How Can You Tell if Your Unborn Baby Has Down Syndrome

The diagnosis of Down syndrome can be made during pregnancy through specific tests such as nuchal translucency, cordocentesis and amniocentesis, which not every pregnant woman needs to do, but which is usually recommended by the obstetrician when the mother is over 35 or when the pregnant woman has Down syndrome.

These tests can also be ordered when the woman has already had a baby with Down syndrome, if the obstetrician observes any alteration in the ultrasound that leads her to suspect the syndrome or if the baby's father has any mutation related to chromosome 21.

The pregnancy of a baby with Down syndrome is exactly the same as that of a baby who does not have this syndrome, however, more tests are needed to assess the health of the baby's development, which should be slightly less and have less weight for the baby. gestational age.

Exams during pregnancy

Some tests can be done during pregnancy to assess the likelihood of the baby having Down syndrome and, thus, allowing parents to prepare to welcome a baby with this disorder. The main exams that can be performed are:

• Collection of chorionic villi, which can be done in the 9th week of gestation and consists of the removal of a small amount of placenta, which has genetic material identical to that of the baby;
• Maternal biochemical profile, which is done between the 10th and 14th week of gestation and consists of tests that measure the amount of a protein and the amount of the beta hCG hormone produced in pregnancy by the placenta and the baby;
• Nuchal translucency, which can be indicated in the 12th week of pregnancy and aims to measure the length of the baby's neck;
• Amniocentesis, which consists of taking a sample of the amniotic fluid and can be performed between the 13th and the 16th week of gestation;
• Cordocentesis, which corresponds to the removal of a blood sample from the baby by the umbilical cord and can be done from the 18th week of gestation.

From these tests, the doctor is able to observe whether the baby's development is adequate for gestational age and to assess whether there is a change in chromosome 21, which is related to Down's syndrome.

How is the diagnosis after birth

When the diagnosis is not yet made during pregnancy, it is possible to confirm Down's syndrome right after birth by observing some characteristics, such as:

• Another line on the eyelid of the eyes, which makes them more closed and pulled to the side and upwards;
• Only 1 line in the palm of the hand;
• Wider nose;
• Flat face;
• Large tongue, very high palate;
• Lower and smaller ears;
• Thin and thin hair;
• Short fingers, and the pinky can be crooked;
• Greater distance between the big toes of the other fingers;
• Wide neck with fat accumulation;
• May have umbilical hernia.

The more characteristics the baby has, the greater the chances of having Down syndrome, however, about 5% of the population also has some of these characteristics and having only one of them is not indicative of this syndrome. Therefore, it is important that blood tests are done to identify the characteristic mutation of the disease.

Children with Down Syndrome also experience delayed psychomotor development and begin to sit, crawl and walk, later than expected. In addition, it usually has a mental retardation that can vary from mild to very severe, which can be verified through its development.

Watch the

How Can You Tell if Your Unborn Baby Has Down Syndrome

Source: https://kenyannews.co.ke/health/health-news/how-to-tell-if-your-baby-has-down-syndrome/

Share this post