Congenital Disorders as Causes of Pregnancy and Infant Loss
Reasons for Therapeutic Termination
There are certain fetal conditions which may be incompatible with life. In those cases, a woman may be offered a therapeutic termination of her pregnancy. Here, you'll find a list of fetal problems and a few rare pregnancy complications which may be reasons for a therapeutic termination.
Patau Syndrome (Trisomy 13)
Chromosomal abnormalities are one of the most common causes of miscarriage and stillbirth. Patau Syndrome, also known as Trisomy 13, is one of the more common trisomies found in babies that are lost during pregnancy or within the first month after birth.
Neural Tube Defects (NTDs)
Pregnant women are often advised to take folic acid in early pregnancy and ideally before conception for the reason that it reduces the risk of neural tube defects. But what exactly are neural tube defects and how do they affect risk of miscarriage?
Trisomy 13 Experiences - Parents of Babies with Trisomy 13 Pa…
If you have had a baby diagnosed with trisomy 13, either during pregnancy or at birth, what did you decide to do? And how do you feel about your decision? Please share your story.
Trisomy 22 and Miscarriage
Trisomies are the most common cause of miscarriages, and trisomy 22 is one of the more common trisomies found in first-trimester miscarriages. Complete trisomy 22 is incompatible with life but occasionally babies may be born with mosaic trisomy 22.
Down Syndrome and Miscarriage
A lesser known fact about Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is that the condition can sometimes cause miscarriage, as is revealed by chromosome tests. Researchers do not know why some babies with Down syndrome are miscarried while others survive to term.
Trisomy 9
Trisomy 9 is a serious chromosome disorder that, when present, usually ends in first-trimester miscarriage. When detected prenatally via CVS or amniocentesis, the odds are that the condition is mosaic rather than full trisomy 9 but the prognosis for the baby is uncertain.
Trisomy 16
Trisomy 16 is a serious chromosome disorder that usually causes first-trimester miscarriage when it's present. Babies with mosaic trisomy 16 can sometimes survive to birth. Some studies claim that trisomy 16 is the most frequent chromosomal cause of miscarriage.
Turner Syndrome (Monosomy X) and Pregnancy Loss
Although babies born with Turner Syndrome have a reasonably good prognosis and can live normal lives, this chromosome disorder caused by Monosomy X is frequently found in babies lost during pregnancy to miscarriage or stillbirth.
Triploidy
Triploidy means that an individual has three copies of every chromosome instead of two. The disorder is always fatal. Most pregnancies affected by triploidy will miscarry and the occasional babies who are born with triploidy usually die in their first month of life.
Anencephaly
Anencephaly is a severe neural tube defect that always has a fatal prognosis. Affected babies will always die at birth or within a few days of birth, and many parents choose selective termination when the condition is diagnosed prenatally.
Edwards Syndrome (Trisomy 18)
Edwards Syndrome is a chromosomal condition in which a baby has three copies (trisomy) of chromosome 18. Edwards Syndrome has a very poor prognosis -- babies with trisomy 18 are frequently stillborn. Liveborn babies have severe health problems and rarely survive their first year of life.
