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Even if you’re not aware of genetic illnesses in your family, certain populations tend toward specific issues. For example, while sickle cell anemia occurs in 1 of 8 African Americans, cystic fibrosis can be found in 1 of 26 Caucasians and at an even higher percentage among Ashkenazi Jews. Other diseases such as Tay-Sachs and Gaucher are also prevalent among the Jewish population.

Many OB/GYNs suggest screening for the most likely diseases based on your heritage. It doesn’t hurt to get this done before you become pregnant. While many genetic diseases are recessive, meaning that both parents must carry the gene in order for the baby to develop the disease, should you turn up to be a carrier, your partner can be tested right away. If both you and your partner are carriers, each child from your union holds a 25 percent chance of inheriting both genes and thus the disease. Fifty percent of your children will be carriers of the disease and 25 percent will not have or carry the disease.