Amnio Question--repost from 08.2013 board

fritz799

I've had MaterniT21 and the NT scan blood work, and am still waiting for my results. The scan itself went well. We also did Counsyl testing, and that came back fine, too. 

Assuming the other tests come back ok, is there anything to be gained by getting an amnio? 

I'm 35 and live on both coasts. The LA doctor (who will be delivering) said that he wouldn't recommend it--assuming we got good results everywhere else. The NY doctor was downright pushy about it, and wanted to schedule one immediately. 

I'm not planning to get one at this point--but I'm wondering what info I'd be missing out on.

mrsjami

Unless you have a med history of other issues I would prob skip it. Keep in mind the amnio looks at everything whereas materniti21 only looks at 3 trisomies.

fritz799

Right.

I can't seem to find a definitive list for the amnio anywhere.  I mean--we know it's better than MaterniT21 for Trisomies 13 & 18--but assuming the screens are all okay, then that's not enough, in my case, to go for it.

I know that that the amnio covers birth defects that my other screenings won't--but I wonder if I'm at a higher risk for those defects because of age, or if I'm just in the same boat as everybody else.

I'm loathe to get the amnio without having an awfully good reason.

1. We don't have genetic issues (that we know of), and we've been pretty thoroughly tested;

2. I don't have any health problems or a history that would indicate a problem--just a bunch of ugly back surgeries about six years ago; and 

3.  We don't have a family history of birth defects (other than a surprising number of a**holes..but what can you do?).

The only issue is my age (35).  I thought the NY guy was being a bit harsh--but it made me think. 

mrsjami:

Unless you have a med history of other issues I would prob skip it. Keep in mind the amnio looks at everything whereas materniti21 only looks at 3 trisomies.

surpriseaddition

I think the NY guy is in CYA mode....because you're over 35.  I'm 42, and even though all the other tests came back great, my OB sent me for a level 2 u/s at 20 weeks.  The perinatalogist there almost begged me to do the amnio.  "Are you really sure you don't want it?  Well, the only way I can give 100% accurate results is with an amnio."

To me, it came down to the question....would we do anything different if info from the amnio was bad?  For us, the answer was no.  Even though it is very small, there is a chance of miscarriage after an amnio (1-2%) so to us, we felt it wasn't worth the risk.  GL!

fritz799

I think you're right.  My LA doc said that he would send me for an amnio if I were 40, either way.  This is our first child, and we're hoping to have more--so I'll probably be looking down the barrel of that gun some day, too.

Honestly, the result does make a difference to us.  But I don't see a good reason to take this risk with a baby that looks healthy.  (Assuming, obviously, that we get good results this week...)

dhreczuck

You have 100% right to choose whether or not to do any invasive testing, so having your Dr. say he'd send you either way if your 40 kind of gets under my skin. 

I was talked into getting a cvs at 38 by my Dr. even though I hadn't had any other screening tests done yet and unforunately was in the low % that have a m/c as a result and the baby was perfectly healthy. Now at 40, you couldn't get me to do any invasive testing no matter what. It's always a personal decision but you also really need to look at the statistics for trisomies ect as well, yes they do happen but the % is very low even at 40 but even more so at 35.

Roxie5739

I did the same tests as you and I am 40. Once I got the all clear on those I had no intention on doing any invasive tests. Do what you feel is right

dragonfly711

We r going for genetic testing and counseling on the 21st I will be 39 next week and hubby will be 42 at the end of the month. He also has a nephew who is Downs so we want to test. We have discussed and we probably will not do any invasive testing like the amnio. I will be fine with the scan and bloodwork. If something is not right it will not change our decision to have the baby so we don't want to do anything that carries a risk of miscarring.

fritz799

I am so incredibly sorry that it happened to you.  I hope this pregnancy goes perfectly for you. 

dhreczuck:

You have 100% right to choose whether or not to do any invasive testing, so having your Dr. say he'd send you either way if your 40 kind of gets under my skin. 

I was talked into getting a cvs at 38 by my Dr. even though I hadn't had any other screening tests done yet and unforunately was in the low % that have a m/c as a result and the baby was perfectly healthy. Now at 40, you couldn't get me to do any invasive testing no matter what. It's always a personal decision but you also really need to look at the statistics for trisomies ect as well, yes they do happen but the % is very low even at 40 but even more so at 35.

AZAmy77

surpriseaddition:

I think the NY guy is in CYA mode....because you're over 35.  I'm 42, and even though all the other tests came back great, my OB sent me for a level 2 u/s at 20 weeks.  The perinatalogist there almost begged me to do the amnio.  "Are you really sure you don't want it?  Well, the only way I can give 100% accurate results is with an amnio."

To me, it came down to the question....would we do anything different if info from the amnio was bad?  For us, the answer was no.  Even though it is very small, there is a chance of miscarriage after an amnio (1-2%) so to us, we felt it wasn't worth the risk.  GL!

Just a note that at my dr office the rates for miscarriage after amnio were much smaller than noted above - they said they were saying with the 1/400 rate - .4%

 Although for OP, it sounds like there are no real reason besides age for an amnio that I agree with PP and wouldn't think it was worth the risk.

fritz799

Thanks again for the advice and info, everyone.  

We just got the MaterniT21 results today via voicemail.  They're good!!!  

I have to call tomorrow to find out the sex--the office was closed by the time we got the voicemail.

I am so stinking excited. 

danuli8

I'm late, but I also had the NT scan and MT21 tests just as you did. Both looked fine so I declined the amnio, and I will be 42 when I deliver my first. If, when you have your anatomy scan at 20 weeks, they see a heart defect or spine issue on the ultrasound, THEN it might be worth doing an amnio to investigate further. But if all looks good at the anatomy scan, I think you can leave well enough alone. I did not have an amnio (anatomy scan looked great) and do not regret it one bit.

luv2race1320

I turned 35 in December.  They did one round of blood work and so far everything is fine on both me & hubby.  I have a 2nd set of bloodwork on the 22nd then i go in 2 weeks later to talk to the genetic counselor.  Even if something came back bad in the bloodwork I am refusing the amnio.  I have no want to do it & wouldn't abort if they told me something was wrong.  If God wants me to have a handicapped baby then so be it.  I'm not risking losing the baby to do an amnio cause the doctors want me to. 

luv2race1320

And my ticker is wrong.  That's before I had my last miscarriage, I would have been due in May.  I keep trying to update it and it won't change grrrrrr.  I am almost 4 months, due Aug 4th.  We are surprising my girls, they are 16 & 10 on the 17th and taking them to a place that does ultrasounds so we can find out the sex together as a family.  They are so excited about the baby that we want to include them in this very special time.