Can you detect Down Syndrome on a baby that is unborn, the woman is only 18 weeks pregnant???

Answer 1

The docs run a test called a 'Quad Test' at around this point in your pregnancy that will detect if your baby has the 'signs' of D/S. If the results come back positive, they will do more tests to determine if your child actually does have it. So yes, usually they will know before your baby is born. :-)

Answer 2

Hi...Yes you can tell if a baby has DS when it is unborn. it can be done through a level 2 or high intensity ultra-sound and later an amnio. a high level ultra-sound is usually done first. this is done by a special Dr. I think a pernatologist, they measure the fungal fold of the babies neck as well as the long bones in the babies body (DS characteristics are a thicker fungal fold and short long bones in the arms and legs) during this ultra-sound they also look for congenital heart defects such as av-canal (common in kids with DS) and intestinal defects that are sometimes present. they usually don't do the ultra-sound until 20 weeks pregnant, but it can be done a little sooner. if they find any of these characteristics the Dr. will ask if you want an amnio done to make sure and that is the only ( key word here)only way of telling before the baby is born. they take fluid that surrounds the baby and do a dna test on it to look for an extra chromosome.
the reason I know this is because I have gone through it with my last child. he had a thicker fungal fold and shorter arms and legs and he also had av-canal which is a hole in his heart that required surgery when he was 4 months old. and yes, my son has DS. some people have suggested the triple screen will detect DS and that is a false assumption, it is only a screening to determine your chances, not a sure way of telling you your child you are carrying will have DS. also others have stated that if you are under 35 yrs old you don't really have to worry...false....you can have a child with Ds at any age. I have met so many parents of kids with DS and some were as young as 18 yrs old...it is a roll of the dice...when you are pregnant you take your chances and you get whatever God gives you and you make the best life for your child that you can and you love them no matter what they may or may not have.

Answer 3

Yes. I'm 17 weeks pregnant and had a blood test last week to determine if the baby has Down Syndrome or Spina Bifida. It's not 100% correct, but can tell you if a baby is more likely to have one or the other. My 20 week scan in three weeks also encompasses an anomaly scan, which is when the scan operator looks at the aby's form to see if there are any abnormalities. They can sometimes detect Downs through this system too.

Answer 4

There's a blood test called a quad screen that is usually done around 16 wks, and that looks at some of the more common disorders, including Downs. It's not super accurate though, it just gives you a likelihood of having each of these (like 1:5000 chance of the baby having downs). It can also be checked by ultrasound, looking for specific characteristics. And I'm pretty sure an amnio can test for it as well.

Answer 5

Yes, they give the quad test, but it gives A LOT of false positives......I personally know 5 people that they told were pregnant w/ Down's and it was not true. An amniocentisis is the only way to tell 100%. My sister had level 3 ultrasounds and they said her baby had several physical "markers" for Down's Syndrome....his neck, part of his heart. She got VERY upset. Her son is TOTALLY fine....not Down's. Before you make any decisions based on the medical tests, such as termination, go to a neonatologist and get more tests and a 2nd opinion.

Answer 6

Yes, in fact my doctor just spoke to me about this 3 weeks ago.

There are several tests they can do:

A screening test (nuchal translucency testing), which is non-evasive and done with an ultrasound. It measures the clear space in the folds of tissue behind a developing baby's neck. If a baby has DS fluid gathers there and the spaces will appear larger. The mother's age is taken into account and the test is about 80% effective. It's done around 11 - 14 weeks

Multiple marker test is a blood test which measures the quatities of certain substances in the mother's blood. Together with the mother's age, it's used to predict the likelihood of a DS baby - done around 15 - 20 weeks.

Amniocentesis (diagnostic), is done by inserting a needle through the stomach into the womb to remove a small amount amniotic fluid. The cells are cultured in a lab and then tested for chromosonal abnormalities. It's done between 16 - 20 weeks. There's a risk of bleeding, pre-term labour and miscarriage with this procedure though.

CVS (Chorionic villus sampling) involves taking a small amount of placenta through the same method as an amnio, it can be done earlier (8 - 12 weeks) and is just as accurate but carries the same risk as an amnio

Umbilical blood sampling - done around 20 weeks - again a needles is used to take blood from the umbilical cord this time. Carries the same risks.

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The most accurate way to detect DS though, is through one of the diagnostic tests, but since it carries a risk (small as it may be) of miscarriage, your friend has to consider carefully if she wants to go that route.

Answer 7

Yes you can. When I was pregnant with my son, I went for my first ultrasound and they found a small white spot on his heart which in many of cases can mean down syndrome. I then had the choice to go for more testing that included the specialists injecting a long needle right into my abdomen. I chose not to but the next time I went for an ultrasound the spot was gone and my baby boy is almost 2 years old and he is very healthy.

Answer 8

There is some tests the doctors can do.. but please be aware that it is not 100%.. my best friend was told her son would not make it thru til birth cause he had trig 18 and if he would be born that he would die shortly after... and he was born fine.. he does have mild autism.. but they said that he would Never be able to function in the world.. and he is 6 yr old in a regular Kindergarten class and extremely smart.. he reads on a 2nd grade level and a whizz at math. I am currently pregnant and I opted not to take the test because of what happened with my best friend.. so just be aware and research as much as possible. Good luck.

Answer 9

If she's younger than 35, then the chances are very slim that the child will have down syndrome. As she gets older, particularly after the age of 40, the chance gets higher.

They can usually tell through a blood test.

Answer 10

on the top of the day, you will possibly have seen attempting and all and sundry can do is grant their opinion and adventure in this occasion. in my view, i does not abort as i don't see Down's syndrome as a severe sufficient incapacity to justify it. In yet another 2 weeks, your infant is obtainable and stands a sturdy danger of survival exterior of the womb. numerous toddlers have survived in neonatal huge care gadgets from 22 weeks gestation onwards. on an analogous time as there are some wellness problems in specific circumstances linked with the syndrome, dissimilar Downs babies stay somewhat chuffed lives. i've got primary numerous in my existence and that i will truthfully say that they have been lots happier than dissimilar the unaffected babies i be attentive to. they're additionally very loving. My mum knows a Downs female in her late 1920s who's actual an actress and has her very own residence. i might propose you communicate with a counsellor till now doing something drastic as they're independent and might grant some somewhat sturdy advice. as nicely to this, you should flow and see your healthcare expert and discover out what taking good care of a newborn with Downs actual is composed of. on the top of the day, this continues to be your infant. Abortion isn't something to be taken gently and could reason you everlasting psychological harm. in case you settle directly to proceed jointly with your being pregnant, regardless of if it somewhat is complicated or not, you will adjust to having a newborn who desires slightly extra desirable care. i'm hoping you have the ability to attain a determination which you're happy with and choose you each and all of the terrific for the destiny.