Question
My baby was just born, and the doctor recommended a Down syndrome screening. I want to know what the purpose and use of this test are? What positive or negative impacts might it have on the baby?
Answer
Down syndrome screening is usually conducted during pregnancy, primarily to check if the fetus has Down syndrome, or if there are any congenital malformations. If the screening result shows low risk, there is usually nothing to worry about. However, if the result indicates high risk or marginal risk, further tests may be required. Nonetheless, abdominal examinations are not very direct, so it’s best to have another Down syndrome screening after the baby is born to confirm the health status of the fetus.