Question
Can you still have a Down syndrome screening if you’re pregnant with twins? What other tests can be used to determine if the baby is normal?
Answer
Down syndrome screening is a prenatal test used to assess the risk of the fetus having Down syndrome. This test is typically conducted between the 15th and 20th week of pregnancy and involves taking a blood sample from the pregnant woman to detect specific markers, such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels. These test results can help assess the risk of the fetus having Down syndrome, but they cannot confirm whether the fetus has Down syndrome. If the test results indicate an increased risk, further testing may be needed, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, to determine the fetus’s health status. In addition, other tests can be performed during pregnancy, such as ultrasound, to evaluate the fetus’s development and detect any abnormalities.