What is Down syndrome? How to prevent mental retardation in your family

Down syndrome is one of the most important cause of intellectual disability. It is a condition in which the patients have a problem with their chromosomes. Chromosomes are an important part of the nucleus which decide upon the way we are. Persons with Down syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome 21. This causes their problems and makes them look a little different than people without Down syndrome.

It can cause learning difficulty, medical diseases affecting various organs like heart, blood, stomach, and other organs. The severity of these problems vary from individual to individual. There are few questions which may arise in your mind and we have the answers to them.

1. Is there a test for Down syndrome in pregnancy?

Yes. Pregnant women can choose to test their baby for Down syndrome before the baby is born. There are different tests available in pregnancy and these depend upon your gestation in pregnancy. Your doctor will decide which test to offer.

2. Do all women have a screening test for Down syndrome?

It is advisable to get the screening test done. The doctor should tell you the implications of the screening test prior to getting it done because you are the best person to decide for your baby. In fact, the baby is growing inside you and you are the best judge for your baby.

3. Are different screening tests available?

Yes. There are different screening tests available and they depend upon your pregnancy status. They include some blood tests and ultrasounds.

4. Why might I choose to have a screening test?

You should plan to get the test done if

a. You want to know maximum of your baby’s health prior to pregnancy and minimize your worries.

b. You want to know if your baby has Down syndrome so that you can either plan to take care of the baby after birth or plan to end the pregnancy depending upon individual to individual.

5. What are the reasons for not choosing the test?

a. You may feel that whatever baby is born is fine with me and all depends on the will of the God. Let’s see after the baby is born.

b. You are not ready to get the confirmatory test even if your screening test is positive

c. If you want 100% answer for Down syndrome, you may directly opt for diagnostic test rather than screening test.

6. What if my screening test shows that there is a high chance my baby has Down syndrome?

If your screening test shows that there is a high chance your baby has Down syndrome, you should have a diagnostic test to know for sure if your baby has Down syndrome. There is no role of repeating the screening test as it will cause undue anxiety to you.

7. What problems can be caused by Down syndrome?

Babies with Down syndrome can take longer to learn how to sit, walk, and talk. They may have behavioural problems. Moreover, once the baby with Down syndrome is born, there is no permanent cure for mental subnormality. These patients can also have other medical problems involving different organs like heart, blood stomach, vision and thyroid

8. How do I know what is the right choice for me?

It can be tough to know what is best for you. To help you choose, talk with your doctor or nurse about the benefits and downsides of the different tests.

So if you are planning your pregnancy or are pregnant, do visit us so that we can help you in pregnancy for you to have a healthy baby.

Feel free to write to us at monibhatia@primegenetics.in and visit our website www.primegenetics.in