Despite the fact that most of the babies are born normally, pregnant women from all age groups have a little risk to give birth to a physically or mentally handicapped baby. In some cases this abnormality can be related to a chromosomal abnormality such as down syndrome. Today in prenatal diagnosis and treatment units, it is possible to reveal all abnormalities that a baby could have with ultrasound examination beginning from the earliest days of the pregnancy or with ultrasound-guided invasive methods such as amniocenthesis (taking asample of the fluid enviorment that the baby is in) and CVS (taking a sample of the placenta). continue >>>

   Fetal - Maternal Medicine Unit was founded on the 8 October,2001 in Marmara University School of Medicine Hospital which is the only university hospital on the anatolian side of Istanbul. In Fetal - MaternalMedicine Unit, all pregnant women undergoes the 11 - 14 weeks scan for chromosomal abnormalities in asssociation with King's College Hospital, London and amniocenthesis is performed to those who havea high risk. Detailed anomaly scan with ultrasound and doppler studies are performed during the 20 - 24 weeks of gestation. For this test our unit is one of the certified units world-wide and this test is being performed by a professor who is certified from King's College Hospital / Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic.

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  This test is a combination of maternal serum markers and an ultrasound of the fetus performed on the same day between the 11 -14 weeks of gestation. In ultrasound assesment, the fetal age is calculated by the measurement of fetal crown-rump length (CRL) and fetal nuchal translucencyis measured. 'Free Beta human Chorionic Gonadotropin (free b- hCG) and 'Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein-A (PAPP-A)' levels are measured in the maternal blood sample. continue>>>

    In this genetic disorder which is also known as the trisomy 21, there is an extra 21 chromosome instead of the normally present couple of the chromose 21. Mental and physical
development is affected to a different extent in Down Syndrome patients. Although there is a differnence according to the ages, Down Syndrome is approximately seen one in 800 live births. continue>>>

     Amniocentesis is an invasive procedure where a small amount of the fluid that the fetus (baby) is in, is obtained by the insertion of a needle into the uterus. This fluid is formed from the urine of the fetus and therefore the amout obtained is renewed in a couple of days.continue >>>