AFP is 3.72

emmygolightly

I am 18 weeks with DD #2 and just received the call that my AFP came back positive for neural tube defects at 3.72. I am terrified and waiting for the referral for the level 2 U/S. Has anyone else had an AFP this high and gone on to have a healthy baby? Any info would be so greatly appreciated. Thank you!

biancakoz

I don't know what my exact levels were, but my doctor said I had a 1/160 chance of an open neural tube defect right before my 18 week scan (3 weeks ago).  I had my A/S as scheduled the next day and the sonogram technician did not see anything unusual, but my OB wanted me to see a MFM for another sono and consult.  I just had that appointment this afternoon, and the MFM did not see anything unusual either.  He said sonograms are 93-94% effective in detecting an ONTD and offered to do an amnio right then if we wanted (we declined, as he said at most it would only add another percentage or two to the results and he felt that the risk of miscarriage or some other complication was greater than the chance of an ONTD at this point).  Because of my elevated levels however, I will be monitored more closely for pre-eclampsia and hypertension and I will need to have 2 growth scans in the 3rd trimester (one at 26 or 28 weeks and another at 32 or 34 weeks) to monitor growth of the baby and amnio levels.  He said that after the baby is born, they will check the baby to make sure he is ok (they do this anyways), and he feels that even if there is an ONTD, it would be so slight that it shouldn't affect the baby neurologically.  I also had a low lying anterior placenta, and I had read a few places that there is a belief that this can contribute to elevated AFP levels as well because the baby's blood is absorbed at different rates depending on where the placenta is.  I have been stressed out the past 3 weeks, but am able to breathe a little easier.  I will keep my fingers crossed for you!