Down Syndrome - High Risk Mothers And Early Detection

As an expecting mother, please be sure to keep allfalse-positive result, therefore, if the first ultra screen
doctor's appointments, take all prenatal vitamins andis positive, reschedule another to be sure. If the
dietary supplements, and be absolutely certain toscreening detects a Trisomy-18 defect it is likely to
begin taking care of your child from the moment yoube accurate. The false-positive rate on the ultra
find out you're pregnant. Prenatal care is essential forscreen for Trisomy-18 is more like one percent. The
any expecting mother. Down Syndrome, as a primaryultra screen can detect, incredibly early, the chances
concern for pregnant women over the age of 35, orof Trisomy-18 with up to 98 percent accuracy.
for women genetically predisposed to give birth to aSo, some of you eager expecting mothers are
child with this condition, can sometimes be detectedprobably wondering, how exactly is the ultra-screen
as early as the first trimester. Please see your doctortest performed? A combination ultrasound and blood
regularly and as soon as possible for an ultrasound.test are keys to this procedure and the accuracy of
Although there is not much that advanced medicine,its results. According to experts who routinely use
as of yet, can do to prevent this troubling disease,the equipment, "the test begins with an ultrasound
there are ways a woman can prepare herself andexamination between 11w1d and 13w6d gestation."
her family to care for a child with Down Syndrome.The CRL needs to be between 45 and 84 mm. CRL
This, of course, applies to many pregnancies andis measured for accurate pregnancy dating (i.e. the
potential birth defects, such as Trisomy-18 and otherdate of conception) and nuchal translucency (NT) is
chromosomal abnormalities that may occur. Takingmeasured as well before the procedure can be
care of yourself while you are pregnant is the mostperformed. NT is a specific marker for chromosomal
important thing you can do.aneuploidy which can be detected by this procedure.
Any pregnancy is important, and many variables areAt the time of the ultrasound exam, the doctors will
certainly worth attending to during those crucialcollect a dried blood sample via fingerstick.
months before your child is born. Whether it hasAlong with the dried blood sample taken, the
already been determined that yours is a high-riskultrasound data is entered onto the test requisition
pregnancy, or if you may possibly be a high-riskform and sent to laboratories for complete analysis.
pregnancy, even if (as far as you know) you andThe blood sample is screened for free Beta HCG and
your baby are in perfect health, medical attention isPlasma Protein A(PAPP-A), a pregnancy-associated
essential from the earliest possible point in yourplasma protein. The risk for Down Syndrome in the
pregnancy.fetus as well as the risk for Trisomy-18 are calculated
One very important thing to do, in addition to allbased on the patent's age, the nuchal translucency,
other prenatal care, is to have an ultra-screen done inas well as the freebeta and PAPP-A. Despite the
your first trimester. An ultra-screen is a proceduremedical jargon that is sometimes difficult to get
that has been extensively studied. Screening isaround, get the ultra-screen in your first trimester,
recommended for all pregnant patients, not justand ask your doctor specific questions no matter
women over the age of 35. Of all Down Syndromehow much you don't understand. The number one
pregnancies, 91 percent can be detected by use ofobjective is to understand as much as you possibly
an ultra-screen in the first trimester. There is,can when it comes to your unborn child.
however, a five percent chance of getting a