Paternity Test Archives - Page 4 of 54

Shared Parenting: 3 Tips That Put Kids First

by HOMEDNA on 08/02/2021

Splitting up is never easy and rarely is it pain-free. In many cases, once a relationship ends, each person can leave the past behind, move forward in their lives and perhaps never even see each other again. But when the relationship produced a beautiful and innocent little human being, responsible parents must consider the child’s needs before their own. Both parents can have an influence for good in their child’s upbringing, and for this reason, more and more couples who split are opting for shared parenting. Is it the right choice for you?

Quick Pros and Cons of Shared Parenting

Pros

A child gets a clear message that both parents love them and want them.
There is regular access to both Mom and Dad and enjoy the benefits of it.
There are fewer conflicts between parents when they do shared parenting.
Many co-parenting non-residential parents provide more regular financial support because they do not feel like they have ‘lost’ their children.
Because they’re not parenting alone, parents are less likely to feel burned out.

Cons

Shared parenting limits a parent’s mobility. Because they need to stay close to their child, they may give up the opportunity for a better job elsewhere.
Some children get anxious going back and forth between homes and one parent may be markedly better with their parenting skills than the other.
If parents aren’t good at communicating with each other or don’t get along, they may make decisions for the child independently, causing further conflict.
A child can be made to feel ‘in the middle,’ having to deliver messages between Mom and Dad or being quizzed about the actions of the other parent.

3 TIPS: If You Decide Shared Parenting is the Best Option

1. Do What’s Best for your Child. Period.

It’s so incredibly difficult to put aside your own feelings of anger, resentment, and bitterness toward your ex and do what’s best for your child. But you must. And you do it because you’re a grown-up. Not all shared parenting arrangements can be 50-50. For example, if you work graveyard, it may be better for the sake of stability in your child’s daily schedule if you have her weekends only. Will you miss her during the week? Yes. Is it better for her, though? Absolutely. When it comes to all shared parenting decisions, disassociate from your own feelings and consider your child’s needs instead. It will pay off.

2. Tell your Child Often What a Great Parent Your Ex is!

Your child loves you both, and it psychologically hurts her and confuses her when you speak ill of a parent she loves. Talk to someone else about your beefs with your ex. When it comes to your child, it’s important for her to know that you think your ex has her best interests at heart and loves her just like you do. Put pictures up in your home of the two of them together. Not only will it comfort her, but this simple act can also act as a reminder to you that your child needs both of you in order to grow up strong, healthy and happy (Bathie).

3. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – Let it Go.

Kids can feel tension between their parents a mile away. Although you’ll always have disagreements, in order to be the grown-up you have to be willing to let go of control. Especially when it’s stuff that really doesn’t matter. If your ex lets your child stay up till 10 even though you insist on a 9 o’clock bedtime at home, let it go. If your ex feeds her sugary cereal for breakfast, so what? As long as it’s not putting your child in danger, let your ex parent the way they deem best. Peace between parents goes a long way toward ensuring a happy childhood. And really, isn’t that the goal?

The Bottom Line about Shared Parenting

There can be situations when shared parenting is never a good option-such as when a parent is abusive. But courts encourage co-parenting in most cases because it’s an arrangement that enables a child to have both parents continue being active in his or her life and upbringing. As a top paternity test lab, we talk to good parents every day who want to do what’s best for their little ones by giving them a sense of identity. Sometimes these parents are still together and sometimes they’re not, but they all have one thing in common: doing what’s best for their child.

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Sources

Bathie, Emma. “9 Ways to Co-Parent Like a Grown-Up.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 28 Mar. 2014. Web. 16 June 2016. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emma-bathie/9-ways-to-coparent-like-a_b_5045941.html>.

Golodner, Lynne Meredith. “Successful Co-parenting: 7 Steps for Divorced Parents – Metro Parent.” Metro Parent. Metro Parent Publishing Group, 13 Nov. 2015. Web. 16 June 2016. <http://www.metroparent.com/daily/parenting/divorce-family-law/successful-co-parenting-steps-divorced-parents/>.

Gordon, Donald A., Ph.D., and Jack Arbuthnot, Ph.D. “Shared Parenting Pros and Cons.” Shared Parenting Pros and Cons. Segue Esprit, Inc., 20 July 2014. Web. 16 June 2016. <http://www.divorcemag.com/articles/shared-parenting-pros-and-cons>.

