- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Pregnant after 35
thoughts on 1st TM combined screening/nuchal fold
I made an appt to have the 1st trimester early risk assessment that involves a blood test and ultrasound. My DH and I began talking and we are having second thoughts about having this screening. I guess we are confused as to how this test will help us in the long run. Lets say the test reveals that the baby may have Down Syndrome or another problem. Then what? Does prenatal care change if I am carrying I child with DS? I was just wondering how other moms over 35 felt about this. Thanks!
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
This discussion has been closed.
Re: thoughts on 1st TM combined screening/nuchal fold
Some people just feel more comfortable with testing to see if there are markers present that would indicate whether or not their infant could have problems such as Downs. If the markers are there, then you would have an option of amnio if you so choose. I understand why some take this route.
We chose not to do those screenings as percentages are just that, a percentage and whatever happens to you or your baby is 100%, no matter if the odds were 1000 to 1. As it took us a few years to get pregnant, we would not terminate if the news was bad, nor would we take the albeit very small chance of a m/c from the amnio. We put it in fates hands, and at this point, everything looks good.
It is such a personal decision whether or not to test. I have never seen a judgemental post regarding it on this board.
Best wishes for a H & H 9 months!!!
Thanks for the post serrill2- I am still very new to all of this.
I think our feelings are very much like yours. We are also not comfortable with even the small risk of m/c from cvs or amnio and we would also not want to terminate.
One part of me thinks it would just cause more worry, yet another part of me thinks if the technology is there, and it's safe, then why not gather all of the info we can?
This is a very personal and difficult decision, the first of many to come! Everybody's situation and needs are different. I will spend more time discussing this with DH. Thanks again!
https://cochranicity.blogspot.com/2009/10/frequently-asked-questions.html
For us even we felt like it was a valuable test. We agreed before hand that if it was Downs then we would have the follow up heart and anatomy scans to be sure there were no more problems. If there were and baby would not survive then we would terminate. If it was "just" downs and baby could survive we would not terminate.
With my second child the NT scan portion came back in a "gray area". They told us it increased our risk of downs but all other tests came back fine. We had the heart scan done and that looked great. We never considered terminating that pregnancy and yes the false alarm (she was born completely fine) did bring a lot of tears and worry but in the end I think it was still worth it and we opted to have the testing again with this baby (clear this time thank goodness!).
To me even if you would never terminate it's good knowledge to have. Forewarned is forearmed. I looked at it as an opportunity to prepare and do research ahead of time if necessary.
The others have all stated some good reasons for having the test.
In addition to mental preparedness for the possibility, if your risk numbers came back high, it might make you want to deliver at a different hospital, for example. It's possible that your child could need extra NICU support that mightnot be available at your local hospital.
For many people, including those for whom termination is not an option, these screenings are precautionary and can at least help one plan for what MIGHT be the case.
I know two people with children with DS. One discovered it early as a result of non-invasive testing (ultrasound picked up suspicious markers, etc). Mom received extra and different prenatal care, baby was born at different hospital and immediately underwent surgery for heart defects, then arrived home to parents and siblings who were somewhat prepared for the challenges and joys of a special child. The other child was not diagnosed before birth and was a surprise to her parents and doctors. Because they were unaware of the extent of the heart and other issues, she spent several weeks in the NICU while they worked to diagnose the extent of the challenges, followed by several surgeries and parents who were devastated by the unexpected DS diagnosis.
In the long run, both children are doing well and much loved. But one child (and her parents) had an easier start in life because of prenatal diagnosis and care. I believe that prenatal testing is valuable for medical reasons and family preparation alone.
We did the NT scan.
If the results had come back with a very high risk of Downs, we likely would have done an amnio to be sure plus the more detailed u/s to get a grip on any heart defects etc. I would much prefer to be prepared as Julia-Henry described. For us, it also would have meant delivering at a different hopsital. Your pre-natal care also changes.
Keep in mind this test does not just screen for Downs. Among others, it also screens for Trisomy 18. 95% of babies with trisomy 18 die in utero. Of those who make it to term, 50% die in the first two months. I would also want to be prepared for this.
It is a personal decision. You need to do what is right for you.
We are going to get the combined screening and NT scan. IF the results indicate a possible problem, then we will go for a CVS which can be done at 13 wks. It is 99% accurate and you can get it done sooner than an amnio.
The risk of miscarriage with a CVS depends on the hospital. For us, let's say our baby has a 1/5 chance of having Down's/Trisomy 18, but the mc statistic for the procedure is 1/300. We would do the procedure. If the risk of genetic problems was 1/100, well I'm not so sure.
I think the test can cause a lot of anxiety, but it can also give you some guidance and information. I agree that it is better to know that there is a potential problem and go from there, than be surprised 6 months later. (I am assuming that a women is already about 3 months pg when she gets the screenings/tests).
First let me say I don't mean to scare anyone, but having gone through the experience of getting bad results, I'd just like to share some of my perspective. ?In the spring with our first preg., we did the NT scan & bloodwork, and that came back with a 1 in 5 chance of a problem. ?With those high numbers we decided to have a CVS. ?Sadly, we were the couple that got hit by the bad luck, and our baby had a terrible/fatal chromosomal defect called trisomy 18. ?It was truly devastating, but the point is that I'm very grateful to have learned as early as possible about the disastrous problem. ?
Now, I'm so fortunate to be pregnant again, and I will definitely go thru the screening process again. ?I'm trying to be optimistic that we will have better results this time around, despite the fact that I'm really nervous about the results. ?
Like you, if I have a screening result that says risk of problem is minimal, say 1 in 300, then I wait and do amnio, but if we're 1 in 5 again, then it's on to CVS#2. ?I think even if you wouldn't terminate, it's useful to know if you're going to have a special needs child so that you can be prepared.?
Good luck & all the best!?
?