Patient's question:
I am three months pregnant. Yesterday, I had my first prenatal check-up and had a lot of blood drawn for tests, including liver function, thyroid function, and thalassemia, among others. I only need to have a Down syndrome screening in the future, but the doctor didn't mention when to do it today. When is the Down syndrome screening usually done?Doctor's answer:
Three months pregnant, as long as there are no abnormal obstetric examinations, you don't need to worry about needing further Down syndrome screening and 4D ultrasound examinations in the future to detect abnormalities. Down syndrome screening is usually conducted in two stages. Early Down syndrome screening is performed between weeks 11 and 14, and one day less. You need to do the early screen in a timely manner. Mid-pregnancy screening is performed between weeks 14 and 21 of pregnancy. It is best to do it after 16 weeks of pregnancy.