Pros and Cons of a Prenatal Paternity Test

by HOMEDNA on 07/19/2021

There are many choices for a woman to make when she finds out she’s expecting, from what kinds of food she’s going to eat to which doctor she wants to see. With over 40% of children in the United States being born out of wedlock (CDC), many pregnant women are facing an additional choice: whether or not to have a prenatal paternity test.

This is a personal decision, and one that possibly comes with societal ethical and moral dilemmas attached. So before deciding whether or not to even consider such a procedure, it’s critical for a woman to have solid information about what her options are for prenatal paternity testing, the pros and cons of each, and the low-down on any associated risks and costs.

Prenatal Paternity Test Choices

CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling): Performed during Weeks 10-13

With this test, a doctor inserts a thin tube into the vagina. Guided by ultrasound, the device is gently inserted through the cervix, where it collects tissue from chorionic villi in the placenta. Chorionic villi are tiny finger-shaped wisps of tissue whose cells contain the baby’s DNA (HealthDay). A DNA sample is extracted in the lab and then compared to samples from the possible father and the mother. This process can also be performed by passing a needle through the wall of the abdomen (NHS).

PROS: You can have it done earlier in the pregnancy than an amniocentesis test (see below).

CONS: It is an invasive procedure that carries a slight risk of miscarriage. For this reason, most doctors hesitate to perform it or simply will not perform it for paternity test reasons alone. It is most often conducted to identify birth defects and disorders. Some studies also suggest it may cause defects in the babies’ fingers and toes (HealthDay).

COST: $1,400-2,000 for the physician. $400-1,000 for DNA testing

Some insurance plans cover the test, especially for women over 35 who have a higher chance of having a baby with genetic abnormalities. But most will not cover the procedure or testing if you want it only for paternity testing.

Amniocentesis: Performed during Weeks 14-20

A doctor inserts an ultrasound-guided needle through the wall of the abdomen and extracts a sample of fluid from the amniotic sac. For a test, it is a relatively lengthy procedure that can take approximately 45 minutes. The growing baby sheds cells into the amniotic fluid, which allows the DNA to be collected. Amniocentesis is primarily used to detect chromosome abnormalities and genetic disorders such as Down Syndrome, cystic fibrosis and spina bifida, but since DNA is being collected in the process, it can be used for a prenatal paternity test.

PROS: It’s a test that’s very familiar to most OBs, and has a relatively high success rate.

CONS: Like the CVS test, amniocentesis is an invasive procedure that carries a small risk of miscarriage. And, because it is so invasive, many doctors will not do it strictly for paternity test sample collection. Although it’s extremely rare, sometimes a needle may come into contact with the baby (American Pregnancy).

COST: $600-2,000 for the physician. $400-1,000 for DNA testing

Again, be sure to check your health insurance plan carefully. Although amniocentesis is nearly always covered when there is a health concern, it probably will not be covered for only a paternity test. (Womens Health Advice).

Non-Invasive Paternity Test: Performed Starting in the 7th Week of Pregnancy

This option requires a blood sample from the mother and a cheek-swab or blood sample from the father. Fetal cells are shed into the mother’s bloodstream; the DNA from the cells is then isolated and a separate profile from the mother’s can be created through extensive and complicated testing (Womens Health). The baby’s profile is then compared with the father’s and a probability of paternity can be determined.

PROS: This paternity test can be done as early as 7 weeks into the pregnancy and is non-invasive, which means there is virtually no risk to the mother or baby. It does not require the involvement of a medical doctor, since blood and buccal samples can be collected outside a doctor’s office. When DNA testing is performed through an accredited lab, results can be 99.9% (+/-)accurate.

CONS: There is a small chance that a woman may have fetal cells in her bloodstream from a previous recent pregnancy (Womens Health). If this is relevant, it should be discussed with the DNA-test case manager

COST: Approximately $1,600

Prenatal Paternity Test vs. Postnatal Paternity Test

One of the myths of paternity testing is that a woman has to wait until after the baby’s born to get the answer she seeks, but that’s not the case. She can get answers before birth if she feels it’s in her best interest to do so. With advances in technology, today’s prenatal test is a safe choice.

Get more information about a prenatal paternity test

Resources

“Amniocentesis.” American Pregnancy Association. American Pregnancy Association, 1 July 2015. Web. 24 Nov. 2015. <http://americanpregnancy.org/prenatal-testing/amniocentesis/>.

