You may have requested this information because you have been diagnosed as a carrier through a blood test. If you find you are a carrier of the SMA gene, Families of SMA recommends that you seek the advice of a genetic counselor. This counselor can help you to better understand the risks and chances of having an affected child. The genetic counselor will take a complete family history, which will include any diseases, deaths, causes of death, stillbirths and miscarriages of each family member. If you have already given birth to a child with SMA, the counselor can discuss with you options that you may want to consider regarding future pregnancies.

The information presently available allows for prenatal testing with 98% reliability. These are individual decisions and very personal, it is important that both parents discuss their feelings before making a decision.