What are the treatment options for Down syndrome?

Down syndrome is a genetic condition linked with an extra copy of chromosome 21. It is not something that can be removed with medicine. During pregnancy, care may include screening or diagnostic testing, followed by clear counselling about what results mean and what choices are available.

After birth, support is tailored to the child. Health checks can look for hearing, vision, heart, thyroid, feeding and developmental needs. Early developmental therapies, educational support and routine medical care can help a child build skills and manage health concerns.

Ask a maternity or genetics team to explain the difference between screening and diagnostic testing. NIPT and a nuchal translucency scan are screening options; amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling are diagnostic procedures that can provide more definitive information. The choice depends on your stage of pregnancy, preferences and clinical circumstances.

If a diagnosis is confirmed, request coordinated counselling and a plan for pregnancy, birth and newborn assessment. You can also ask about local paediatric, developmental and family-support services.

Contact your maternity team promptly after an unexpected screening result so you can discuss confirmatory testing and support. Seek urgent pregnancy care for heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, fainting, fluid loss or reduced fetal movement when those symptoms apply to your stage of pregnancy.

Which test is appropriate at this stage, and what can it tell me? What support is available if the result is confirmed? How will the pregnancy and newborn be monitored?