On an ultrasound (an image of a developing fetus, also called a sonogram), visible signs a baby may have Down syndrome include:
Excess skin in the back of the neck (nuchal translucency)
A shorter-than-normal femur (thigh) bone. A missing nose bone.
Is Down syndrome obvious at birth?
Down syndrome is usually quite evident
as soon as a baby with the disorder is born
, as many of its distinctive physical characteristics are present at birth.
What are the signs of Down syndrome in babies?
- A flattened face, especially the bridge of the nose.
- Almond-shaped eyes that slant up.
- A short neck.
- Small ears.
- A tongue that tends to stick out of the mouth.
- Tiny white spots on the iris (colored part) of the eye.
- Small hands and feet.
Can you tell right away if a baby has Down syndrome?
Down syndrome can also be diagnosed after a baby is born. Clinicians can usually tell if a baby should be tested for Down syndrome based
on a physical examination
. The first test, a rapid blood test (FISH), confirms the presence of extra material from chromosome 21. Results are available within a few days.
How soon can you tell if your baby has Down syndrome?
Diagnostic tests that can identify Down syndrome include: Chorionic villus sampling (CVS). In CVS, cells are taken from the placenta and used to analyze the fetal chromosomes. This test is typically performed in the first trimester,
between 10 and 13 weeks of pregnancy
.
Do Down syndrome babies cry differently?
Just like any baby, infants who have
Down syndrome will sometimes be fussy
. The temperament of a baby with Down syndrome is not usually any different from the temperament of any other baby.
Can you tell if a baby has Down syndrome in an ultrasound?
An
ultrasound can detect fluid at the back of a fetus's neck
, which sometimes indicates Down syndrome. The ultrasound test is called measurement of nuchal translucency.
Can you look normal and have Down syndrome?
For example, many but not all people with Down syndrome have almond-shaped eyes and a short stature. However, like typical people who share similar features, they look more like their families than each other.
Can Down syndrome go undetected?
This means that
one or two out of 10 pregnancies with Down syndrome are missed
(classified as screen negative). With the Integrated Test, about four out of five cases of spina bifida are detected, and one out of five is missed. Nearly all cases of anencephaly are detected.
Can a baby have Down syndrome and not look like it?
Some of the children with Mosaic Down syndrome that we know
do not actually look as if they have Down syndrome
– the usual physical features are not obvious. This raises some important and difficult social issues and identity issues for both parents and children, which parents have discussed with us.
What are hard markers for Down syndrome?
Certain features detected during a second trimester ultrasound exam are potential markers for Down's syndrome, and they include
dilated brain ventricles, absent or small nose bone
, increased thickness of the back of the neck, an abnormal artery to the upper extremities, bright spots in the heart, ‘bright' bowels, mild …
Can doctors tell at birth if a baby has Down syndrome?
amniocentesis
, a prenatal diagnosis method in which a needle is inserted into the amniotic sac that surrounds the fetus. Amniocentesis is most often used to detect Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. This test is usually done in the second trimester, after 15 weeks of gestation.
Why do Down syndrome babies stick their tongue out?
Some babies have
decreased muscle tone
. Since the tongue is a muscle, and is controlled by other muscles in the mouth, decreased muscle tone can cause the tongue to stick out more than usual. Several conditions may cause decreased muscle tone, such as Down syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, and cerebral palsy.
How do Down syndrome babies behave?
Children with Down syndrome can often do most things that any young child can do. They
can walk, talk, dress themselves, and be toilet trained
. But they often do these things at a later age than other children. The exact ages of these development milestones is different for each child.
Can you give up a baby with Down syndrome?
“Giving up” a baby with down syndrome for adoption (or a child with any other special needs) does not mean saying goodbye forever. Most adoptions today are at least semi-open, which means you can have a lasting connection with your child as they grow up in their loving adoptive family.
