testing

Jessee28

I am trying to decide what to do about testing for spina bifida. I had made up my mind not to do any extra testing because no matter what I am having this baby. However, my doc says he recommends it because of spina bifida and they can operate if they need to before its born. I dont know about this first there are the risk of false positives and the risk of surgery before it is born, which really worries me.  I dont want to do any uneccessary or risky testing. I have read and I think they do blood test first and then the thing where they put a needle in your uterus. I dont want the needle in there. I am so torn on what to do. Any suggestions?

grace28

Do they just do the needle thing if the blood test comes back with something wrong??

kate1011

Sorry, I am of no help to you... But I know exactly how you feel...  I don't care to do unnecessiary testing because we will keep and love the baby no matter what.  But if there is any possibility of helping the baby before delivery I would probably go for it.  And the possibility if false positive I would deal with if/when we got one.  Sorry again, I'm of no real help.  Good luck.

mellieg8582

DH and I talked about this the other day. We are going to test for spina bifida. I don't want needles in there either but with some family history (my MIL) of a pregnancy with downs and spina bifida. We think we need to do the testing.

Jessee28

I am not sure but I think they only do the needle if they find something wrong. Also, we have no family history but I have also read that doesnt matter in some cases. If they did find spina bifida are you guys not scared of surgery on the baby before its born? I guess I am just a worry wort, this is my first and I just don't know what to expect with all this testing. Thanks for your inputs.

livingdeadgirl

I think you should if its in your or your husbands family history. I chose not to do it because my doc expressed that it was very common to recieve FALSE POSITIVES.......  that frankly made me feel that my baby could or could not have it and they could still be unsure. Or a lot of heartache for nothing. Good luck.

almostabuck

I would not do it unless their was a family history. Also, it does not tell you for sure. It is a screening test that tells you the risk level. At that point you can decide whether you want further testing. There is no positive/negative diagnosis, so there is no such thing as a false positive.

 ETA: I am thinking of down syndrome with the positive/negative. Spina bifida might be different, but I still wouldn't do it unless there was a reason to suspect a problem.

Jessee28

Thanks everyone. I think since we have no family history I am going to pass on the test. That was what I orginially had decided but when it brought up the spina bifida I didnt know what to think. Thanks again.