| What is the chance that my baby will have Down | | | | different chromosome (called a translocation). |
| syndrome? If you're asking the question, you're | | | | The genetic cause can be determined by examining |
| probably pregnant or considering pregnancy. | | | | the chromosomes of the child and/or parents. If the |
| Most people have seen a child with Down syndrome | | | | mother carries a translocation, the risk for having a |
| - it's fairly easily to recognize. What people fear isn't | | | | child with Down syndrome is about 1 in 10. If the |
| so much the physical problems these children exhibit, | | | | father carries the abnormal chromosome, the risk is |
| but the mental retardation caused by the extra | | | | about 1 in 20. Chromosome testing would not |
| chromosome #21. | | | | normally be performed on parents unless they've |
| The incidence of Down syndrome increases with the | | | | already had one child with Down syndrome. |
| age of the mother. Although alcohol and tobacco use | | | | Pregnant women can be tested to see if their baby |
| have been linked to other conditions, they are not | | | | is likely to have Down syndrome, but this testing |
| thought to increase the risk of Down syndrome. | | | | may or may not be covered by your insurance. |
| According to the Merck Manual, a time-honored | | | | Because testing is expensive (hundreds of dollars), |
| medical reference, the overall risk is 1 in 800. | | | | not entirely accurate, and potentially dangerous to |
| However, for babies born to 20-year-old mothers the | | | | the unborn child, you should talk to your doctor |
| risk is only 1 in 2000 births. By age 35 the risk rises to | | | | about reasons to perform the test and reasons not |
| 1/365, and at age 40 is about 1%. | | | | to. |
| The answer is a bit more complicated than this, | | | | While it's true Down syndrome children suffer from a |
| however, because not all Down syndrome has the | | | | variety of problems, many are gifted with a great |
| same genetic cause. Most cases (about 95%) are | | | | capacity for love. Don't let fear blind you to the |
| due to a second copy of a complete chromosome | | | | possibility of learning more about love than you could |
| 21. The other 5% of cases are due to an extra | | | | ever imagine. |
| fragment of chromosome 21 getting stuck on a | | | | Copyright 2010 Cynthia J. |