocate will be a life-long journey that will require different skills depending on your child’s needs. It is best to contact a good early intervention centre that can guide you and provide you with strategies for helping your child. A good intervention provider will communicate with you openly and will have a team of experts to help you along the way. Here are some helpful tips for dealing with autistic children.

Reinforce positivity

Children with autism, like everyone else, respond well to positive reinforcement. Reinforcing good behaviour or achieving goals, no matter how big or small, will motivate and encourage them. However, you must be specific when providing reinforcement so that they understand that their behaviour or actions at that time were correct. Reinforcement can be as simple as compliments like “good job for keeping your toys!” or “good job for eating your peas”. You can also give them tickles or access to their favourite toy or activity, but make sure you emphasise why you are doing so.

Vocal play to functional language

Begin by making the first sounds of your child's favourite items and activities. For example, when asked to blow bubbles, say “b” for  “bubbles”, or “o” for "open the door". Start by having your child make single word request, then gradually progress to phrases and, eventually, sentences.

It is also critical to practise maintaining consistent eye contact when making requests. Large and immediate positive reinforcement will encourage your child to speak up more. Children require opportunities to express themselves and ask for what they want and need. If children are automatically given what we thought they wanted and needed without prior known requests, they will never feel the need to ask, because it will be provided before any requests are made. As a result, it is critical to provide opportunities and allow your child to make meaningful requests using gestures, sounds, and words to help them understand the value of making requests.

Strengthen eye contact

When giving something to your child, begin by holding it up to your face. Your child will look you in the eyes as he or she reaches out for it. Celebrate when your child looks at you, especially if it is unexpected, to encourage more of the same. You can do this by saying things like "I like the way you look at me!" or "nice looking!" and then clapping or giving a thumbs up to emphasise the praise if necessary. You can also lower yourself to your child’s eye level. This will reduce your child's stress and increase the likelihood that he or she will look at you.

Be consistent and give it time

Early intervention can help a child's development as a whole and make it easier for them to fit in socially over time. Children with autism develop at different rates and may take longer than others. The key to effective intervention is sticking to the programme and giving your child and the service provider enough time to grow together. Your child will grow tremendously with these two elements in place.

This article was written by Emuna House.

Emuna House is an inclusive, child-centred learning organisation. They provide programmes designed for both typical and atypical children from as young as 15 months to 14 years of age, particularly for children who are on the Autism Spectrum. These programmes focus on building and strengthening base skills to allow progress to mainstream schooling and to better participate in society. All their programmes have Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) therapy principles and techniques at their core. This approach enables them to discover and improve each child’s base skills, and repeat. Progress is made with gradual, but consistent, adaptation, fine-tuning, and goal-setting. They follow the progress of each child meticulously and encourage open communication between their team and their children’s families. They work together to provide a well-balanced and strong support system for the child as he or she learns to navigate the world.

Contact information: +65 9012 4694

The importance of baby teeth

By Dr. Ashley Thean
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
B.D.S (Melbourne)

Baby teeth, also called "deciduous teeth," are a part of a child's health that is often overlooked. Many parents believe that deciduous teeth are not overly important, that they are just a temporary stage before being replaced by adult teeth. But the baby teeth are important for the growth of the adult teeth and for the child's speech, function, and a beautiful smile. Tooth decay can lead to abscesses in a child's mouth, an infection that leads to pain and discomfort. Treating tooth decay as a dentist may then require extractions or pulpectomies (nerve treatment for deciduous teeth), and these possibly negative experiences may alter the child's perception of the dentist, leading to avoidance of dental issues out of fear as they grow up.

To keep the baby teeth healthy, it is important to pay attention to the child's diet, how often they brush their teeth, how much fluoride they get, and how often they go to the dentist.

What are some important things to look out for as my baby is growing?

1) Teething

Teething is a group of symptoms that can happen when baby teeth come in. These symptoms vary, from red and swollen gums, lack of appetite, discomfort, drooling, as well as difficulty in sleeping. If these symptoms are observed, please consult your pediatrician as there may be other issues at hand.

Ways to combat a teething baby include rubbing the baby's gums with a clean finger or wet cloth, or giving them cold teething rings or toys. If you intend to give your baby medication such as pain relief or numbing creams for the gums, please check with your paediatrician first.

 2) Injury to your baby's mouth

If an injury occurs to your baby's mouth, you should contact your dentist immediately. This is so we can look at your teeth and figure out the best way to treat you. If your child is in pain and the tooth is chipped or broken, you may want to give mild pain relief and, if possible, bring the tooth fragment to show your dentist.

If the tooth is completely knocked out of the mouth, take the tooth to your dentist immediately. Try to be as gentle as possible with the tooth and store it in milk until your dental appointment.

