What if your child had Down Syndrome? Do you even know what that means?

People fear the thought of having children with Down Syndrome thinking that they are one of the few cases of families with members with Down Syndrome. Yet, they are not aware of what Down Syndrome is nor why it happens. Truth is that Down Syndrome is the most common genetic condition, in fact, one in every 691 babies are born with Down Syndrome. Approximately 400,000 people are born with Down Syndrome per year but only about 6,000 are born in the U.S..

Regardless of what level of Down Syndrome a person can  have what they all have in common is the extra chromosome  that is shown on all cells. This mutation causes genetic alteration in the development of the brain. Although it can be found by prenatal testing this syndrome can be identified by certain physical traits which include lower muscle tone, a single deep crease across the palm of the hand, a slightly flattened facial and an upward slant to the eyes. These traits can also be found in babies without this syndrome, that is why an analysis called karyotype is made to confirm if the child has the extra chromosome. The analysis is obtained by drawing a blood sample from the child to examine the baby’s cells.

Previous research had shown that the chance for a offspring to be born with this mutation increased in frequencies as a woman aged, however, due to higher birth rates in younger women, 80% of offspring’s with down syndrome are born to women of 35 years or younger.

Now, how much do you fear the word down syndrome? Leave your comments and opinions below?