Q&A: My wife is pregnant and I'm nervous about possible birth defects because we are second cousins.

by Dr. Aubrey Milunsky

My wife recently found out she's pregnant. However, I'm a little nervous about possible birth defects because we are second cousins. Do I need to worry?

Available data does not suggest an increased risk of birth defects in the offspring of second cousins. However, it would only be safe to conclude this only after a careful review of the family tree. A visit to a clinical geneticist would help provide reassurance. A high-resolution ultrasound between 16-18 weeks of pregnancy would also be useful.

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