Down Syndrome Now Detectable In 1st Trimester

Lori · Veteran Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 523

Down syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality that results when a baby has three, rather than two, copies of the 21st chromosome. This abnormality causes distinctive physical characteristics, developmental problems and an increased risk of a variety of health problems that usually shorten the child's life span.
Life with a child who has Down syndrome asks for a lot of sacrifice, time and absence of private life. People with Down syndrome will never be able to take care of themselves and they will always need help to get around.
Previous diagnosing tests included blood tests known as the quadruple test about 16 weeks into a pregnancy. Women who came positive had to undergo another procedure called amniocentesis to confirm the diagnosis.
Scientists have found a new tool to detect these chromosal abnormalities. This new procedure uses an ultrasound test called the nuchal translucency to measure the thickness of the skin on the back of a fetus's neck and a blood test to measure levels of a protein called pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and a hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). This kind of testing will allow women to detect genetic disorder 11 weeks after conception and decide sooner whether to undergo the riskier follow-up testing needed to confirm the diagnosis.
This gives women a chance to decide what kind of life they want for them and their children.

EMDiVincenzo · Newbie Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 1

The reason I find the information regarding early detection of Down Syndrome faulty is not in the new ability of early testing it is that you have wrongly informed your audience of the specifics associated with Down Syndrome. The idea that the life of a parent with a child with Down Syndrome is burdened is completely misleading. Also, the article mentioned that a child with DS will forever be dependent on his or her parents is completely false!!!

The joy and celebration our family experiences with our blessing is immeasurable. There simply are no negatives! Life is a gift, the absolute best gift are our children, all of our children!

Possibly making Down Syndrome sound so horrible makes this test sound so life saving. We all have Syndromes of some kind, I believe whoever wrote this article has Ignorance Syndrome.

jlkdixie · Newbie Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 1

My son with Down Syndrome is one of the best things that has happened to our family. He is now 22 and is living in a group home. He has a girlfriend and attends dances, ball games, movies, car races and anything else he chooses to do. He is typical of any other young man. Of course with any family we have had our ups and downs. Siblings not always getting along, thinking we are unfair because he takes sometimes more time, but in the long run they have seen that they are doing things that he didn't have the oppertunity to do such as drive a car. I do know of a Down Syndrome man who does drive a car when we lived in Southern Utah and he is married! The possibilities are endless no one knows what a child is capable of doing. Even normal children have medical and mental health problems. There is no guarentee for any baby.

Down Syndrome Now Detectable In 1st Trimester

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