Patient's question:
I am three months pregnant. When I first found out I was pregnant, I went to the hospital for an ultrasound. The doctor asked me to come back for a Down syndrome screening next time, but I forgot the date. I want to know when to do the Down syndrome screening? Is it done through a blood test or an ultrasound? What other prenatal check-ups do I need?Doctor's answer:
The Down syndrome screening is usually performed around the fourth month. By extracting the pregnant woman's serum and combining it with her age, weight, and gestational age, the risk value for Down syndrome screening can be obtained. This can effectively rule out many congenital malformations and chromosomal diseases. If the Down syndrome screening shows a high risk value, it indicates that the baby is at risk of having a malformation, and further amniocentesis is required. It is recommended that all women over the age of 35 undergo Down syndrome screening.