| Screening and Detecting Down Syndrome
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| | tests
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| Parents frequently want to know what to
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| | The combination of ultrasound and
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| expect of their unborn child.
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| | maternal blood testing increases the odds
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| Ultrasound tests are frequently performed
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| | of early detection to 90% with only 5%
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| not only to check on the progression of
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| | erroneous positive results. False
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| the pregnancy, but to find out the baby's
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| | positives are maddening, stressful errors
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| gender and size.
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| | in the testing process, and can lead new
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| While ultrasound testing is usually a
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| | parents to believe they have a child with
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| lovely bonus for any parent, these tests
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| | Down's Syndrome when, in fact, they
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| can be invaluable life-savers to parents
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| | don't.
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| who believe their child to be at risk for
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| | While testing procedures have improved
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| Down's Syndrome. In addition to advances
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| | greatly, keep this small chance in mind
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| in ultrasound, maternal blood screening
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| | when looking at test results.
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| tests have advanced to the point where
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| | Use of ultrasound and maternal blood
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| more dangerous procedures can frequently
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| | testing can help avoid the necessity of
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| be avoided.
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| | the more definitive tests. However, if
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| Ultrasounds and detecting Down Syndrome
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| | screening up to this point has indicated
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| Ultrasound tests can be done in the first
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| | a strong possibility of Down's Syndrome
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| trimester to check for early signs of
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| | in your baby, you may want to go ahead
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| Down's Syndrome, such as thicker than
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| | and have the more definitive tests done
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| normal neck skin.
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| | to get a real, concrete answer.
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| In the early second trimester, an
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| | Sceening the baby more invasively
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| ultrasound test may be able to show
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| | Be aware that these tests carry a small
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| another potentially problematic sign, the
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| | risk of endangering the baby and the
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| lack of a normal nasal bone.
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| | mother because all of them involve
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| Ultrasound is not a definitive test for a
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| | physically invading the uterus for a
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| number of reasons. The mother will be
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| | tissue sample. This risk is why avoiding
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| moving slightly during the test, no
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| | them as much as possible is a good idea.
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| matter how hard she tries to be still.
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| | These tests include umbilical cord blood
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| Her breathing moves her uterus, if
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| | testing, sampling of placental tissue,
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| nothing else. In addition, of course,
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| | and amniocentesis.
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| babies move around like mad as any
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| | Amniocentesis involves taking a sample of
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| pregnant lady who's tried to sleep
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| | amniotic fluid from within the placental
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| through a kicking child can attest.
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| | sac. Because these tests involve
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| Because ultrasound testing involves
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| | breaching the integrity of the uterus and
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| bouncing sound waves in order to get a
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| | or placental fluid sac, they have a small
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| clear picture, movement can give false
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| | chance of causing a miscarriage or other
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| results either way.
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| | damage.
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| However, these early ultrasound tests can
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| | Conclusion
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| help both doctors and parents make
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| | If the tests should come up positive,
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| informed decisions to proceed or not with
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| | realize that your child can enjoy a happy
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| further Down's Syndrome tests.
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| | and full life with early intervention and
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| Maternal Blood Screening
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| | loving care.
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| If the ultrasounds indicate that the
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| | As diagnosis occured before birth, you
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| unborn baby may have Down's Syndrome,
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| | have the opportunity to maximize your
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| maternal blood screening is a good next
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| | child's capability, potential and quality
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| step.
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| | of life.
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| These blood tests are taken from Mom and
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| | Children with Down's Syndrome are, first
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| look for several factors in her blood
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| | and foremost, children, with all the
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| that indicate potential Down's Syndrome.
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| | capacity for love, wonder and life
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| Combining ultrasound and maternal blood
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| | implied thereby.
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