Patient's question:
I want to ask that my Down syndrome screening is scheduled for Saturday the 19th and cannot be done. The doctor said the screening period is from Friday the 15th to Friday the 19th, and that I have passed the screening time. I am very worried because I've heard that Down syndrome screening is very important. Is there any way to make up for this? What aspects of the fetus does this main screening check? What are the necessary follow-up screenings? Can a systematic ultrasound check for fetal abnormalities and whether the intelligence is normal?A few days ago, I went for a check-up, and the doctor said I was deficient in zinc and iron. He prescribed Gancao Zinc Granules and Succinate Iron Tablets. How long should I take this medication?
Doctor's answer:
General pregnant women undergo prenatal screening for Down syndrome by drawing maternal serum and testing the concentration of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin in the serum. This is combined with the pregnant woman's estimated due date, age, weight, and gestational age at the time of blood collection to calculate the risk factor for giving birth to a child with Down syndrome. The optimal time is between the 15th and 20th weeks of pregnancy. Prenatal diagnosis, such as amniocentesis, is usually only performed for high-risk pregnant women. Chromosome testing of the amniotic fluid, typically around the 14th to 16th weeks of gestation, can determine whether the condition is present.