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The disorder cannot be cured but its conse-

quences can be alleviated by appropriate care. Babies with Down's syndrome are more often born to women aged over 40 frequency is about one in 40 for such mothers. Routine screening tests early in pregnangy - including AMNIOCENTESIS, Chorionic villus sampling (see PRENATAL SCREENING) - Can identify fetuses likely to develop the disorder and, if a sample of fetal cells confirms the chromosome defect -triple marker test (see PREGNANCY AND LABOUR) - The parents may consider termination of the pregnancy. When younger parents have a child with Down's syndrome the chances of a subsequent child with the disorder are relatively high. So they may wish to discuss with their medical advisers the question of further pregnancies.

Second trimester An ultrasound and quadruple marker screen (QMS) test can help identify Down syndrome and other defects in the brain and spinal cord. This test is done between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.
If any of these tests aren't normal, you'll be considered at high risk for birth defects.