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How To Determine The Paternity Of A Child?
Question: I have a paternity question. I am currently 18 and 5 weeks pregnant. My LMP was Feb 10th, but I usually have irregular periods. I had sex with an ex boyfriend Feb 23 and 24th. Days (not sure exactly when) but I did have intercourse with my current boyfriend. I went into my first ultrasound and wastold the fetus looked smaller than thought. Based on my LMP my due date would've been 11/16/16. She told me I was only 7 weeks 4 days so she pushed my due date back to 11/25/16. I am pretty sure that my boyfriend is the father but there is still the small percentage I worry that the ex boyfriend is the father. I should add the ex boyfriend "states" he is unable to have kids and there is also a large age gap there as well, not sure if that would matter or not. What do you think my possibilities of it being my current boyfriends child is? Thank you for your time
Brief Answer:
Most likely this baby is your current boyfriends child.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.
I am Dr Ramadevi Wani. I will be answering your concerns today.
There are some particular concerns in your case. It is difficult to predict ovulation date since your cycles are irregular. You also do not remember the days when you had intercourse with your current boyfriend.
However early ultrasounds are accurate and reliable in calculating the fetus age than LMP. So most likely you have ovulated somewhere around 4th March. Since you had sex with your ex boyfriend only on 23rd and 24th , Feb it is unlikely that he is the father of this baby. Most likely this baby is your current boyfriends child with whom you had sex in the first week of March.
The confirmatory answer is by DNA testing. You can do this paternity test while you are pregnant also. There are two types of tests available at this stage of pregnancy.
1. Non invasive prenatal paternity test-- a small amount of baby's DNA is found in mothers blood naturally. This test can be done by collecting baby's DNA from your blood and matching it with your boy friend's blood. This is the recommended test as it does not carry any risk to the baby.
2. Amniocentesis to collect baby's DNA and matching it--This procedure is invasive and is associated with risk of miscarriage. It is performed during 14-20 weeks of pregnancy.
Or you can do the DNA test after delivery using baby's blood or baby's cheek swab.
I hope I have answered your queries. If you have any further concerns please write to us. I will be happy to answer.
Best wishes,
Dr Rama
Most likely this baby is your current boyfriends child.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.
I am Dr Ramadevi Wani. I will be answering your concerns today.
There are some particular concerns in your case. It is difficult to predict ovulation date since your cycles are irregular. You also do not remember the days when you had intercourse with your current boyfriend.
However early ultrasounds are accurate and reliable in calculating the fetus age than LMP. So most likely you have ovulated somewhere around 4th March. Since you had sex with your ex boyfriend only on 23rd and 24th , Feb it is unlikely that he is the father of this baby. Most likely this baby is your current boyfriends child with whom you had sex in the first week of March.
The confirmatory answer is by DNA testing. You can do this paternity test while you are pregnant also. There are two types of tests available at this stage of pregnancy.
1. Non invasive prenatal paternity test-- a small amount of baby's DNA is found in mothers blood naturally. This test can be done by collecting baby's DNA from your blood and matching it with your boy friend's blood. This is the recommended test as it does not carry any risk to the baby.
2. Amniocentesis to collect baby's DNA and matching it--This procedure is invasive and is associated with risk of miscarriage. It is performed during 14-20 weeks of pregnancy.
Or you can do the DNA test after delivery using baby's blood or baby's cheek swab.
I hope I have answered your queries. If you have any further concerns please write to us. I will be happy to answer.
Best wishes,
Dr Rama
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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