 3) Thumb sucking

You should not allow your child to suck their thumb beyond the age of four. Thumb sucking at an older age leads to crooked, crowded teeth and bite problems. This can also happen if the baby uses the pacifier for a long time. In the future, they may need orthodontics to fix their bite.

Dental decay and diet

Dental decay can manifest as dark, coloured lesions on the surfaces of the teeth. According to the National Dental Centre (Singapore), early childhood caries (ECC) affects 40% of our preschoolers. ECC is a severe form of dental decay that can make it difficult for children to eat or sleep well.

Looking after the child's diet is of utmost importance. As a parent, you have full control over the child's diet for the first few years; foods containing sugar should be avoided as much as possible. When you put sugar in your mouth, bacteria in dental plaque turn this sugar into acid, which is strong enough to cause tooth decay. Sugar can last up to 20 minutes after a snack has been finished, and this is why it is important to not only limit sugar in the diet but to avoid snacking as well.

Children should try and eat a well-balanced diet, sticking to core foods and having three proper meals a day. Any snacks should be limited to meal times. This is because excess saliva produced during meals can help wash away the extra sugar and acid that cause tooth decay. If your child did have something sweet to eat, try to brush their teeth right away. If this is not possible, drink lots of water or rinse the mouth with water.

The most frequent cause of ECC is letting your baby fall asleep with a bottle of milk or any other sugary drink. Parents should try and avoid overnight feeding as milk can pool in your child's mouth and stay on their teeth. This allows for the formation of acid-producing bacteria. Combined with the fact that saliva flow is greatly reduced at night, this bad habit can lead to rapid destruction of tooth structure.

At what age does my baby need to start brushing?

Good oral habits should begin at a very early age, even before the first tooth arrives. Start cleaning your child's mouth now, even if they do not have any teeth yet. Do this by gently wiping the mouth clean with a wet cloth or a small thimble-like soft rubber device that fits over your index finger to rub off excess food.

Once the first tooth erupts at about six months, brush the teeth twice daily with a toothbrush. Start children with a small, soft-bristled, colorful toothbrush with a big handle. Use a circular wiggling motion, especially where the tooth meets the gums. From the age of two, or once your child knows how to spit, start them with a pea-sized amount of low-concentration fluoride toothpaste. You can ask your family dentist to demonstrate proper toothbrushing at your child's first dental visit. Parents should always watch their kids brush, and every three months, they should get a new toothbrush.

Is fluoride good for me?

Fluoride is beneficial for preventing cavities and strengthening tooth enamel. It is in the tap water in Singapore, in toothpaste, in some mouth rinses, and in gels and varnishes that are put on by professionals.

While fluoride provides a wide range of benefits, its use in children must follow recommendations according to the child's age. When teeth are still in the developmental stages, excessive use of fluoride can lead to fluorosis, a process that changes the way teeth develop. Fluorosis can be mild and only change the colour of the tooth, or it can be severe and make the whole tooth brown and weaken the tooth.

For children under the age of 6, fluoride tablets, gels, and mouth rinses are prohibited under the European Acaedmy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD), American Dental Association (ADA), as well as the Australian Dental Association (ADA). This is especially so in Singapore as our tap water is already fluoridated at 1 part per million (ppm), and additional fluoride supplements may not be necessary.

Age group	Concentration of fluoride in toothpaste	Amount
6 months to 2 years	500 ppm	Pea sized
2 to 6 years	1000 ppm	Pea sized
6 years and up	1450 ppm	1-2 cm

EAPD recommended guidelines for toothpaste use in children

Young children have a high tendency to swallow toothpaste, so you should only switch to a fluoride-containing toothpaste once your child is able to spit. For all children below the age of six, toothpaste should be used under adult supervision.

It is imperative to balance the protective effect of fluoride against dental caries and to also minimise the risk of fluorosis. For children with rampant dental decay, you may consider additional fluoride-related treatment modalities based on the advice of your dentist. For more information about the oral health benefits of fluoride, please ask your dentist.

When should be my baby's first visit the dentist?

The first visit to the dentist should be right after his or her first birthday. At your child's first appointment, the dentist can keep you informed about caring for your baby's first few teeth, offer advice regarding oral hygiene recommendations, diet and nutrition, and inform you on how to avoid possible problems.

The second visit should be when your baby is 3 years old, when the full set of the deciduous dentition has erupted (20 teeth in total). The goal of this visit is to look at all the baby teeth to see if they are decaying or if there are any problems with how they are growing. A preventive dental programme may then be redesigned based on these findings.

Subsequent dental visits should then continue every 6 months. At every appointment, the dentist will continue to review your child's dental growth and development and will adjust the preventative programme tailored to your child. If necessary, fluoride treatment may be recommended at this stage.

The first few appointments your child goes through play an important role in their subsequent dental visits in the future. Children need to experience the clinical environment and slowly grow accustomed to seeing the dentist. Look for a dental clinic that is child-friendly, patient, gentle, and focused on your child's specific needs.