Do you ever wonder if your child's cognitive ability was inherited or if it's based on environmental factors? In fact, human intelligence is a fairly equal mix of genetics and environmental influences. Genetic differences in cognition are more likely to be passed on from mother to child than from father to child (so for all the moms reading this, you were right all along).

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Whether you’re pregnant or planning to grow your family soon, many couples will decide to do prenatal genetic testing. Genetic testing can give you information regarding what your future child may be predisposed to or whether a current fetus has genetic disorders. If you’re ready to make the leap here are eight questions to ask your doctor to be fully prepared.

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If you are currently pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, you might know the term “genetic testing,” in which you undergo some medical tests to better understand your genetic health history that may or may not impact your child’s health. 

Learning you are pregnant can be one of the most exciting times in your life. There is so much to think about, from wondering what gender the baby will be to daydreaming about how she will look on her first day of school.

Pregnancy can also introduce anxieties that you may have never considered. This is especially true if you have concerns, including how your age, family history, and medical history could affect your unborn child.

If you have the time to be informed about your body, your expectations, and your options before pregnancy, would you? Well, great news! There are genetic screenings you can request when you decide you are ready to start #ttc.

What are diagnostic tests?

Wondering what your baby's blood type will be? Blood type is inherited from both biological parents. There's no way to be sure what your baby's blood type is without a blood test, but you can narrow down the possibilities if you know your blood type and your partner's.

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You may have heard about genetic testing for Down Syndrome during pregnancy. But what exactly is Down Syndrome? What are your chances of birthing a baby with this condition? Researchers do not know a lot about what causes Down Syndrome, but they do know a lot about how it works. There is also a lot of knowledge out there about some specific risk factors that increase your chances of having a baby with Down Syndrome. 

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Cholesterol tests

When a soon-to-be-parent learns they’re expecting a child, their brains go into overdrive—including wondering what—or who!—their child will look like. Brown hair? Blonde hair? Red hair? No hair? These genetic and inheritance questions may also make you wonder, "How tall will my baby grow up to be?" Will your baby be tall or short like me/the other biological parent? 

I confess: I definitely wondered, and still do: How tall will my baby be? 

The creation of a human body goes far beyond simple building blocks. For around nine months, the womb meticulously assembles microscopic fragments of DNA from both parents to create a unique individual. During that time, parents anticipate how the baby will look. Will she be tall like the father, have dark skin like the mother, or soft green eyes like both? 

Excitement builds as the time approaches to lay eyes on your mini-you…until your baby is born, and you notice, “My baby looks nothing like me!” 

High-Risk Tests Performed During Pregnancy

In addition to the routine history, the doctor will check for any unusual or serious medical conditions that the patient may have or that could be genetically related. For example, if you have a history of diabetes, sickle cell anemia, tuberculosis, blood clots, high blood pressure, previous abdominal or surgical history, or anything that might show up as a warning signal, your doctor will be paying closer attention to these areas.

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a prenatal diagnostic test that can be given as early as the 9th week of pregnancy to identify or rule out certain birth defects, including genetic conditions and chromosomal abnormalities. CVS is a relatively standard procedure that can be done as early as the 9th week of pregnancy but is typically done between 10-12 weeks of pregnancy. 

What is screened for

In addition to Down syndrome, screening tests also assess the risk of another chromosomal abnormality called trisomy 18. Babies with this condition have more severe mental and physical abnormalities than babies with Down syndrome and seldom survive beyond a year. The condition is rare, with each year around 1 in 6000 babies born with trisomy 18, compared to 1 in 800 babies born with Down.

Genealogy and family history have become hot topics for many families thanks to affordable and easy ways to test your DNA. These tests allow us to do everything from discovering how prone we are to like a certain ice cream flavor to learning important health data to exposing family secrets. You might have friends who have uncovered a different heritage than they knew to be true for their family or even long lost family members.

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With the advent of inexpensive and easily accessible DNA testing opportunities for the general public thanks to companies like 23 and Me and Ancestry DNA, questions about various genes and their mutations have become familiar and commonly used. One such gene is called MTHFR, and it is of particular interest to women who are trying to conceive and women who are pregnant. This is what you need to know about the MTHFR gene and how it can impact pregnancy.

When you decide to try for a new baby, consider doing a bit of research into your family history. Why? You will want to know whether your future child is disposed to any illnesses or genetic abnormalities, so you can best prepare. 

More: Should I Take An At-Home Genetics Test During Pregnancy?

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If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that pregnancy is pretty unpredictable. However, it doesn’t have to be nine months filled with unanswered questions and wondering what fate has in store for you. It can feel like grasping at straws when figuring out where to start when you first learn you are pregnant.