can you have a paternity test before the child is born?

Question

my friend wants to know this because his crazy girlfriend says she is pregnant and he doesnt believe that it could be his, so he wants to see if she can get a paternity test done while pregnant.

Answer 1

Yes, but it's expensive, and somewhat dangerous for the baby. She would have to consent to getting an amnio. It's probably best if he just waits it out. And, if he had sex with her after her last period, than there is a chance it's his baby, so he should be prepared.

Answer 2

From the language in your question, I'm going to assume you are in the United States. If not - disregard what I'm saying, because laws differ in other countries. First of all - DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE CHILD IS BORN! Most people have said that you need to wait before you file for paternity. That is absolutely, 100% the wrong answer. If you do that, she can disappear on you, and good luck tracking her down. She could also give the baby up for adoption, and if you don't find out quickly enough, you could lose all rights to the child by default. Many states have putative father registries. What happens is that you give the state the name, address, and approximate due date of the woman you think is carrying your baby. Then, when the baby is born, the state does a paternity test. If you're the father, your name goes on the birth certificate. Then you are required to pay child support and are eligible for visitation. (You will always get some level of visitation with the child, no matter how young, unless she could prove abuse or neglect. You just may not get over night visitation until the child is 3 - depends on the state.) Your best course of action at the moment is to contact the attorney generals office for your state. (Most of them will have web sites). They should be able to better direct you to the specific actions you need to take. If you have the money for it, you should also higher a family law attorney. They can make sure you get all the advantages available in the law. A couple of things, unfortunately, will not be possible for you. Without the mother's consent, no paternity test can happen before birth. Even if she did consent, you probably would not want to do it. The test involves taking amniotic fluid from around the baby. Even though it is usually safe, there is some risk involved. It seems silly to put your (potentially yours anyway) child at risk that way. Also, I am not certain that pre-birth tests stand up in court. In addition, you will not be able to be in the delivery room at the hospital. In fact, it is highly unlikely that you will even find out about the birth until after it has been turned in to your states beauro of statistics, unless the mother tells you. Because you cannot prove you are the child's father until after a paternity test, and you cannot get a paternity test until after the mother has been served papers from the court, which in turn cannot happen until the court knows there has been a live birth and thus can serve the papers, the hospital staff will not treat you as a father if the mother asks them not to. That means that even if you do find out about the birth, you cannot make the hospital staff allow you to hold, or even see the baby. If she is determined to make your life difficult, it is unlikely you will see your child before he/she is 6-12 weeks old. On the other hand, deliberate action on her part to interfere with your rights as a father will have consequences. Though courts are still reluctant to part mothers and infants unless there is abuse, it is not unheard of for a father to get custody of even a very young child. If you can show that she knows you are the father and is trying to use the child as a manipulative weapon, the courts will consider that as a factor when deciding the best primary residence for the child. Good luck. It's nice to see a dad who steps up to the plate. I wish my son's would!

Answer 3

The courts can not force this person to have a paternity before she gives birth due to the risk to the "fetus." The only 2 types of test that are available.

Prenatal (before your child’s birth) DNA testing:
Amniocentesis: This test is performed in the second trimester, anywhere from the 14th-24th weeks of pregnancy. During this procedure, the doctor uses ultrasound to guide a thin needle into your uterus, through your abdomen. The needle draws out a small amount of amniotic fluid, which is tested. Risks include a small chance of harming the baby and miscarriage. Other side effects may include cramping, leaking amniotic fluid, and vaginal bleeding. A doctors consent is needed to do this procedure for paternity testing.

Chrionic Villus Sampling (CVS): This test consists of a thin needle or tube which a doctor inserts from the vagina, through the cervix, guided by an ultrasound, to obtain chrionic villi. Chrionic villi are little finger like pieces of tissue attached to the wall of the uterus. The chrionic villi and the fetus come from the same fertilized egg, and have the same genetic makeup. This testing can be done earlier in pregnancy from the 10th-13th weeks. A doctors consent is needed to do this procedure for paternity testing.

Answer 4

There are two ways that a baby's DNA can be retrieved for a DNA test while still in utero. The first is through amniocentesis, the second is through chorionic villi sampling. Neither of those tests would be done solely to establish paternity, it would be a secondary test that could be conducted if the woman were already undergoing other tests due to pregnancy complications. Otherwise, he'll have to wait until after the baby is born.

Answer 5

Actually yes it CAN be done, but she would have to agree to the procedure. THey could do an amniocentesis and get the baby's DNA through that and match it against the potential father. It does have risks though like miscarriage or damage to the unborn baby say if the needle hits the baby. It's better to wait and get it done in the hospital after the baby is born when the risk is literally 0.

Answer 6

Yes but its a very dangerous procedure where a long needle is stuck into the woman's belly and into the woman's uterus to withdraw fluids that contain both DNA. This is very dangerous because it increases your odds for miscarriages. No doctor in their right mind would do this just for DNA test that can be done after the baby is born. These tests are usually only done in high risk pregnancies to make sure the baby is okay.

Answer 7

It can be done but it involves an amniocentesis which subjects the baby to unneeded risk of the mother going into premature labor. Tell your friend to just wait till the baby is born cause it needs all the time it can to develop in the mother! Plus they are costly... Read about it on the webpage I provided!

Answer 8

yes but it is risky to the baby so they will not order it unless he is like going to die before the birth. they have to do an amniocentesis. they stick a huge needle into the mothers stomach and into the uterus and collect a few cells from the baby. they may do one for medical reasons like if she is over 35 or if her blood tests show an increased risk of some birth defects so in that case it is possible i supposed for them to do it at that time. however he would have to get her to agree to it.

Answer 9

Yes. My husbands friend had this done when his girlfriend turned up pregnant after sleeping around!
It's very risky to the baby.
Please just wait for the sake of the baby.

PS: Very expensive here in Australia

Answer 10

Yes. Through an amniocentesis. I think I spelled that right.