NT Scan...now onto an amnio?
Hello!
I wrote a post much like this yesterday on the 2nd trimester board...and had a few suggestions to post to this board also as there might be some additional great feedback / suggestions.
I recieved a call from my obgyn dr. yesterday that my NT Scan came back w. me in a higher risk category for Downs. (1 in 65) A few individuals gave me some suggestions about re-running the NT...going for an earlier 2nd level U/S (I am at 15 weeks tomorrow)...I am pretty sure I am too late for the CVS test.
Does anyone have any advices/thoughts about next steps/getting an amnio? I was really a bit of a trainwreck yesterday when they called...I just wasn't expecting it. I am meeting w. a genetic counselor on Feb 13th...and can choose to have an amnio that day or not.
As I mentioned in our other post...my husband and I have discussed it not changing our decision to have our baby (and love it to pieces!) either way...I am just looking for some thoughts/advice...etc. Not that this matters...but I am 32...
I really appreciate any thoughts...still trying to wrap my head around this one. I am not sure I could wait until an already emotional day of our baby's birth...
Thanks so much!
Re: NT Scan...now onto an amnio?
Remember that 1 in 65 is 1.5%, or 98.5% chance that the baby does NOT have Down Syndrome. My results from 1st trimester screen came back at 1/15 and I decided to do an amnio (which came back fine) right at 15 weeks.
If you want to know in order to be prepared, then do it, (i'd only have an amnio done by a Perinatologist, though). If you want to go by the 98.5% chance that everything is fine, then don't.
This is exactly why I had a CVS. Gathering information to be well-prepared is vital.
I had an amnio at 36, and a CVS at 39 just based on my age-related risks. My NT scan the day of the CVS was normal. I know for a lot of women that would have been reassurance enough, but I wanted a definitive answer.
It's a tough call, but here is something to consider. Are you going to worry about the risk of the baby having Down's more or less than you are going to worry about the possiblility of a miscarriage from the amnio?
if it were me i would not do the amnio. We would not terminate - so we felt no need to take the risk.
some people NEED to know now - to year a yes/no answer- and i respect that- and if that is you then you need to get the amnio... but for me I'd just do a ton of praying and hope for the best. that number is not horrible if you think of it as a %.
vibes to you!
It is a very personal decision. I had 2 amnios even though we had no intention of termination, rather I wanted information. I wanted to be prepared if there was going to be a medical issue with my child. I did my research and found that my doctor had an extremely low complication rate.
Good luck with your decision. I know it is a difficult one to make.
Years ago when my cousin was pregnant (she was in her late 20's) she was told by the dr that she tested positive for downs. I guess they didn't give results with the #'s like we are getting now, they just said positive. She opted not to do the amnio because either way she was having the baby. This happenend with both her children & they are like 10 & 12 now, & thank God she didn't abort because they were absolulteyly healthy.
Sorry, but I don't believe you. Your cousin may have been told that she had indicators for downs, but she was not told that her child had downs unless she had an amnio. An amnio or CVS is the only conclusive diagnosis.
I'm sorry, this must be so stressful. I work with a doc who is involved in prenatal testing research, and she has told me if you have your amnio done by someone who is highly skilled the chance of miscarriage is VERY low, much lower than the figures you normally see quoted. Find out about the credentials of whoeverw ould be doing it.
Obviously it's a personal decision but I don't really understand the "I wouldn't terminate so I won't have an amnio" arguement. Babies with Downs are often born with heart defects that need to be treated right away. If your baby does have Downs you may want to give birth with a maternal fetal medicine physician rather than an OB so he/she can have immediate access to highly-specialized care.
Also, if you had the testing I had (at my hosp. its called the sequential screen) there is normally a follow-up blood test at 16 weeks that further adusts your risk. So you may want to look into that.
All that said, there's still a much greater chance your baby is fine than that he isn't. Hang in there.
I know what you are going through...I got the same type of call earlier this month. It is a hard decision, but to be honest, if you feel like you have to know, the amnio is the only way to be sure. Keep in mind though, that these NT tests have a high false positive rate...so they call you and tell you your chances are 1:65 and that is higher than they like to see...and freak you out (of course and totally understandable)...but keep in mind, that means 64 babies are totally fine.
In the end, I did the amnio last week and so far, so good. At the end, a very personal and difficult decision, please try to stay positive....I know it is easier said than done. Wishing you all the best.
I am in the exact same situation - I just got back from the dr and was told my risk was 1 in 57 - I was not expecting this and like you am in a bit of shock. We also feel that the results will not change our decision to have this child or not.
Its just so much to manage and think about and worry about. I feel like you that I need to know as much as I can in advance so I can prepare. So I think we are going to go ahead and schedule an amnio, although I like the pp idea of re-running the blood tests, since that was my major indicator something was wrong.
I'm 30 and just had a healthy baby, so I never even expected news like this.
I'll be thinking of you and sending you healthy vibes.