Quad screening

VTKatie · February 2014

Did anyone opt to not have this done? Our NT scan results were really good and we have no other known risk factors so we declined it. Our reasoning was that we would learn of any abnormalities at the anatomy scan in 2 weeks, so what's the point. But now, after talking to several friends, I am regretting my decision. Everyone was sort of surprised I was given the option and said it definitely should have been done. I was thinking of calling the doc to come back in. Thoughts?

cuntasaurusrex · February 2014

It hasn't been offered to me... my 20 week appt will actually be after my A/S. I haven't even thought about quad screening though because as you said, NT scan results looked great.

TurtleMonsters · February 2014

I turned down everything from NT on, I'm one of those old biddies, so I was offered everything. My logic is, things would be caught at AS, and if they aren't, we aren't going to terminate anyway. I'm one of those ppl with the unpopular opinion that would rather be thrown into something last minute, rather then sit and dwell for the next 5 months, so I didn't really want to know. Last time only the NT was available, and we did that. I didn't feel any more or less worried this time, having not done it.

EVERYONE has an opinion on what expectant mothers should be doing, and they aren't afraid to say it. Just ignore them and have confidence in your own choices.

VTKatie · February 2014

Thanks for the input. I am such a worrier and read these tests can give false positives. We wouldn't have an amnio regardless of the results, so I felt like I would just be stuck worrying and obsessing until the AS if anything came back "abnormal". I am going to just let it go. Everything has looked good so far, I shouldn't worry about it.

bgoodbpar · February 2014

Don't worry. It's hard when others start putting a big in your ear but trust your instincts. Everyone is different. I was given the choice and I have done no testing outside of the a/a and LO looks great. I understand reasons for screening and if my situation were different I might have chosen differently but I'm definitely fine with my choice not to. Besides I'm a worrier and have anxiety disorder so getting a positive on anything--false or true-- would turn me into a monster!

michellexm · February 2014

I had really good NT numbers too. Frankly, I completely forgot to ask about the quad screen, otherwise I would have asked for it. It wasn't mentioned. Now that I'm at 20+ week and saw good stuff at my A/S scan, driving 90 miles to my hospital for a quad screen sounds less appealing.

Depending on my results, amnio and abortion are always things I would personally consider.

AutumnBonfire · February 2014

I was given a choice of whether or not to do it (same with the NT scan). Last pregnancy I was all for it, but this time I debated for a while. With DS, the quad screen came back with a high risk of spina bifida and I worried a lot until the anatomy scan. This was one time when consulting Dr. Google made me feel better because that's when I learned of the high rate of false "positives."

This time I decided to do it anyway, knowing that I shouldn't panic if something comes up. I'm actually waiting for results right now. They said between today and early next week I'd hear from something. My NT scan wasn't able to tell us anything because the baby was measuring a week ahead. I don't think I'd terminate, but if the quad screen and the anatomy scan did have something come up, I would go ahead with other testing including amnio.

pfeilele · February 2014

We weren't offered it because we did the NT, which is more reliable. I think you'll catch anything at the a/s that wasn't caught with the NT.

flmomof4 · February 2014

We were given the option but declined the early blood genetics test, the NT scan, and the quad screen. We just don't need to know. We're having our A/S next week and will address any concerns that might arise then. Otherwise, we'd rather just not worry about it now and deal with it when baby is born, if necessary. We spent a lot of our pregnancy with DD worried about a diagnosis that ended up being false, so we opted to try to avoid that road again this time.

eortman · February 2014

I was offered the quad screen and did it. However, we don't have the option of the NT scan here nor the A/S. I know that some people are bothered by calling the 20 week ultrasound a "sex scan", but truly that is what they do here. Anyone high risk is sent to a high risk specialist in the nearest big city (3 1/2 hours away). There is no one locally that does higher level ultrasounds like that. If I had gotten an NT and was getting a real A/S, I wouldn't be too concerned about the quad screen either.

jjess1201 · February 2014

I opted out of any extra testing besides the dating ultrasound and the A/S. Like ppl have said, anything major will show on the A/S and if I did extra testing and found out something could be wrong, I would just be worried and freaking out for the next 5 months. If something were found, I would not terminate so, for me personally, ignorance is bliss at this point but not everyone has that opinion and I respect that.

emineminem · February 2014

Due to switching insurance *right* in the window, we couldn't do the NT scan or first trimester screen. I had the quad done at my 16 week appt, and thankfully our numbers were normal. I'm the kind of person who wants ALL the information!

runrinserepeat · February 2014

I did the NT and the quad. I generally like to have as much information as possible and since they were non invasive I didn't see the harm. Until the woman taking my blood couldn't find a vein, and then I was regretting it.

pantherRN · February 2014

We were not offered the quad screen. We did the NT, an elective sex determination US, and 20 week US.

kmawb · February 2014

I was not offered the Quad Screen (I'm 36 now, will be 37 just after this baby is born so still considered by some to be AMA), but did the NT scan and associated blood work.

allardr · February 2014

TurtleMonsters said:

I turned down everything from NT on, I'm one of those old biddies, so I was offered everything. My logic is, things would be caught at AS, and if they aren't, we aren't going to terminate anyway. I'm one of those ppl with the unpopular opinion that would rather be thrown into something last minute, rather then sit and dwell for the next 5 months, so I didn't really want to know.

