Abnormal Quad Screen

bmm7415 · January 2015

Hi ladies.
I am considered hr because i was diagnosed witb gd at 8 wks. Yesterday, I received a call from my ob telling me my Quad Screen came back abnormal. The downs, trisomy and cf were in normal ranges but spina bifida was 1/140 and open neural tube defect was 1/70. Do any of you have experience with this? I don't really understand what these mean. My AFP came back at 42.04 with a MoM AFP of 2.1. Obviously, i freaked out and cried all day/night yesterday but am doing much better today. I know god only gives us ehat we can handle but the unknown is scary and I have to wait 2 weeks to do the level 2 us.

luvboston · January 2015

Have you had bleeding? How far along are you? Did they offer you an amnio or free fetal DNA test?

We had an abnormal quad and it ended up being normal.

mands1125 · January 2015

I also had an abnormal quad (for trisomy 18) but ended up getting the clear after taking the Panorama which is way more accurate. Hang in there. Even with those odds, your chances are very very low.

bmm7415 · January 2015

@luvboston‌ I am 15 wks along and i know the conception date, so this is correct. No bleeding. I wasn't offered anything other than the level 2 ultrasound. Just have to wait until the 26th to see how baby looks.

ChristineG25 · January 2015

Hey there the quad screen is pretty inaccurate so don't panic yet. Those results mean that you have less than a one percent chance of baby having spina bifida and about a 1.5 percent chance of baby having an open neural tube defect. That means the odds are definitely in your favor and there is more than a 98.5% chance that everything is okay. The quad screen said that we had a 1 in 20 chance of baby having Down Syndrome and he does not. We had an NIPT test done. It is another blood test but it is far more accurate and actually looks at the baby's DNA because some of the baby's DNA is in your blood. Let me know if you have any questions or need any support. I know that the waiting is the hardest part and can be so scary!! But have lots of hope that everything is fine!

bmm7415 · January 2015

Thanks @ChristineG25‌! I guess it's just a waiting game. I'm doing better with it every day, just hoping for the best outcome and understanding that it is out of my hands.

biancakoz · January 2015

Just went through this - got the call from my OB Monday that my AFP levels were high and we were at an increased risk for neuro tube disorder (1/160). I had a sonogram as scheduled yesterday and everything looked fine. My DH asked if we didn't have the blood test if the doctor would have been concerned based just on the sonogram and she said no, it would have been deemed a normal sonogram. She still wants me to see a MFM for a consult and sono to make sure everything is ok, but we're feeling much better. She's not sure at this point why the levels were slightly elevated (which yours seem to be slight too; my doctor deems anything over 1/200 to be normal, so it's not that far off), but we're just hoping for the best. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

bmm7415 · January 2015

Well I had my level 2 ultrasound today and the spine looked perfect! Thank goodness! We do have to go back March 4th for another, just so the specialist can look at the organs to make sure they are looking healthy. They were still too small, being only 17 weeks, to rule out abnormalities in the heart, kidneys, etc. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers!!

biancakoz · January 2015

That's good! Our hospital just called to set up an appointment with the MFM so we go Feb 9th and were told to expect to be there most of the afternoon. So now I'm all sorts of nervous all over again

bmm7415 · January 2015

Oh no! How far along are you? I'm sure they said most of the afternoon because they want you to meet with a genetic counselor and then have the ultrasound. We were told the u/s would only take an hour but it ended up being closer to two because we had so many questions for the specialist dr and he was very thorough showing us what was normal and what abnormalities he looks for. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers! Try not to stress too much (I know all to well, easier said than done)

biancakoz · January 2015

Thank you! I'm 19 weeks 2 days now, so I'll be 21 weeks when we go to the specialist. I was feeling much better after our A/S at our OB's office last week and she said everything looked good. But I was secretly hoping that the specialist would call and say you don't need to come in (even though I know it would be best to see one). I figured it would take a while for the ultrasound and then some time for the doctor to review and then sit down with us and go over everything. It's just I was starting to relax and that call set me on edge again. I'm just thinking positive thoughts for the next week and a half! I'll update you after our appointment

bmm7415 · January 2015

Keep up on those positive thoughts! I am still thinking and praying for you!

