Down Syndrome Archives

Giving birth to a healthy baby is the most cherished wish for any parent. To ensure that, they reach all the extent to check the health and well-being of the unborn baby. Thanks to modern technology and modern prenatal screening, it has become easy to detect all kinds of medical issues in the fetus.

Importance of Checking Down Syndrome Symptoms:

Checking the signs of down syndrome through proper screening is an important medical requirement that parents need to follow. It is a very important prenatal genetic testing process which can help the parents detect the earlier signs of this medical condition. It is completely non-invasive and highly accurate and can clearly depict the fetus’ health.

More About Down Syndrome:

Before going for a down syndrome screening in Kolkata, parents should have a clear knowledge of the syndrome itself. It is a genetic disorder that affects a person with an extra chromosome. Human babies are generally born with 46 chromosomes. The extra chromosome causes an imbalance, which is medically termed ‘trisomy’.

Features of Down Syndrome in Individuals:95% of people with down syndrome are affected by trisomy. Though the affected individuals may be different from one another, they may show some similar physical features, like:

Flattened Face
Smaller Ears
Shorter Height
Smaller Limbs (Hand and feet)
Delays in Intellectual Assimilation and Speech

Non-Invasive Prenatal Tests for Down Syndrome:

Routine screening is necessary to prevent their child from getting affected by such a complex disease. It is an important part of prenatal care, which includes different steps. The screening requires a diagnostic test, which may determine the presence of an extra chromosome in the fetus. It includes the extraction of genetic samples through medical procedures, like:

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS): The medic extracts cells from the placenta. The procedure is generally performed between 10 and 13 weeks of pregnancy. The procedure carries a very low chance of miscarriage.
Percutaneous Umbilical Blood Sampling (PUBS): In this procedure, a blood sample is collected from the umbilical cord. It is one of the most accurate prenatal tests to determine down syndrome. The test has to be done once the mother reaches their second trimester.
Amniocentesis Sampling: It is a sample collected from amniotic fluid, which is taken with the help of a needle from the uterus. It is carried out after the 15th week of pregnancy.

With this medical testing procedure, one can understand if their fetus is facing healthy growth. To get better assistance in down syndrome screening in Kolkata, you can communicate with Institute of Fetal Medicine. They are a trusted establishment that can perform a wide range of non-invasive prenatal tests.

Down Syndrome – A High-Risk Factor For Early Mothers and Unborn Babies

What to do if the down syndrome is detected during pregnancy?

Every pregnancy is unique. How would you feel if you get the bad news right at the beginning of your first trimester? The mere thought of the same scares many women from availing this test. However, down syndrome is not a very common disease. Generally, women with a family history of the same show signs of this syndrome during the pregnancy.

If you’re the unlucky one, then the bad news is there’s no medicine even if the same is detected. However, confirmation of the same from the test will mentally prepare you and your family members for the upcoming unique child. Remember one important thing – take good care of the mother who is having down syndrome. These mothers generally have a high to medium risk pregnancy.

How are these tests performed?

If you’re scared, then don’t be! This test doesn’t involve any pain. It’s a combination of an ultrasound and a simple blood test. Within 11 to 13 weeks of pregnancy, the ultrasound examination is done on the mother. During the same visit, the doctors will collect your blood samples via the fingerstick.

Beta HCG and Plasma Protein A components are tested in the blood samples. Although understanding the medical terms might be complicated, as a mother, you should question the doctor until you get everything clear in your mind.

Institute of Fetal Medicine, Kolkata is fully equipped and successfully conducts down syndrome screening in Kolkata for all pregnant women. If your case is severe and needs special attention, then our specialised doctors at IFM will guide you and take extra care while conducting the tests.