Down Syndrome, open neural tube defects, abdominal wall defects, trisomy 18, and some other birth defects may be found. Down Syndrome Down syndrome is a common cause of mental retardation. It is associated with heart defects as well. Down syndrome can occur in the fetus of a woman of any age. Chromosomes are packages of genetic information found in every cell of the body.
Birth defects can occur when there are too few or too many chromosomes.
As women get older, their chances increase for delivering a baby with Down syndrome. 36 year old women have about 1 chance in 307. 37 year old women have about 1 chance in 242. 38 year old women have about 1 chance in 189. 39 year old women have about 1 chance in 146.