DEPARTMENT OF MATERNAL AND FETAL MEDICINE
EVERY PREGNANCY IS PRECIOUS

A healthy baby is the best of life's treasure

Babies with chromosomal defects most often suffer with both physical and mental handicap. It has now become possible to screen and diagnose these chromosomal abnormalities as early as the third month of pregnancy.

Every cell of our body has tiny structure called chromosomes. These chromosomes carry the genes that determine how we develop. Each cell in the body contains 46 chromosomes arranged in 23 pairs. One chromosome from each pair is inherited by the mother and the other from the father. Sometimes these pairs of chromosomes do not divide correctly and any defect in the number or stucture of chromosomes cause abnormalities in the unborn baby. Down's syndrome is one of the common chromosomal abnormalities.

What is Down's syndrome?

A baby with Down's syndrome has an extra copy of chromosome number 21 in their cells. These babies unfortunaltely suffer from Physical (Heart defects, Gastrointestinal defects, abnormal facial features, hearing and eye problems, leukemia, thyroid problems, senile dementia etc) and mental handicap.

We are proud to introduce a full range of screening and diagnostic tests to detect the chromosomal abnormalities for the first time in coastal Andhra at our Andhra Hospitals, Vijayawada. This includes the consultation, tertiary level Ultrasound scan and detailed counselling by the highly qualified Maternal and Fetal Medicine Consultant Dr.Padma Paturi.