The Student Room Group
Yes, there's a specific test they can do if you request it
They test for it but just give you the chances of your baby having it. Some pregnancies can be as low as 1 in 25 chance or even lower.


If you have an amniocentesis you can find out more information but there is a risk of miscarriage. But whether you can get a direct answer Im unsure about.
Reply 3
My mum was given the test for down's because she was 40 when she got pregnant. She had an amniocentesis and didn't miscarry me.

If you are older (40+) the risk of having a down's baby is higher.
Talya
My mum was given the test for down's because she was 40 when she got pregnant. She had an amniocentesis and didn't miscarry me.

If you are older (40+) the risk of having a down's baby is higher.


Just to clear things up, I wasn't implying that anyone would definetly miscarry if you have this done. Its just when women are 35+ the risk of miscarriage is the same as if you didnt have an aminocentises so its easier and makes more sense to have it done.

You always have the test for downs syndrom and spina bifida (if you want it) anyway and then if you are given a high risk the further tests are offered.
Yes, they had a unique fold of skin behind their neck (I think it's there...)
Reply 6
yes.. they have a unique face.. and also the way they respond to something..
yenohcif
yes.. they have a unique face.. and also the way they respond to something..

Can they distinguish that in the womb though?
Reply 8
it CAN be detected before the baby is born. amniotic fluid is taken from the womb and a karyotype is performed to see if the baby has trisomy 21 - i.e. three no. 21 chromosomes instead of 2, this being the cause of Down's syndrome.

so yes, down's syndrome can definitely be detected before the baby is born. but as someone else here said, the risk of miscarriage is slightly increased if you go through with the procedure.
HistoryStudent
Yes, there's a specific test they can do if you request it

actually its given as a standard - not a spcial request. Some people opt out, but most do it.
its the nuchal fold scan. (the san looks at the thickest of the fat fold at the back of a the foetus' neck). it gives the odds of the baby having downs.
this is often combined with a special blood test to narrow down the odds (high is >1/200, low is <1/200).
you then have an aminocentesis - a fine needle put through the tummy and some aminiotic fluid taken out, this confirms the presence of any tested genetic problems like downs, and other chromomsomal abnormalities.
plus cystic fibrosis, and other genetic disorders too.
Completely unhelpful since your question's essentially been answered, but I just wanted to add that the aminocentesis was done to me :smile: Though my mum wasn't even 30. I just came up high risk in the first test.