Patient's question:
Checked the Down syndrome screening results. They were not good.Doctor's answer:
Down syndrome screening is a method that involves drawing pregnant women's serum to detect the concentration of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin in maternal serum, and then calculating the risk coefficient of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome by combining factors such as the pregnant woman's estimated due date, age, weight, and gestational age at the time of blood collection.Children with Down syndrome have severe intellectual disabilities, cannot live independently, and often suffer from complex cardiovascular diseases, requiring long-term care from family members. This can impose significant emotional and financial burdens on the family.
Recommendation:
A high risk result in Down syndrome screening indicates a greater likelihood of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome. Further tests such as amniocentesis and fetal chromosome analysis are necessary to confirm whether the child has Down syndrome.
The optimal time for amniocentesis is between weeks 16 and 20 of pregnancy. It must be performed under ultrasound guidance to avoid injuring the fetus or placenta.