Does Down syndrome screening during pregnancy require a blood draw?

During pregnancy, there are many examinations that need to be done, and Down syndrome screening is essential during pregnancy to prevent it from causing great impact on the human body. Many pregnant women who have not been tested are not familiar with this test. So is Down syndrome screening just a blood test?

Down syndrome screening involves drawing blood from pregnant women and testing their blood cells to check whether various indicators such as alpha-fetoprotein and free estriol in the blood cells are normal. The test is then combined with the pregnant woman's due date, body weight, number of days of pregnancy, age, etc. to make a diagnosis of the growth and development of the fetus. It is recommended to consult a doctor after the examination, follow the doctor's advice, and then carry out medical care based on the examination results.

Down syndrome screening is usually conducted around 10 weeks of pregnancy. If the pregnant woman misses this time range, she needs to be tested again around 15 to 20 weeks. Down syndrome screening can determine whether the fetus suffers from Tang poetry and Song lyrics syndrome. Genetic inheritance is a very important factor. In addition, the older age of the pregnant woman is also a key reason. Therefore, an examination is required before the pregnancy preparation period. It is very dangerous to get pregnant at an older age.

Most babies with Down syndrome will have intellectual disabilities. Their IQ is lower than that of normal babies, and they are also prone to other physical problems. Some babies are prone to heart disease, internal organ malformations, etc. after birth. For health reasons, it is recommended to cooperate with the doctor for examination and listen to the doctor's advice.

Down syndrome screening will combine the pregnant woman's gestational age and weight to determine whether the fetus has congenital idiocy. Down syndrome screening during pregnancy can prevent the chance of deformities in babies after birth to a large extent, and it is considered a necessary examination during pregnancy. So is Down syndrome screening a blood test? Let’s learn about it together!

Down syndrome screening is a blood test, and it is generally best to conduct Down syndrome screening around 15 weeks of pregnancy or around 20 weeks of pregnancy. Down syndrome screening can only determine the probability of a fetus having Down syndrome, but cannot completely confirm whether the fetus has Down syndrome. Therefore, if the test result shows an adjacent value, amniocentesis is necessary to confirm. If the amniocentesis test is normal, the possibility of the fetus having Down syndrome can be ruled out. The probability of developing Down syndrome will continue to increase with the age of the pregnant woman, so it is recommended that older mothers must undergo Down syndrome screening.

In addition, you need to fast for 12 hours before doing the Down syndrome screening and relax when drawing blood for testing to prevent the blood vessels from contracting due to anxiety and fear, which would increase the difficulty of blood drawing. After the examination, you need to go to a professional obstetrics and gynecology hospital to let the doctor identify the risks of pregnant women, so as to ensure the safety of pregnancy. It is very necessary to carry out relevant prenatal examinations on time during pregnancy, which can improve the quality of the baby to be born.