The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter de la Birche, which was dated circa 1182, in the Studies on Middle English Local Surnames, during the reign of King Henry 11, known as The Builder of Churches, 1154 - 1189.
For Downâs syndrome, a blood test called the quadruple test is available from weeks 14-20 of pregnancy. For Patauâs and Edwardsâ syndromes, you will be offered a mid-pregnancy scan that checks for physical abnormalities.
In most cases, Down syndrome is diagnosed at birth. Diagnosis involves a physical examination and diagnostic tests (e.g., blood tests). Signs of Down syndrome that are related to the baby's appearance often are apparent at birth. If a newborn exhibits signs of the condition (e.g., flat face, eyes that slant upward unrelated to ethnicity, ears that fold at the top), additional testing is performed to confirm the diagnosis.