The Whelan's on life with a baby who has Down's Syndrome:'When I look at my baby boy - as he beams up at me in the morning or giggles when we're playing - I couldn't imagine our life being any other way. I am so grateful for my life now and am so
such as spina bifida does not increase for the older mother. But the risk of Down's syndrome does rise. A woman aged 35 has a one in 300 chance of having a Down's syndrome baby, whereas a woman aged 40 has a one in 100 chance. Although maternal age
Midwife Nikki says...The scan done between 11 to 14 weeks is called a 'nuchal translucency scan' and measures the fluid in the skin at the back of your baby's neck (the nuchal fold), giving an indication of the risk of Down's Syndrome. The antenatal
abnormalities by examining all the structures of the body. We will also determine the risk of Down's syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. We do this using ultrasound and a blood test.'What tests will I be offered? The nuchal fold translucency test
's syndrome. The test is usually carried out from around 15 weeks.Why have amniocentesis?You may want to think about having amniocentesis if you are over 37 years old, as the risk of conditions such as Down's syndrome increases with age.It may be offered
and if they're identical.Triple or quadruple blood testWhen? 16-18 weeks.Why? To evaluate your baby's risk of conditions such as spina bifida and Down's syndrome. You'll be given a number such as 1 in 750. This means for every 750 pregnant women, one in your
), your age and blood test information to estimate your risk of having a baby with Downs syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities. If youre expecting twins, check if theyre likely to share a placenta or have one each. A shared placenta means
a long time you're more likely to be over 35 when it's physically harder. You're more likely to have a miscarriage, develop high blood pressure and diabetes or have a baby with Down's syndrome. But don't panic.If you're healthy, you're more than
ovaries, which meant conceiving would be difficult.“I was really upset because I always knew I wanted kids and then I was told I would need major intervention if that was to happen,” Peaches told ELLE magazine.Three years down the line, Peaches suffered
process.What can cause neonatal death?The commonest cause of death within the first four weeks of life is a congenital abnormality (birth defect) such as congenital heart disease or severe spina bifida or rubella syndrome (the effects of German measles
