1:30 chance down syndrome baby

[leash89]

hi everybody,
I'm a 21 year old mum of one my 2 and a half year old daughter is perfectly healthy and i have had no problems with her at all. I have just got my results for my 12 week scan and it has come back there is a 1:310 chance my baby has down syndrome which is really high for my age. I'm now 14 weeks 1 day pregnant and so scared i dont go to get a scan to check for "soft spots" for another 3 weeks. I'm really scared and not quite sure how to feel about all this would just like to hear what other people think or can give me some advice? please . thank you x

[TrapperV]

1 in 30 like the title, or 1 in 310 as in the text?

In any case, I have a wonderful teen with DS, and I absolutely cannot imagine being without the richness she's brought into my life.

We were in the same boat as you, and had a real struggle with the unknown.

Best wishes!

[wales12]

Hi, I'm really sorry for you, it's a shock to hear of any potential problem with a pregnancy. It's easy to tell you not to worry and very difficult for you not to. Waiting around for your scan is torture, is there anyway you can have a nuchal translucancy scan and check for soft markers any sooner? Out of 310 babies there is only 1 baby born with Down's so try and hold on to that thought. I know you don't want to think your baby could be the 1, but if my that small chance he/she is, I promise you it's not all doom and gloom.
I hope and pray you get good news

[Arti Sharma, M.D.]

Hi!
You are really very apprehensive. Maternal age above 35 years, history of previously affected pregnancies are risk factors for Down’s syndrome. For your age though 1:310 is high there are very very little chances that your baby will have any problem since only screening tests are not diagnostic. All these tests have to be correlated with the normal averages. Ultrasound measurement of fetal nuchal translucency and maternal serum screening are screening tests for Downs’s syndrome. Chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis are confirmatory tests. You should not be worrying. You should wait for the results of other tests like triple markers, nuchal translucency and repeat ultrasound. Do write to us again on how you are doing.
Take care and good luck!