- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
February 2013 Moms
Sophia1913
member
Amnio and NT Scan question
Sophia1913
member
Hi ladies,
So at my appointment last week, my OB recommended I consider getting an amnio. The risks of that already scare me. To give you a little background, I am 35 and my uncle (my mom's brother who is now deceased) had downs syndrome. I asked my dr was that the reason she was recommending an amnio and she said even without the family member with downs, she'd suggest it just based on my age alone. So my question is has any one had amnio or would any of you ladies consider getting one?
Also as far as the NT scan we didnt schedule it yet and my next appointment with my OB is 2 weeks at which time I will be 12 weeks. However, radiology called me the other day and said my OB sent orders to them for me to have another u/s the week before my next appointment so she can go over the results. So I'm wondering if we do go with the NT scan should I call my doctor and ask if we can just do the NT scan at the appointment I already have scheduled in 2 weeks. TIA ladies!!!
<a href="http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Home D
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Amnio and NT Scan question
growing a foosa
I'm not sure why she's recommending an amnio before you have your NT Scan. If you have the scan first, you might find out that you have a really low chance of having a child with chromosomal abnormalities. If I were you, I'd call and ask for an NT Scan, and if the Scan shows that you're high-risk (they consider your age in determining risk) then maybe consider an amnio or CVS testing if you want an definitive answer. I definitely don't want to question what your doctor suggested for you, but I know several people who are 35 and pregnant and their doctors were able to let them know after the NT Scan that their chances of having a baby with chromosomal abnormalities was very low. I'm 33, and after the NT Scan (and accompanying bloodwork), they were able to tell me that my chances were much better (lower) than chances based on age alone would suggest. Good luck with your decision!
This is pretty much what DH said. Thank you for this. I think my mind is pretty much made up to not go with the amnio.
Do not feel pressure to have an amnio, AT all at 35. Doctors will offer it at 35, but you shouldn't feel pressured into doing it. I had a baby at 35 (and God willing, another one at 36), and there are risks with the amnio.
See how the NT scan results look, as well as looking into the CVS test, which is done earlier in your pregnancy. Also if you do decide to do either test, research what the miscarriage rate is for your doctor with those tests, as some are better than others.
Right ovary removed 09.04.2012 via vertical laparotomy
Essure implant placed on remaining tube 06.13.2013; successful followup scan 09.30.2013
Two things:
1. My husband had an uncle with DS, and the genetic counselor we met with prior to my NT scan said that unless the DS was a super rare genetic type (in which case he would have more family members with DS), having a family member with DS would have ZERO IMPACT on our chances of conceiving a child with DS.
2. An amnio is a pretty invasive procedure to recommend BEFORE the NT scan, especially given that 35 really isn't that old. If I were in your position, I would have the NT scan and see how the results came out. If they indicated a need for future testing, then I would consider a CVS or an amnio... but to just do it just because you are 35? That seems unncessarily wasteful and dangerous to me...
Someone else may know more about this but my doc told us there was a new blood test they could do instead of an amnio if my nt scan results were to suggest further testing. No risk with that. It's new and wasn't available 2 years age when I had my son. Maybe you could ask about that?
I am low risk and 30, so the genetic screening and/or amnio is not reccommended for me yet. However, my doctor did offer me something called a SIPS screen (in canada, geneteic testing). DH and I decided to do, but only knowing that if the blood work comes back "positive" for anything, I will be willing to have an anmio. I am keeping ostive by thinking we are both healthy and have no prior history on either side, but I would rather know than not know.
Ultimately, the benefits of knowing for me outweighed the risks, but I know that is not a common viewpoint.
I would do the NT scan and bloodwork. If your risks come back very elevated and/or there are markers for one of the trisomies, then I *personally* would consider an amnio, only because Down syndrome is the least serious by FAR of the trisomies and if my baby were going to have a very serious condition I would want to know so I could meet with doctors, prepare for a special birth and/or palliative care after birth.
The NT scan can tell you a lot and I wouldn't make any further decisions until that.
I have a friend who is getting an amnio soon because her NT scan showed some serious concerns and birth defects and she needs all the info to prepare for her baby's birth and care after birth.
Also, the risks of an amnio are actually pretty low, but again, I would get results from non-invasive tests before talking about invasive ones.
i second the poster recommending you look into the MaterniT21 test rather than defaulting to an amnio.
also do the NT scan and blood tests before a more invasive procedure for sure!!
i did the NT scan and the bloodwork because my own mother was adopted and i don't know my full family history. plus i am 32.
Yeah, this is new and really cool! I would ask if that's an option. It tests for other the other trisomies now, too, I believe.
As other mamas have said, do the NT scan and blood tests first and see what the results are from those tests (if you choose to do the testing at all).
I had a higher risk of DS with my first pregnancy after my first trimester blood work came back so we saw a high risk OB for a scan. Based on the scan, our risk increased so we opted to do the amnio.
We would not have terminated the pregnancy no matter the outcome but we wanted to be prepared in case something came up.
The amnio was not bad at all, it stings a bit when they put the needle in but honestly, compared with everything else you go through with pregnancy, labor, and delivery, it wasn't a big deal. It didn't harm the baby in our case, but I do know that's a risk you have to consider.