Need Perspective on Amnio

NJ2NC

I have lurked on the boards without posting since my 1st tri (many of my questions have been answered just by checking in).  However, now I am in need of a little perspective...

 I had my 2nd level u/s and received my 2nd tri screening results on Wed.  Up until the appointment I was under the impression that the screening was fine because the office didn't call to tell me otherwise.  However, I found out Wed. that the screening showed an elevated risk of downs (1:217). The specialist didn't find any markers during the ultrasound.  All organs, measurements etc.. were great.  He offered to do the amnio that night, but I was so in shock from the screening results I thought I should let everything sink in for a few days. DH and I discussed it and he supports whatever decision I make (whether or not to have the amnio)

Although I know the risk could be worse. I'm 34. This is my first pregnancy and hearing the results freaked me out.

Anyone have a similar experience?  Did you do the amnio?

~*Sarah*~

i guess ask your self if you want to know the results really. i know sometimes false positives are an issue. my DH and i are not in the same position but decided to opt out on the afp testing because either way to us we are still going to love the baby the same. yes it would be nice to know to prepare but also would you want to sit and worry until the day you give birth.i dont know what to tell ya. hopefully someone else can help ya more

Brownie_222

I know a woman who's 35 and her screening results showed an elevated risk, but she had the amnio and found out her baby is fine.  GL with whatever you choose - I know this would be very stressful!

robynlesley

While I have not had a similar experience, I think you need to ask yourself the following questions:

1)  Would you terminate the pregnancy if the child does have DS? (no need to reply, your beliefs are yours)

2) If you would NOT terminate, would you want to be prepared and learn what it takes to raise a child with Down's Syndrome?

3) Do you have to know?

The risk of complications is 1:200/1:300 for an amnio (less if the doctor performs them often) and your risk of DS is 1:217, which is basically the same. Having an amnio could confirm your fears or give you peace of mind.

Now that risk is still only about .5% that the baby has DS. That's 99.5% possibility that all is OK.  

Even though you're under 35, you may want to post this on the Pregant after 35 board. My fellow oldies have different views on amnios and DS and may have more thoughts on this.

Wishing you the best.

MidwestTexan

I just wanted to say good luck with whatever decision you and your DH make. I haven't experienced a similar situation, but I hope it works out for you.

Poplin2007

I think it really depends on what you'd do with a positive result on the amnio.  And how crazy is 1:217 going to drive you for the next few months if you don't know?

Good luck! 

julygal

We were actually in the opposite boat.  Our sequential screen (combined 1st tri and 2nd tri screening) came back as normal.  However, at our 18 week u/s they found a high level marker that even in isolation raised our risk to 1:3 of having a baby with downs or other chromosomal disorders.  We read up and everything supported that the marker in isolation dramatically increased our risk, though some said less than others.  We opted to do the amnio.  I needed to know.  The stress of not knowing and waiting for 3 weeks was unbelieveable and not healthy.  I can't imagine waiting the remaining 5 months until I delivered. 

I didn't know if I would terminate or not, as you can't know until you are truly confronted with the final verdict.  I knew that if we did have a baby with downs my OB would want me to deliver at a different hospital than we have planned.  I did not want my baby's birth to be a day of mourning at finding out that something was wrong, as the bad news would already be delivered and we could move onto celebrating the life that was there. 

These are all the things we considered when doing the amnio.  However, our risk was far more elevated and made the decision to do the amnio much easier.  As a pp mentioned your risk is about equal to the risks associated with the amnio. 

What does your doctor say?  Can you talk to another OB to get another perspective?  We had a peri do the 18 week u/s who found the marker and after hearing his recommendation, we went back to our reg OB to get his perspective on what the marker meant.  Our OB and a peri both told us without a doubt to do the amnio, which was different from when we had DD.   She had an isolated soft marker, which increased our odds to 1:500 of trisomy 18 and they offered an amnio but at the same time told us they didn't think the amnio was necessary, since it was more likely to miscarry from amnio than something was wrong with DD. We didn't do the amnio with DD and she was fine.  I guess what I am saying is are they offering an amnio or are they recommending an amnio?  Ask your doctor point blank what he would do.

By the way our amnio results came back and all was normal.  Apparently our children can't have normal u/s.  Anyway, if you have questions about the actual procedure let me know.

mrspink77

I don't personally have experience with this but will be doing the testing in the next few weeks myself so I was interested in your post. But my SIL had the same thing happen to her that you are going through. She is 33. She couldn't handle NOT knowing so they did go through with the amnio. Everything turned out fine and she said she was really happy having that peace of mind rather then worrying the rest of her PG about if it was or wasn't possibly had downs. GL to you!

itsmyturn2

The Boston Globe just posted an article about this today check it out: https://tinyurl.com/cpc2oy

In that article they mention another test you can have to further confirm the chances of Downs - maybe consider that before the more invasive amnio?

I was just given some similiar news and while it turned out to be an error on the doctors part - I went through all those same emotions and had to make some similiar choices. We ultimatly decided we needed to know one way or another so we had planned to go ahead with the testing.

Good Luck and my thoughts are with you!

ljlkm

I'll chime in as someone who had an amnio after refusing any of the other testing.  As pp said, your chance of having a child with Downs is more or less the same as your chance of miscarrying as a result of the amnio.  So if you want to play the numbers game, it's a toss-up.  Bear in mind that *both* chances are teeny, tiny.  The overwhelming liklihood for both is that your baby is fine and even if you have the amnio, you'll have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy birth. 

The real questions are a) What, if anything, would you do if you found out your baby had a chromosomal disorder; and b) How much uncertainty are you prepared to handle? 

Many women would still carry the baby to term and can handle the extra 20ish weeks of uncertainty.  If you fall into this category, then don't get the amnio.  But if you a) wouldn't carry to term, or b) couldn't deal with the not knowing, then get the amnio. 

NJ2NC

Thank you so much for your posts.  I felt kind of blind sided when the perinatologist gave us the screening results....it was just a lot to take in unexpectedly.  I have a regularly scheduled doctor's appointment tomorrow...so I'll definitely ask my doctor what the medical recommendation is as far as the amnio (I'm not sure I can wait the 5 months)

I feel A LOT better after having read all of your posts. I'll keep you updated.