Pregnant after 35
Options
Test for Down's Syndrome?
I' just turned 37 and am 7 weeks pg today. I just went to my first visit with my OB today. She told me about the screening tests for 3 chromosomal abnormalities including Down's Syndrome. According to the info, the tests are only about 80% accurate and can give false positives or negatives. Tests that come later can cause miscarriage. I'm leaning towards not having the screening but just wondering if anyone else had this done?
Thanks!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Test for Down's Syndrome?
The 1st Trimester screening is 85-90% effective in predicting risk of down's and trisomy 13 and 18, in addition to possibly identifying issues like heart defects much earlier when you can get appropriate specialist care early on to reduce the risks to your baby. It's completely non-invasive screening and involves no risk to your baby.
It consists of a detailed ultrasound (called an NT scan) and some bloodwork, from which they can give you your odds. It also doesn't really tell you positive or negative -- it gives you the odds so you can decide if the risk level is high enough to warrant additional testing. In the vast majority of cases, the odds they give you will be better than the odds that are based solely on age.
For us, we wanted to know as early as possible if baby had any signs of issues such as heart defects, etc., so that we could start seeing a specialist sooner and make plans to deliver at a hospital that is equipped to deal with such issues at birth. It was a huge relief to me to be able to see the baby again (because otherwise the next chance for an ultrasound wouldn't have been until around 20 weeks), and to find out that there is no evidence of any problems.
Whether you choose to do more invasive procedures, like amniocentesis, is entirely up to you. But the non-invasive screening will at least give you some information to know whether the amnio is something worth considering (and most likely, the screening will tell you that you probably don't have anything to worry about).
I think many of us have had the NT scan. I know all my girlfriends did - and many of them had their first at age 30 or even younger.
DH and I didn't want to do an amnio or CVS unless the NT scan gave us high odds.
It's really easy, as ELF said, an u/s and some b/w. It must be done between 11-13 weeks to be accurate.
My results gave me low odds, so we stopped at that point. I did also did the quad screen at 15-ish weeks (b/w).
Remember, it's just a screening, so it gives you odds, it doesn't say yes or no that your baby has various disorders. You would have do do amnio to get a for sure answer.
DS born via unplanned C-section at 40w6d
It is such a personal decision so don't think that you are making the wrong one no matter what you decide.
I had the NT and Quad screen. Totally non-invasive and, truthfully, it was one of the best appoints throughout this whole journey. The baby looked like a real baby, not just a blob. He moved around so much and I think it may have been the 1st time DH felt kind of 'connected' in this pregnancy.
My results came back with really low odds so I felt safe stopping with this. However, if something with high odds popped up, I would hae done CVS/Amnio b/c I would want to be as prepared as possible and have doctors/specialists/therapists, etc...lined up and ready with a plan of action. That's just me, though. Everyone is different.
~TTC since 01/09~
~SA & B/W - 06/09 - Normal~
~Encouraged by OB to "just keep trying" 06/09 - 06/10 (oh, the wasted time)~
~HSG - 08/10 - Clear/Normal~
~Lapo - 01/11 - Normal~
~Clomid 50mg, Trigger shot, Prometrium - 01/11, 02/11, 03/11~
~BFN - 02/11~
~IUI #1 03/15/11~
BFP 3/28/2011
Diagnosed with GD at 28 weeks. Controlled through diet and exercise. No insulin.
Diagnosed with Cholestasis of pregnancy @ 36 weeks.
Delivered via C-section @ 36 weeks on 11/9/11.
Im 36 and it took us 2 yrs to get pregnant. My plan was to do the screening and then based off results either opt in or out for a CVS. My screening came back of "that of a 20 yr old"-so opted out as the risk of M/C was higher than the risk of DS or T 18.
Well now Im 20 wks and they have noticed a couple of markers, one is a cyst on the brain which could be T-18 (but likely not-no other obvious signs which there would be). Now they see a spot on the heart which could mean DS. Both of these markers are also very common in normal pregnancies, but I wont know for sure uless I do an amnio.
At this point, I still decided not to have an amnio. I feel my little girl kicking and am SO attached that I just cant risk losing her. So I have to deal with the unkknown till delivery, but still the dr said my odds are 99.9% in my favor.
Such a hard choice- I had a hard time deciding too. Best of luck!