Thoughts on the sequential screening.

Jen1231

I don't know whether or not to have the sequential screening done.  I did not get it done with my first.  However, while I was at the Dr. yesterday for my first check up she said that she was surprised that we didn't have it done with our first baby.  Then continued on to say that more than 75% of women have it done.  I am just torn.  To me it seems like a lot more added worry to have the screening done. 

So my question to you ladies.  Are you going to have it done?  If you are going to have it done can I ask why? 

And, if you've already had it done what does it entail? 

TIA!

iris427

I had the blood test part done, but not the ultrasound (my insurance wouldn't cover the ultrasound because we didn't have any risk factors like advanced maternal age or family history).  With the blood test, they just take some blood and look at the levels of certain hormones.  If the levels are not in the normal range, it indicates that there MAY be an issue, but not necessarily.  Then you have to decide whether to do an amnio to get a definite answer, or to wait it out.  Mine were normal so we didn't have to do any further testing and it was reassuring, although it does not tell you anything definitively. 

Personally, I don't know what we are going to do this time.  I'm going to talk to my doctor about it.  I would ask about the rate of "false positives" on the screen and the risks associated with doing an amnio, as well as what your risk factors are for chromosomal or neural tube defects, based on your age and family history.  You also might want to consider what you think you would do if you found out the baby did have a problem. 

JacquelineR.

Is this the NT scan and accompanying bloodwork?

We had it done because my husband had a brother that was born and died of a trisomy disorder.  Even though it isn't hereditary we still felt better learning that our chances were way lower than average and that our baby was most likely healthy.

We are going to have it done again this time.  Some people want to know so they can terminate, others would prefer to know in order to prepare for the arrival of a baby with special needs.

On the day of the procedure we went to the office, had an ultrasound that lasted maybe 30 to 45 minutes and then they collected my blood through a finger stick.  On the spot she said that the thickness of the fluid behind the baby's neck was within the normal range and later when we received the results from the blood work our combination risk was extremely low.

It's a screening, so if the results come back higher than average (depends on your age), then you have the option to pursue more invasive procedures to further investigate. 

Gina418

My husband was adopted and we have no family history for his side. We decided to to the scan with ds because we wanted to know as much as possible. We wound up with a thick nuchal fold reading and a higher risk after the blood tests. We decided to do a CVS test to know for sure what was going on. Turned out ds was absolutely fine and healthy.

We will do the screening again with this pregnancy - and if we feel the need to, we will do a CVS or amnio as well. 

azuremama

We had the NT scan.  In my doctor's practice, the NT scan is bloodwork on the mom and an u/s to measure the back of the baby's neck (or some specific part in there), done between 10-13 weeks.  Sequential screening includes another blood draw at 15-17 weeks.  I think the sequential gives you slightly more accurate results (83% with the NT v. 90% with the sequential is what they told us).  In our practice, they gave us the measurements after the u/s and they looked good, then they give results after the bloodwork comes back, and then they'd give results after the second blood test (so you wouldn't have to wait until 17 weeks to know).

We went with the NT scan partly because we are a little older and nervous people.  We like having more information.  We had it done with DS and did it this time, as well.  Both times, the results were really low and it was really reassuring to both of us.  And the extra ultrasound is a perk!  Both times, it took 2 days for results, although they said up to a week.

We chose not to do the sequential screen because I wanted to have results sooner rather than not get the final results until 17 weeks.  They did give us the option that based on the results of the NT scan, we could get the second blood draw later if we wanted. 

I think it sort of just depends on you.  Does not having information make you feel better or worse?  Would knowing a chance of downs or trisomy 18 have any impact on your decisionmaking?  None of my friends IRL have had it done, so I'm surprised about the 75% figure your doctor quoted.

Jen1231

azuremama:

We had the NT scan.  In my doctor's practice, the NT scan is bloodwork on the mom and an u/s to measure the back of the baby's neck (or some specific part in there), done between 10-13 weeks.  Sequential screening includes another blood draw at 15-17 weeks.  I think the sequential gives you slightly more accurate results (83% with the NT v. 90% with the sequential is what they told us).  In our practice, they gave us the measurements after the u/s and they looked good, then they give results after the bloodwork comes back, and then they'd give results after the second blood test (so you wouldn't have to wait until 17 weeks to know).

We went with the NT scan partly because we are a little older and nervous people.  We like having more information.  We had it done with DS and did it this time, as well.  Both times, the results were really low and it was really reassuring to both of us.  And the extra ultrasound is a perk!  Both times, it took 2 days for results, although they said up to a week.

We chose not to do the sequential screen because I wanted to have results sooner rather than not get the final results until 17 weeks.  They did give us the option that based on the results of the NT scan, we could get the second blood draw later if we wanted. 

I think it sort of just depends on you.  Does not having information make you feel better or worse?  Would knowing a chance of downs or trisomy 18 have any impact on your decisionmaking?  None of my friends IRL have had it done, so I'm surprised about the 75% figure your doctor quoted.

I don't know I think that I would worry too much about the results.  I was surprised too about the amount of women that my Dr. said that get it.  I guess I should start by calling my insurance company to make sure that they cover the test.  The only person I know that had the screening was my mom when she got pregnant with my sister and she was in her 40's.  None of my friends have kids, so I don't have anyone to ask!