age and down syndrom(syndrome)

Although I have done quite a lot of reading on this subject,I 'm still confused about the real effect age has on possibility of down syndrom (syndrome).I've heard  top doctors saying age is crucial so that a 40+woman has a 1:3 possibility of having it and I've met top doctors who don't panick about this age thing and feel comfortable with a 40+ pregnancy even without an amnio-if the NT and other tests look good...As you can see,I'm trying to remain optimistic about the perspective of a healthy pregnancy at this age-if it occurs again.On the other hand,I was reaaaally shaken last week when a friend younger than me,should be forty or forty one,had to terminate her pg on month 5 after the amnio test came out positive.No one can feel the physical and emotional pain of such a situation unless they've been there,and I 've been there,when I lost my first child because of a bad amnio that ruptured my sac and all fluid was gone.Anyway,when down syndrom (syndrome) happens to friends you realize it's not just statistics,it's real(terror).But what is the scientific truth about down and age factor?Any solid info?Of course we all know tons of cases where older women had perfectly healthy babies.Just wondering how other ''older women''feel about it..

[stillwaiting52]

A 1:3 is an extremely high ratio that I don't believe is correct. At 38 I was given a 1:90(before any testing) and I think 40 is more like a 1:70 and then it progresses for each year after 40. I wish I knew what the "real" statistics were too, I am ttc again at 39 and will be 40 in just a couple of months.  I am so sorry to hear of the loss that you and your friend have both experienced, I can't imagine the pain that you have endured. ((hugs))

[BabyBlue07]

I am sorry for your loss... That's why I go against amnio... I am 38 and high risk of down symdrome... doctor wanted me to do amnio but i chose not too because no matter how my baby turn out.. i will keep this baby....

Some result turn out positive but when you actually have baby... he/she is very healthy... so don't go into the result and terminate the baby... 5 months baby can feel pain and already become a human being... it's sad to hear your friend did that... I wish she could just believe in herself and God and don't believe the result of the amnio or any tests...

Good luck to you..

[ita17]

First of all I am so sorry about your baby ;-/  I cannot even imagine that.

I have a good friend that had all basic tests done that was offered to her, at the time I believe she was 31.  Anyway, all tests were "normal" (geeez, what IS normal anyway!) & she ended up having a little boy w downs.  Luckily for them/him he is not SEVERE, but he definitely IS DS.  I know for them, their life changed a lot.  They began from a very young age going to physical therapy etc.....
But I also know they wouldn't trade him for the world!
Anyway, a number is just a number.  I truly believe you/I will get what is meant for us to have.  In life there is NO guarantee we will ALL live happy HEALTHY lives w/no disease.  I'm not saying that I would LOVE to have a baby  born w/problems, but if I did have one, well then I guess I/we can handle it.
I pray every night & day for the safety of our family...especially for my kids, our health can be taken from us in an instant.
So don't worry too much about "statistics" Life is a journey, & we all need to make the best of it, no matter what card we are dealt.
;)

ps I know another gal who also had a DS baby w/IVF & she was only 35, it can happen at almost any age.  & these are the only 2 I know who have kids w/DS.

[40smama]

From what I've read and what the doctors who I consulted told me, downs increases of course w/age but I think the one in three odds is a little unreal unless you're 45 or 46 trying to have a baby.

while the odds really go up in the 40's, if you put it in statistical or percentages, 1:50 for example is 97% for not having a ds baby.  They say the common stat for a younger woman is 1:500 which is 99.97 or something like that for downs so even when the number goes significantly lower, it still is a very high percentile for not having a downs baby.  

Unfortunately the age of a woman's eggs has a lot to do w/the odds of ds & other chromosonal issue but as another poster pointed out, it can definitely happen at any age.  I'm so sorry for the loss of your baby - that's truly heartbreaking.  I lost a baby at 18-19 weeks & I had quite a time recovering from that m/c.

I hope this helps - adgal, the community leader on the pregnancy 35+ forum, was given 1:13 odds for downs after her NT test so she did the amnio.  Her boy's perfectly healthy so the 1:13 chance can look deceivingly bad.  Best of luck to you!