2 soft markers for down syndrome

nikkitaplin

We had our 20 week scan about a week and a half ago.  Yesterday, My doctor called to explain a few things that came up out of the norm.  One was increased fluid on the kidney and the size of a ventricle (I'm assuming in the head but maybe the heart?) I honestly don't remember details of where he said it was because I was already beginning to find myself in a fog of unknown.  He said that if one of those markers were to show up on it's own, not a lot would be said about it besides informing us...since there were two and since I'm 33 (close to being 'old' for pregnancy, lol) he said that we have an increased risk of having a baby with down syndrome. 

I have a cerclage stitch from loosing a pregnancy last year at 19 weeks.  So with the 'problems' of the baby's organs and with the stitch, I asked the typical questions like will I need to be induced, have a c section, etc...because honestly, that's all I was thinking of...not causing more damage. 

He asked me, as I'm sure he has to...if we would abort if we found out the baby had downs.  I said absolutely not but I think I need more testing just to mentally prepare myself and to find out more about the fluid and all that in case something needs to be done right after birth.  He said that if we weren't going to terminate, he wouldn't even recommend going through the testing because he really felt like everything would be fine.  My doctor isn't one to sugar coat something or give you false hope.  He tells you how it is and that is that...which I love about him.

I am NOT worried about having a baby with down syndrome.  What I'm worried about are the steps in finding out before birth.  Do I even pursue it?  I have heard several times that the tests are not super accurate.

Has anyone else had this happen to them?  I just read up online about the soft markers and it looks like the ventricle issue only increases the chances of a downs baby by 1 to 10%.

Please, understand this is not a post about being sad on having a baby with downs...it's understanding the soft markers and the testing....

nikkitaplin

I left out a ton of our conversation.  I asked about the risks and benefits of the testing.  He said there is an increase risk of doing an amnio and having a miscarriage....so he said would you terminate if something abnormal came back.  I said no way.  He said if the result doesn't matter, he wouldn't take the chance bc the soft markers that came back were so low percentage wise to worry.  But when you are told as a mom that A and B are wrong which could mean Downs, you just automatically think the worse ya know?  He was not saying I should or suggesting it...I think he was merely telling me that the calculated risk was worth it since the findings weren't too concerning? Does that make sense?  He offered up anything he could do...blood test, referrals, etc. so he wasn't going the termination route at first.  does that make sense?  I did get the blood test on Friday.  I was told I should have results on Monday...but maybe Tuesday.  Should I do a level II ultrasound no matter what the results are of the blood test? 

Honestly, I don't care what the results are.  There is nothing I can do about it. I can't change the outcome, nor would I.  I strongly believe this baby was given to us for a reason no matter what is wrong or not wrong with it.  I think 'knowing' would just give us a level of preparation...and also, if it's not downs, do we need to be concerned about extra medical attention right after birth for those two soft markers..know what I mean? It goes beyond Downs....I also look back on my two previous kids....my son spent 10 days in NICU with bleeding on the brain, seizures, septic, etc...but it was because my water broke and my midwife didn't believe me and told me to relax with a glass of wine and sitting in the bathtub.  I was told he was minutes from death and it's a good thing the NICU doctors were right there....I know his was a fluke thing but I would like to know if we need to rush this little one to NICU or something if these soft markers don't work themselves out in utero....does that make sense?