Patient's question:
How should I do the Down syndrome screening? I am currently 21 weeks pregnant, and I heard that it is essential to have the Down syndrome screening to determine whether the baby I will give birth to is healthy. Before undergoing this screening, what should I prepare, and how exactly is the test performed?Doctor's answer:
Down syndrome screening is a test to check if the fetus has a risk of Down syndrome. The risk of Down syndrome is determined by a blood test taken around the 24th week of pregnancy. The screening mainly involves drawing a blood sample from the pregnant woman and calculating the risk factors for a Down syndrome baby based on the pregnant woman's prenatal status, weight, age, and gestational age. After the Down syndrome screening test, refrain from eating or drinking after 12:00 PM the day before the test, and go to the hospital for the fasting test the next day.