Questions about neural tube defects...

MrsEWellman

Basically my only real concern was miscarrying, and now since I'm 15 weeks I'm looking into other ways to torture myself. Now I'm terrified of neural tube defects. I have the option of testing for it at my next appointment, and I'm considering it. I'm worried because I didn't know I was pregnant until I was 5 weeks, and those first 4 weeks are crucial to the development of the spine. I don't know how much folic acid I was eating, but quite honestly when I got pregnant I was not my healthiest. I'd been drinking socially regularly, and smoking. Of course, I stopped the second I had that positive pregnancy test, but some neural tube defects are increased by smoking. I could kick myself now, but I didn't know. 

Did anyone here get the test? Was it a simple blood test? Any info. or comfort would be greatly appreciated.  

kcvasquez

You actually aren't pregnant for the first two weeks, those are the weeks before you ovulate. There are many women who don't know they're pregnant for months and babies turn out perfectly fine all the time. Your body stores up these nutrients and gives them to your developing baby long before your body will give them to you. More than likely your baby will be 100% fine, I guess I wouldn't worry until you actually have something to worry about.

Tritium

I'm not sure what this test consists of, but there is no need to torture yourself.  Neural tube defects are very rare, overall.  Many people don't know they're pregnant for the first few weeks and conditions like spina bifida, etc., are pretty uncommon.

beeeb

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PLEASE STOP SPAMMING THE BOARDS

mintea

Don't beat yourself up. Were you taking a multivitamin before you got pg? Either way, most grains you eat are fortified with Folic Acid so you probably had a reasonable level.  

baloneydisc

The test is called the Quad Screen and it's just a 1 vial blood test. I was told the results take about a week to get back. My OB's office does the test around 17-weeks.

iluvmylab

I'm not trying to be mean here, but you've really got to try to relax and not consume yourself with irrational thoughts.  Is there a history of this in your family?  Has your doctor expressed concern about this issue?  If not, then relax.  There are thousands of things that CAN go wrong, but yet, most people have perfectly healthy, normal babies.  If you found out you were pregnant at 5 weeks, that's when most people find out.  You aren't even sharing a blood supply at that point, so don't worry, I'm sure everything is fine.

natalie_wn@yahoo.com

The way I like to think of things that could keep me up at night is this: women have been having children for thousands of years before there were any prenatals to take, sleep positions to avoid, etc, and children have been turning out healthy and "normal" for just as long. As someone else said, your body stores the folic acid and vitamins you need as a sort of reserve. Take the test if you want, but even then it's not 100% accurate.

DarlinClementine

I can relate to your concern... I am in the exact same boat ~ but I didn't find out I was pregnant til around 7 weeks.  I also immediately stopped drinking and indulging in the occasional ciggie... 

I have the test set up for a week from this Monday and I am considering canceling.  I am beginning to wonder what good it will do?  It is not 100% accurate and will only give you ratio-based odds, which freaks me out.  I mean, even if the MD said that the odds were 1/1000... I would worry til the delivery.  And if the odds are shown to be increased, what exactly can they do about it?  I am going to email my MD and try to get some better insight.