RobertaYes - the dex treatment should be started early in the pregnancy. There is a fact sheet on the Dr. Maria New web page. It says that the dex treatment is most effectively if started while the sexual organs form before 8 weeks or 10 weeks into the pregnancy. But I would recommend that she have an amnio done anyway at 17 weeks to find out if it is a girl or boy. Do not depend on the ultrasound because the results can be misleading if it is a girl that is virilized or looks like a boy (external sex organs of a boy but is a girl internally). Do not have the amnio before 17 weeks - too risky. I would follow up with ultrasounds before and after the amnio. Ultrasound for age of the unborn baby is important.
Have cultured cells send to Dr. Maria New to find out if she or he has CAH. That way the family can be prepared at the birth to deal with the CAH immediately - boy or girl. And if baby doesn’t have CAH - don’t have to worry about treatment. That would be a "pro" for the amnio and genetic testing of the unborn baby.
Some doctors think that if the dex treatment is done after 8 weeks pregnancy it might reduce some of the virilization - if the pregnany is a girl with CAH. You need to have blood samples from the father and mother done now before the amnio. Our insurance paid for the testing. The genetic testing should be done regardless of how many weeks along she is because it is just a blood test from her and the father. The genetic blood testing is non-evasive.... have it done. Have it done now and then think about the amnio.
Both the father and mother have to be carriers of the CAH gene. It is one in four chance (25%) of the baby having CAH. So if it the same father and mother- then get the genetic testing done. It is just a blood test to see if they carry the gene for CAH. Then the amnio is done to see if the unborn baby has CAH and if it is a boy or girl.
Have her contact CARES - they can help!! CARES is a non-profit organization for CAH.