Henry, Sarah. “CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling).” CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling). HealthDay, 11 Mar. 2015. Web. 24 Nov. 2015. <http://consumer.healthday.com/encyclopedia/pregnancy-33/pregnancy-news-543/cvs-chorionic-villus-sampling-644471.html>.

Martin, Joyce A., M.P.H, Brady E. Hamilton, PhD, Michelle J.K Osterman, M.H.S, Sally C. Curtin, M.A., and T.J Mathews, M.S. “National Vital Statistics Report.” Systematic Biology 64.1 (2014): I1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 15 Jan. 2015. Web. 24 Nov. 2015. <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_01.pdf>.

“Paternity Test In Pregnancy.” Paternity Test While Pregnant: Prenatal Paternal Testing During Pregnancy, Types Of DNA Tests, Methods, Risks, Costs, Amniocentesis, Chorionic Villus Sampling, CVS, Fetal Cell Non Invasive Options. Womens Health Advice, n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2015. <http://www.womens-health-advice.com/paternity-testing/while-pregnant.html>.

“What Is a Prenatal Paternity Test?” – Health Questions. Gov.UK, 28 July 2015. Web. 24 Nov. 2015. <http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/what-is-a-prenatal-paternity-test.aspx?CategoryID=61&SubCategoryID=615>.

Can My DNA Paternity Test Be Wrong Because I have Human Chimera DNA?

by HOMEDNA on 07/13/2021

Human chimeras are a popular topic for TV shows and crime scene dramas. This extremely rare and interesting genetic condition can lead to the question “Can my DNA paternity test be wrong because I have human chimera DNA?” It’s important to know up front that the chances of this phenomenon causing misleading or incorrect paternity-test results is incredibly tiny, and should not be considered a cause for concern for your test.

What is Chimerism?

Named for the mythical monster with a lion’s head, a goat’s body and the tail of a snake, human chimeras have two or more genetically-distinct types of cells in their bodies. This anomaly is thought to be caused by the absorption, or fusing, of twins before they are born. This may cause the chimera to carry two sets of DNA in their body. One set of their DNA and one that would have been their twin’s DNA. This second set of DNA can show up anywhere in the body. A second, distinct set of DNA may be present in the skin, blood, or even reproductive organs of the chimera. This was what happened in the case of Lynda Fairchild, profiled in an ABC documentary.

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She’s Her Own Twin

Fairchild underwent DNA maternity testing shortly after the birth of her child. Results showed a poor match, as if she were the baby’s grandmother. It was concluded that Fairchild may have been a chimera, her body the result of the fusion of two non- identical embryos at the earliest stage of development. Different parts of her body could have come from different cell lines. Further testing indicated that cells taken from her reproductive organs contained different DNA than those taken from her mouth for the DNA testing and those were a match to her children.

Though cases like this are often given a lot of press, their occurrence is very rare. No one knows exactly how many cases of human chimera there are, but most studies cite only 30 reported cases in all of human history.

What Does This Mean For My DNA Paternity Test Results?

Chimerism and an “Inclusive” Results

An inclusion, or “positive” DNA paternity test shows that an alleged father and the child share the same DNA. Therefore that man is considered to be the biological father. The father’s DNA was passed to the child, and the loci (markers) all match up. It’s virtually impossible (that is, very, very unlikely) that possessing two sets of DNA would make someone appear to be a father when they are not. Matches at all locations indicate a positive paternity test result, even if the father is a chimera.

Chimerism and an “Exclusive” Results

An exclusion (when a man is not the father of a child) could potentially be affected by someone being a chimera. It is possible for a chimera to pass one set of DNA on to their child but show a second set of DNA with a cheek swab, as in the Linda Fairchild case. Even so, the child and the father would still likely show a partial match, similar to that of a child and an uncle, since the second set of DNA would be that of the father’s unborn twin. In most cases, an accredited laboratory would make a note of the other possible biological relationship in the test report and alert test participants.

Bottom line: Human chimera is a fascinating topic, but instances are so rare that the chances of it affecting your paternity test results are practically non-existent.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! If you have questions about paternity tests or other DNA testing services, please contact our Client Support Center at 888-404-4363, Mon-Fri from 9 AM to 6 PM Eastern Time. Our friendly, expert representatives are ready and happy to help. Get answers anytime by visiting our Help Center.