Amniocentesis to test for Rh-factor incompatibility

1952. Douglas Bevis, a British physician, publishes his article "The Antenatal Prediction of Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn" in The Lancet. This article details his findings on how amniocentesis can be used to test for Rh-factor incompatibilities between a mother and her fetus. Such incompatibilities cause complications to the fetus and extend to the newborn. This includes enlarged organs, anemia or jaundice, and can cause stillbirth or death in early infancy. Although amniocentesis can result in complications resulting in miscarriage in approximately 0.5% of cases, its introduction enabled diagnosis and treatment of this condition during pregnancy.

Since 1952, the utility of amniocentesis has been extended beyond Rh-factor incompatibilities. As of the 2010s, it is used in early pregnancy to diagnose chromosomal conditions such as Down syndrome, Trisomies 13 and 18, Fragile X, rare metabolic disorders and neural defects such as spinal bifida. It may also be used to determine the gender of the infant. As a form of prenatal diagnosis, amniocentesis has been used to inform the practice of selective abortion. Because of this, it has ties to new methods of eugenic practices, which suggest that certain fetuses are undesirable.

-Amy Dyrbye

Amniocentesis to test for Rh-factor incompatibility

1952. Douglas Bevis, a British physician, publishes his article "The Antenatal Prediction of Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn" in The Lancet. This article details his findings on how amniocentesis can be used to test for Rh-factor incompatibilities between a mother and her fetus. Such incompatibilities cause complications to the fetus and extend to the newborn. This includes enlarged organs, anemia or jaundice, and can cause stillbirth or death in early infancy. Although amniocentesis can result in complications resulting in miscarriage in approximately 0.5% of cases, its introduction enabled diagnosis and treatment of this condition during pregnancy.

Since 1952, the utility of amniocentesis has been extended beyond Rh-factor incompatibilities. As of the 2010s, it is used in early pregnancy to diagnose chromosomal conditions such as Down syndrome, Trisomies 13 and 18, Fragile X, rare metabolic disorders and neural defects such as spinal bifida. It may also be used to determine the gender of the infant. As a form of prenatal diagnosis, amniocentesis has been used to inform the practice of selective abortion. Because of this, it has ties to new methods of eugenic practices, which suggest that certain fetuses are undesirable.

-Amy Dyrbye