biancakoz · February 2015

Just had our MFM appointment, and he did not see anything unusual either. He offered us an amnio if we wanted, but he felt that the risk of miscarriage or another complication was the same or higher than the risk of an ONTD. He said that the sono is 93-94% effective in detecting an ONTD, and the amnio would only add another percentage or two to that, so we declined the amnio. He said that even if there is an ONTD, he feels it would be so small that it wouldn't affect the baby neurologically. Feeling much better tonight! He did say that I need to have 2 growth scans in the 3rd trimester to monitor the growth of the baby (but he's already measuring ahead 6 days!) and check the amnio levels. And I will be monitored more closely for pre-eclampsia and hypertension because of my increased levels. I'm so glad things turned out good for us both!

bmm7415 · February 2015

Yay! So glad to hear this news!

SLPJUD · February 2015

Hey there- I also had elevated AFP levels and totally freaked out too.

At my anatomy screen, they ruled out spina bifida but actually saw a little issue with my placenta- which is also correlated with the high AFP numbers. I am also going to be monitored to watch baby's growth in last trimester and make sure fluid levels look good.

Goodluck!!

biancakoz · February 2015

Yes, I've read that also! At my 18 week scan, they told me my placenta was anterior and low (1.6cm away from my cervix). And I've read that some doctors believe that this can cause the AFP levels to be increased because the blood is absorbed differently depending on where your placenta is. I also know that if you have a tear in your placenta that it can cause an issue with the levels since more fluid is "leaking" into yours. The MFM did ask if I had any bleeding, and I had at one point very early on (before we knew I was pregnant; I actually thought I was finally getting my period, but it was more like a clot that burst). He said that that may be a contributing factor as well. I hope everything turns out well for everyone

SLPJUD · February 2015

That could totally be it!! Don't worry, sending positive thoughts your way!

skmatthews · March 2015

Thank you guys for sharing your stories. I got the dreaded call a last week that we are at risk for the neural tube defect. My doctor didn't give me my numbers just said they were elevated. I cried for two days. I have my level 2 ultra sound tomorrow I'm starting to panick but reading your stories have put me at ease. Wish me luck!

maureen83 · March 2015

I too have a level 2 ultrasound (to be scheduled when they call me back tomorrow). My first ultrasound looked great but my second trimester blood screen showed elevated AFP. So anxious to see what's happening. Just when I thought it was 'safe' to announce our pregnancy....Egh. So glad to have this forum and be able to relate to others AND hear positive stories.

bmm7415 · March 2015

Thoughts and prayers to you both! It is a very scary thing to go through but remember that most of the time it is either nothing or something very minimal! Because of all the stress of the elevated risk, I dont know that I would do the quad screen in future pregnancies.

Onelovee91 · April 2015

I received the panorama screening, just waiting for the results. My dr even said the other test has a high inaccuracy rate. Gets a lot of mommas worried. So he doesn't even recommend it unless panorama comes back elevated. Ik this thread is old. But good luck mommas.

TessaGarringer · April 2015

My levels were also elevated for spina bifida. But ended up being gastroschisis which is a hole in the abdomen wall. I'm 35weeks 5 days with a healthy baby besides the gastro.

bmm7415 · April 2015

@TessaGarringer when did they find the gastroschisis? So far they say everything looks great with my LO but I don't remember them looking at the abdomen closely.

TessaGarringer · April 2015

At my 12 week ultrasound( with doctor) they didn't see the gastro but at the 18 week ultrasound ( with ultrasound tech)they found it. It's pretty hard to see and from what I understand lots of doctors never find it until baby is born. Suggest it to doctor and ask for an ultrasound tech to do your ultrasound when you are a few weeks further along. If you have anymore questions let me know

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