A first-time mum with muscular dystrophy has encouraged women to take part in a genetic study, saying it offers a “sense of security”.
Anisa Iqbal, 32, from Bradford, is one of 1,500 women signed up to The Generation Study, which identifies over 200 rare genetic conditions in newborn babies.
Iqbal signed up for the study during an antenatal class before giving birth to her son Kiyaan, who is now two months old, because of her own genetic disability, which she did not discover until her teenage years.
“There are so many conditions you probably haven’t even heard of or are aware of that they can test for, and it can be picked up very early on rather than finding out about it later on,” she said.
“It’s a sense of security and knowing that the tests have been done.”
Iqbal said Kiyaan’s birth had been difficult after she contracted sepsis when her waters broke at 35 weeks, leading to her spending a month in hospital in the lead-up to labour during which she experienced a fourth-degree tear.
But after the genetic test had been carried out, the family discovered Kiyaan’s results were clear.