Does hypoplastic nasal bone indicate Down's syndrome?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am 19 years old. I am 21 weeks pregnant now. I did an ultrasound yesterday. I was told that my baby is about two weeks smaller than it should be at 21 weeks. I was also told that my baby's nasal bone is hypoplastic and not very visible. My baby is at risk of having Down's syndrome. I want to ask whether my condition for these two things is rare or common and whether I am at high risk or low to have a baby with DS. I have no family history or relatives with Down's syndrome.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

In the case of a history of irregular periods, there could be a discrepancy between dates and scan finding. So there is no need for worrying. If the growth is not healthy for the baby or if the growth is restricted, then you should take it as a concern. You are going to be a teenager mother. There is no relation between family history and Down's syndrome in the baby. If the nuchal translucency measurement is healthy, with less than 2.99 mm, then there is a fewer chance of having a fetal anomaly. You can have other blood tests in the early and late second trimester like double marker tests, amniocentesis, and chorionic villi sampling to diagnose it. It is better to repeat the scan with the expertise hand again for the detailed anomalies for the baby at 22 weeks. You have no clue, so it is only a technical mistake of the scan.