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Steep rise in Down's pregnancies Steep rise in Down's pregnancies
(about 1 hour later)
The number of Down's syndrome pregnancies has risen by more than 70% over the last 20 years, university researchers say.The number of Down's syndrome pregnancies has risen by more than 70% over the last 20 years, university researchers say.
The sharp rise reflects the growing number of older women becoming pregnant, when there is a higher risk.The sharp rise reflects the growing number of older women becoming pregnant, when there is a higher risk.
The subsequent abortion rate of more than 90% and more antenatal diagnoses means slightly fewer children are being born with the condition.The subsequent abortion rate of more than 90% and more antenatal diagnoses means slightly fewer children are being born with the condition.
The University of London study covered England and Wales.The University of London study covered England and Wales.
Despite higher numbers of Down's pregnancies since the late 1980s, the number of Down's syndrome children has fallen by 1%, from 752 to 743. The number of Down's syndrome pregnancies rose from 1,075 diagnoses in 1990 to 1,843 by 2008.
Improved antenatal screening means more Down's pregnancies are being spotted. Without the improvements in antenatal screening, the number of babies born with Down's would have risen by 48%, according to the study. Despite the higher number of Down's pregnancies, the number of Down's syndrome babies has fallen by 1%, from 752 to 743.
Down's syndrome A genetic disorder named after the British physician John Langdon Down, who first identified it in 1866.Inhibits the ability to learn and develop mentally.About 60,000 people have Down's syndrome in the UK. This is because improved antenatal screening means more Down's pregnancies are being spotted. Without the improved screening, the number of babies born with Down's would have risen by 48%, according to the study.
The proportion of couples diagnosed with a Down's syndrome baby who decided to terminate has remained constant at 92%, say the researchers at Queen Mary. Down's syndrome A genetic disorder named after the British physician John Langdon Down, who identified it in 1866.Inhibits the ability to learn and develop mentally.About 60,000 people have Down's syndrome in the UK.
The proportion of couples diagnosed with a Down's syndrome baby who decided to terminate has remained constant at 92%, say researchers at Queen Mary.
Older mothers
The risk of having a baby with Down's syndrome is one in 940 for a woman aged 30. But by age 40, the risk rises to one in 85.The risk of having a baby with Down's syndrome is one in 940 for a woman aged 30. But by age 40, the risk rises to one in 85.
Professor of medical statistics at Queen Mary, Joan Morris, led the research. Joan Morris, professor of medical statistics at Queen Mary, led the research and she said: "What we're seeing here is a steep rise in pregnancies with Down's syndrome but that is being offset by improvements in screening.
She said: "What we're seeing here is a steep rise in pregnancies with Down's syndrome but that is being offset by improvements in screening. "It was thought that these improvements would lead to a decrease in the number of births with Down's syndrome. However, due to increases in maternal age this has not occurred."
"It was thought that these improvements would lead to a decrease in the number of births with Down's syndrome. However due to increases in maternal age this has not occurred.
Professor Morris said the Down's screening test had become more widely available over the last 20 years.Professor Morris said the Down's screening test had become more widely available over the last 20 years.
The report was published in the British Medical Journal.The report was published in the British Medical Journal.
Doctors told Natasha and Eddie Batha that there was a one-in-170 chance that their daughter Mia, who is now three, would be born with the condition.
Mr Batha told BBC Breakfast that their shock of that learning Mia did have Down's syndrome soon gave way to the realisation that the condition was not as bad as they feared.
'Another human being'
He said: "You're led to believe that it's the worst thing that could possibly ever happen to you.
"And then you realise it's just another human being who happens to be a little bit different.
"She just takes a bit more effort and she is a bit slower to pick up on things."
Natasha says many people are misinformed about Down's syndrome and she thinks this has contributed to the high abortion rate.
She said: "Because you have a test [during pregnancy] you think that it must be a terrible thing if it happened.
"There's no qualifying information and I think that would be really useful to get that and it might affect a lot of people's decision as to whether they could live with that."
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