Would you like to find out if your child is his father's son? Doubts about the father of a child can eat away at and taint the precious time you spend with your child. Today, there are many options for determining the father of the child. Here are some tips to guide you through this difficult process.
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Step 1. Learn about harmless prenatal options for paternity testing
If you are pregnant and you are not sure who the father of your child is, there are possible ways to find out who the father of your child is before your child is born. Some tests can obtain DNA samples from children while they are still in the womb. Remember, however, with this method, you will need the father to provide a DNA sample (usually by a cheek swab or a blood sample.) Of all the prenatal options for testing paternity, the Harmless Prenatal Paternity Testing (NIPP) is the least dangerous test for infants. This test does not take DNA directly from an unborn baby. However, this test takes a blood sample from the mother. The baby's DNA that can be recovered from the mother's bloodstream will be analyzed and compared with the blood of the potential father.
Step 2. Learn about dangerous pre-delivery options
There are other options to find out the father of your baby other than using the NIPP test. However, some of these procedures require the doctor to enter the uterus using medical equipment, so it carries a small risk of miscarriage. Because of this, choosing to undergo the perilous paternity exam is a serious decision that must be carefully considered. Talk to your doctor before deciding to undergo a dangerous paternity test procedure – even the smallest risks must be considered for the health of your baby.
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Amniocentesis. This test is usually done in the second quarter, between weeks 14 and 20 of pregnancy. The doctor uses an ultrasound device to insert a thin needle into the uterus through the abdomen. The needle releases a small amount of amniotic fluid, and it is this fluid that will be tested.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, side effects of this procedure are cramping, leaking of amniotic fluid, and vaginal bleeding. There is a small risk of miscarriage (about 1:300 to 1:500). You need a doctor's approval to perform this procedure
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Taking Chorionic Villus Sampling / Chorionic Villus Sampling. This exam is similar to Amniocentesis. A needle is inserted into the vagina and guided by ultrasound to obtain a sample of the chorionic villi. Chorionic villi are finger-like structures attached to the uterine wall that originate from a fertilized egg, just like a fetus, so chorionic villi will have the same genetic code as those found in the uterus. This test can be done while you are still pregnant (from 10 – 13 weeks of pregnancy).
Just like Amniocentesis, this procedure can be done only with the approval of a doctor. This procedure also carries a very small (but real) risk of miscarriage
Step 3. Do a DNA test when the baby is born
If your baby is coming soon, you may not want to take the paternity exam. In such cases, be aware that you can obtain DNA samples from newborns. Usually, you will need to take a blood sample from the umbilical cord after the baby is born. This method does not hurt the baby – there is no sense of taste in the umbilical cord.
Umbilical cord testing is generally not as expensive as prenatal testing, but more expensive than postnatal testing (tests performed after delivery of cheek swabs, blood samples, etc.)
Step 4. Do a DNA test after the baby is born
DNA testing can be performed on humans of any age. If your baby is already born, there is a wide variety of accredited laboratories, and for a fee, can perform high-accuracy paternity testing using DNA samples from the baby, father, and sometimes, mother. Search online for paternity testing agencies to learn more. Before you make a decision, make sure that the DNA Diagnostic Center you are using is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB).
- If the DNA sample is taken in a clinical setting, it is most likely that the DNA taken came from a cheek swab or by a blood sample.
- Paternity testing does not “completely” require clinical paternity swabs or blood samples – it allows (though usually not guaranteed) that usable DNA samples can come from strands of hair, chewing gum, cigarette butts, and other discarded items.
Step 5. Get your results
After you take a DNA sample, it must be sent to a laboratory and analyzed by experts to determine the father of your baby. Wait a few days to weeks to see the results. Talk to your test provider – the results may be sent to you by mail, or you may need to return to the test site to collect the results.
Step 6. Know the cost of paternity testing
Understand that, in many cases, paternity testing is considered an unnecessary procedure, so it is not covered by insurance. The cost of this test ranges from Rp.1,385,000,00 (for the cheapest option) to between Rp.13,850,000,00 – Rp.27,700,000, 00 for the most accurate length test. Prenatal tests are almost always more expensive than postnatal tests. For accurate results, you must be willing to pay at least a few million more.
- Keep in mind that if you want the results of the DNA test to be admissible in court, the price may be higher. However, if you want the results to be used solely for your own personal use, it will likely cost less, and the test you can administer in your own home.
- Sometimes, there is a separate fee for DNA sample collection.