EVERYONE has an opinion on what expectant mothers should be doing, and they aren't afraid to say it. Just ignore them and have confidence in your own choices.

This. It's rude I think for "friends" to weigh in on such a big decision. People all take & process such news differently. Also some people would terminate others not. All this comes into your decision. You chose not to do it for a lot of reasons. Stick to it.

lizzybeth13 · February 2014

We didn't do the NT scan, because my doctor said she didn't feel it was necessary for us. But then she did recommend the Quad Screen. Because we also wouldn't terminate despite diagnosis, I asked her if there were any benefit. She said (a) if my numbers came back screwy, I could get the Maternit21 blood work done, and (b) if something is wrong, she would rather deliver at MUSC (medical university downtown with bigger peds units). Because of that, and the ability to get the Maternit21 test instead of amnio, we opted for it. I'm actually waiting for the results right now.

drunkenhandstand · February 2014

If my OB had made me go out of office to take the blood test or schedule a different time from my regular OB appt, I would have opted out too. The only reason I took it was because they take my blood in office during my regular appt. It was quick and easy. Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered. Don't let opinionated people skew your thoughts. I think it's perfectly reasonable to opt out.

TG07 · February 2014

We did the quad because our insurance wouldn't cover a NT scan since I have no risk factors. Even though we had our A/S right before and everything looked great, we decided to do the quad screening anyway.

Tjacks09 · February 2014

We didn't do any of the extra testing. No NT scan, no quad screen. We are under 30, hi real risk factors, so we just declined the testing. Had our a/s today and everything looked great.

littlesparrow602 · February 2014

I had it done because I missed the NT scan. We moved and I couldn't get an appt in time. I just got our results back yesterday, and all looks good. I have my 20wk appt and scan on the 20th. The peace of mind has helped.

abunai523 · February 2014

I wasn't even offered the quad screen, but I did give a blood sample to check for neural tube defects at my appointment yesterday. Our NT results were really good though, and my anatomy scan is next week so there wasn't a whole lot of time between the two anyway. So we did some of the most basic testing, I am a worrier/planner so getting a little bit of information was helpful for me and my thought processes but I didn't want to do too much.

uagirl · February 2014

Insurance won't cover an NT scan for me because I'm under 35, so we opted for the quad screen. We just got results back yesterday and all is normal. We did if for peace of mind and so we could decide if we wanted further testing.

EllaSmella · February 2014

I skipped it. We also had a great NT scan, and my understanding was the only "new" things the quad screening covers is neural tube defects and cleft palate. We figured (as you did) that those issues would most likely come up at the A/S anyway, and that we'd just by pass it.

I also skipped the quad screen with my son as well.

1982Babies · February 2014

I wasn't offered an NT scan, but I did have an AFP. I suppose if I had an NT, I would've nixed the AFP.

hupp0013 · February 2014

I wasn't offered the NT scan. I also opted out of the quad screen. I am a worrier and I thought it would be more stressful if we came back with abnormal results. I didn't do it with my DD either.

jamboree jess · February 2014

I just had blood drawn for the quad screen today, I passed on the N/T scan because I thought DH and I were pretty low-risk (until I found out about some family history from my mom yesterday). Sigh. I'd say if your N/T went well, I wouldn't think you'd need the quad scan. Especially with the possibility of false positives. That's what I'm scared of :S

alohababy14 · February 2014

I did the quad screen this time around but won't if we have any more children. My screening came back with elevated risk for EVERYTHING, so of course I was very worried. My A/S looked perfectly normal. I know there could still be an abnormality, but I felt like the QS just caused a lot of unnecessary worrying.

Pooka8 · February 2014

I was given an option for the Quad screening for both pregnancies. I opted to do it because neither of my clinics offered an NT scan and I would much rather be prepared than surprised, especially since having a child with one of the abnormalities it can detect would likely mean that the Military would send us back to the states. I believe it has to be done between 16 and 20 weeks and I squeaked in during week 19 because I was out of country until then.

dobbyisfree · February 2014

I declined the quad. The way my OB described it since the NT looked fine it wasnt necessary. The anatomy scan would show the problems it could detect and she said it may make me worry over nothing. When she saw me hesitate, she said I wouldnt bother, so i said okay. I only have about 3000 in my ins account before i have to start paying completely OOP fot everything so i dont really want to waste it on worries.

Missfree34 · February 2014

I had the quad screening done because we were not given an option. My OB said it would pick up any spinal concerns and that it would be helpful to know prior to going for the A/S. I assume if others are being given the option that's it's not much to worry about! Like others have said it should be picked up during the A/S scan.

acohin · February 2014

Our LO did not coooerate at all for the NT so they offered the quad last time we went in at 16w. I was really going back and forth on whether or not to have it done with all the false positive possibilities and was getting super anxious about it. DH left it up to me (thanks a lot) and I finally decided that since it's not invasive WTH why not?

It's been 8 days and haven't heard back yet so hopefully early next week they call. I'm on the other side of the coin from you, OP- thinking maybe it wasn't such a good idea. BUT Since it's already done hopefully all is good and it just gives us reassurance.

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