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Hope for those going though positive Quad screen results...

donovan77donovan77 member
in Pregnant after 35
Hello,
I started a discussion board here a few weeks ago asking for some words of hope from anyone that had gone though the experience of receiving a positive quad screen result. I just turned 35 and was given a 1/46 chance of having a baby with Downs when the average for my age was around 1/250. I was devastated by the news, even though my husband and I would have loved the baby no matter what, it's very scary to think that your baby can be born with any kind of health issues or abnormalities. After finding out, I began scouring through message boards all over the web looking for some clarity, I had absolutely no idea about the rate of false positives this test can give. Other women's stories really gave me comfort and I swore that I would share my story when all was said and done.

After receiving the results I was advised to meet with a genetic counselor who didn't do the best job of calming me down but did suggest the Maternit21 test as a next step and explained that in reality my results meant that I had a 98% change of having a healthy baby, felt a little better but I kept thinking I was going to be the "1". I decided to take the Maternit21 because the test sounded very accurate and I was hoping to avoid amnio at all cost. 2 grueling weeks later I still hadn't heard anything so I followed up with the genetic counselor who informed me that everything came back perfectly normal. As happy as I was to hear that our baby was going to be born without any neural tube defects, it really sunk in how absolutely stressed and scared I had been for over 2 weeks - which is definitely not great for pregnancy. I was really kicking myself for not doing the Maternit21 from the get go and kind of mad that this quad test even exists when it puts so many women through this for no reason what so ever. 

My advice to anyone going through the same thing is to stay positive, know that more than likely everything is wonderful with your baby, talk to the women in your family and your girlfriends, I bet there is someone that went through a similar situation that can make you feel better, it definitely helped me. Hang in there! For those of you that are thinking of taking the quad test, I HIGHLY recommend you go straight to Maternit21 if your insurance will cover some of it and your Dr. provides it, it is still fairly new. Thanks to anyone who left me kind thoughts when I was going through all of this and please feel free to contact me if you need someone to talk to.
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Re: Hope for those going though positive Quad screen results...

  • GuennieGuennie member
    I remember your post, glad everything came back normal! Congrats!
    Me:41, DH:41 Positive for MTHFR mutations- one copy C677T, one copy A1298C. One daughter born on Thanksgiving in 2013. Six losses.
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  • kelley72kelley72 member
    Thank you for the information and so happy for you and your results!  Hope your pregnancy continues smoothly!
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  • StephPVStephPV member
    Yes, thanks for the information!
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  • fairy_divafairy_diva member
    So glad to hear happy results!! I've been having a mini age breakdown this evening myself and haven't had any testing lol. I guess we moms are just a nervous bunch no matter what.

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  • KatieKTKatieKT member
    That's great! My OB gave me 1:85 results from the Quad screen on Friday as we were driving to our beach vacation. I'm doing my best to remain calm about it but WISH I'd never taken a test that was going to scare me regardless of the outcome. When she told me, I was like, "Wait, isn't 1:85 the average result for my age?" (39)
    She acted like my ratio was a diagnosis. I cannot stand feeling like I'm more informed than a doctor.


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  • Excitedmum35Excitedmum35 member
    I think the whole test is ridiculous. A friend of mine got a high ratio so had the amnio. She lost her baby due to the amnio and after that she found out there was nothing wrong with the baby at all.
    Also Down's syndrome is not that bad. I mean we would all love a "perfect" child but in the scheme if things, kids with Down's syndrome are extremely loving. My sisters oldest has severe non verbal autism, that's heart breaking and my oldest to a previous partner has bi polar and borderline personality (like her father did) THAT is also heart breaking as she is so volatile I have had to cut contact.
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  • Tracy=14Tracy=14 member
    edited September 2013
    Thank you for the hope, just what I needed. I have my genetic counseling/ultrasound appointment wednesday since my test came back positive. Its my 5th child and all of my previous ones have gone without a hitch so this level of stress is all new to me.
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  • belgirlbelgirl member
    Which is exactly why I never got the NT screening. I don't see the point when you can get the Harmony test or a level 2 ultrasound. Anyone over 35 is going to have higher odds according to doctors. 
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  • McGuinneybabyMcGuinneybaby member
    If you have it in your family, then the risk would be greater.  I think sometimes these tests are more than they are worth.  I often wonder about the increase in knowledge, is it worth it.  I know I am 39 and no matter what is revealed, my course will remain the same.  I have already told the doctor's I am not doing an amnio or csv no matter what the results.  I also told them the only thing I would allow is for them to do what is necessary for spina bifid a, but that is it.  Essentially, I will move forward as if everything is fine.  The doctor's are wrong so often with these tests and the measurements, I just say ok and move on.  
    During my first pregnancy, I had so many tests and prognosis, it was mind numbing.  The doctor's told me they were doing what was best and then they induced me at 33 weeks because they believed there was iugr.  Turns out, they were wrong and they caused us a lot of heart ache and pain.  So always know they are wrong more often then right and you just have to have faith and decide, no matter what I will do --------.  Good luck everyone. 
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  • KatieKTKatieKT member
    McGuinneybaby said:  The doctor's told me they were doing what was best and then they induced me at 33 weeks because they believed there was iugr.  Turns out, they were wrong and they caused us a lot of heart ache and pain.  So always know they are wrong more often then right and you just have to have faith and decide, no matter what I will do --------.  Good luck everyone. 
    It is so scary to agree with how often doctors are wrong but I had a similar experience. I'm trying to have faith in this situation that they are wrong again!


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  • djtippietoesdjtippietoes member
    I just went through this too.  I'm 35 and had a 1/28 chance after my quad screening.  Everything came back normal after I had an amnio.  If there's a next time, I will be doing one of the other diagnostic tests right away, not the quad screen.  So much anxiety!
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