Is there a correlation between no soft markers and lower chance of health problems in child with Down's?

[duchesse]

Friend has just found out the baby she is carrying will have Down's. This was not discovered at ultrasound, but something in the bloods made the hospital suggest amnio or CVS. CVS found the child has Down's. My impressions of no soft markers at ultrasound is that that may mean the child is less likely to have the health problems commonly associated with Down's. Is that right?

I don't know but I am interested in the answer! All my ultrasounds have been clear (waiting it out, no invasive tests) but the bloodwork suggests 1 in 34.

I think I have heard that not all heart problems are detected on ultrasound so there may still be problems later. I could be wrong though - I hope so.

Bumping for both of us.

How many weeks was she at the scan?

Not sure as haven't had an in depth with her about it and she only just found out this week from CVS- so presumably she is somewhere between 12 and 14 weeks since she had her scan and CVS in the last two weeks.

Sparklies the bloodwork is only one factor.I had a 1 in 64 risk for dd2,after a 1 in 50,000 risk for dd1 two years before.Neither daughter had any abnormality.I had the triple test wher they factor in the nuchal fold and age etc (in my early forties).didn't go for amnio or CVS as wouldn't have terminated.

helly- my friend wouldn't and won't either for religious reasons but she just needed to know so she had some idea who was coming to live with her I think.

Yes,I can understand that.My consultant advised against it because of the miscarriage risk,and I figured that there wasn't much advantage for me in knowing a few months earlier,but I can understand that some people would prefer to be prepared and have help in place etc.I really hope her baby has no major health issues.

Our consultant said that he couldn't do a detailed anomaly scan until 20 weeks.

He could do a precursory nuchal scan at 12 weeks, which combined with bloods would give a certain risk (true obv in your friend's case and the cvs confirmed it). But more precise scanning had to wait until 20 weeks.

I know that they can't pick up everything from the ultrasound, but our situation is neurological rather than cardiac, so I am not sure where she would stand with regards to that.

hellymelly - my risk was 1 in 34 with the NT and my age and the fact the ultrasound was clear. Just the bloodwork was 1 in 8! They lowered my risk by 50% following a clear detailed scan at 19 weeks. This was all at the Fetal Medicine Centre in London so probably about as good as it gets in the UK.

duchesse - just thought - a good place for your friend to ask may be on the Babycenter Down Syndrome pregnancy board as it's quite active. They may well have some answers.

Your friend could try the Downs Association which I know has given good support to a friend after birth of her Downs child. Perhaps calling their hotline would be a good place to start

www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/information/new-parents.html

No soft markers were picked up at my 20 week scan. My DS does not have any heart or stomach problems.