Question
Seven years ago, I gave birth to my first child, and the amniocentesis results were normal. In early 2016, I became pregnant with my second child and was diagnosed with hydatidiform mole. In August 2017, I was pregnant for the third time. Before this, I had undergone endurance training, acupuncture on the uterus, and traditional Chinese medicine treatment. Unfortunately, the fetus was diagnosed with a chromosomal abnormality and was induced at six months. Considering the age factor as the main reason, I am asking whether I should abandon the idea of having a second child or continue to try for another pregnancy. If I decide to continue trying, I am inquiring about additional methods that can increase the chances of conceiving a healthy baby, besides the current approaches.
Answer
Factors to consider may include chromosomal issues in both partners, as both egg and sperm quality tend to decline with age. The diagnosis of hydatidiform mole in the second pregnancy and chromosomal abnormalities in the third may be related to chromosomal issues. If you hope to have a healthy baby, an advanced current method is to undergo preimplantation genetic diagnosis or screening (PGD/PGS). This method can screen for genetic diseases to ensure the baby’s health. Through this technique, even if the parents have genetic diseases, chromosomally abnormal embryos can be screened out using screening technology, thereby avoiding the impact of genetic diseases.