Charleston Women Winter 2021-22

www. Char l es tonWomenPodcas t . com | www. ReadCW. com | www. I ns tagram. com /Char l es tonWomen CW T he test comes back positive. You’re pregnant! In that instant, your entire life changes. You watch your body grow day by day, and your thought process shifts to constant wonder about your baby and if he or she is OK in there. Nowadays, there are more answers for pregnant mothers wondering how their baby is progressing and if there is anything going on that might be perceived as outside the realm of “normal.” It’s called genetic counseling, and if you’ve had a baby beyond the age of 35, you know it well. Doctors and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise women at “advanced maternal age” — meaning they will deliver after the age of 35 — to consider additional prenatal tests. Sally Shields is a genetic counselor at MUSCWomen’s Health Center on Cannon Street in downtown Charleston. She has been counseling women on their genetic history since 1981. “Many of the women I work with are considered ‘high risk’ and others are working with me because of an abnormal ultrasound,” she explained. “But I also speak to many couples who are thinking of becoming pregnant and want to talk about their options due to a genetic predisposition.” Many women seek genetic counseling at the recommendation of their doctor because they are over the age of 35, but Shields said that it is rare for there to be abnormalities due to age. “Being older really isn’t a big risk,” she assured. “We really are mostly speaking to mothers who may have a family history of something that they want to explore.” Shields remarked on how genetic counseling has changed over the years. “There are so many more tests and screenings now. We can even do specialized tests for a certain disease. This is really an exciting time to be in genetic counseling with all the recent advancements.” Shields began her career in medicine as a nurse in a genetic clinic for pediatrics and adults. “A counselor left, and I was asked if I would consider the job.” She took a class on genetics for medical students. At that time, she was working with Dr. G. Shashidhar Pai, whom she said taught and quizzed her every day. She passed her boards in 1984 to become a genetic counselor. “I worked with him for 10 years before the Prenatal Wellness Center opened at MUSC in 1991,” she remembered. Meet Sally Shields, a Genetic Counselor BY THERESA STRATFORD feature Photo prov i ded by Sa l l y Sh i e l ds . TUESDAY-SATURDAY 7am - 9pm SUNDAY-MONDAY 7am - 3pm Follow us on Social Media! THANK YOU, KEEP SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS! 2170 Snyder Circle Mount Pleasant, SC (314) 680-9889 ® UPSCALE LUXURY SECOND TO NONE Manicure • Pedicure • Facial • Waxing 617 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. Mount Pleasant www.843nailspa.com Appointments & Walk-Ins are Welcome! ®