First Trimester Screenings

thebigoaktree · November 2015

I'm a FTM, and thinking about the screenings have been keeping me from enjoying this pregnancy as much as I want to, if that makes sense. I'm wondering if I'm stressing myself out for nothing and that any STM have any encouragement to combat this stress. We're only doing the blood work and the ultra sound but it still makes me uneasy. I wouldn't even get them but the DH has put in a request and I feel that it's something I should compromise on. I just want to know if feeling like this is normal before these types of things or I'm just being a big ole dumb head and worrying about the wrong things.

Thank You everyone.

MamaBish · November 2015

Worrying just means you care. It's normal

sboston06 · November 2015

I'm a FTM too and I think it's totally normal to worry, but realize that worrying doesn't change anything. You are doing everything that you can to grow a healthy baby and what will be, will be. I am also comforted by the fact that there seem to be a lot of "checks and balances" in the female body, and if a fertilized egg doesn't make the cut, then implantation won't occur and development won't continue. The fact that you've been pregnant for 8 weeks is a good sign that things are going well in there.

Don't worry until you have a reason to worry

thebigoaktree · November 2015

It's the false negatives and false positives and that stuff that has me all wonky. I appreciate the kind words ladies.

acadia07 · November 2015

It's okay to worry! Pregnancy is 90% worry and 10% joy.

The screening is a great idea, IMO. Think of it this way - you're being as prepared as possible. If your baby does have a genetic issue that would require extra care at birth, wouldn't you want to know? I would. I want all the info I can possible get to help keep my baby safe and cared for.

FiancB · November 2015

I'm torn on it as well, though I agree with acadia. I want to know if I should consider further testing, and if there is something wrong I want to have time to prepare myself. But yeah, I wish the tests were more accurate. I know if I get a positive on something I will be freaking out- or if I don't, I'll worry they were false negatives.

We are very good at finding things to worry about!

ijstarr28 · November 2015

acadia07 said:

It's okay to worry! Pregnancy is 90% worry and 10% joy. The screening is a great idea, IMO. Think of it this way - you're being as prepared as possible. If your baby does have a genetic issue that would require extra care at birth, wouldn't you want to know? I would. I want all the info I can possible get to help keep my baby safe and cared for.

So I have opted out of the 16 week screenings for downs or spinal issues. When I talked to my Dr the odds of a false positive were so high on the downs side and the chance of someone my age having a child with downs is only about 1 in 1000. I wouldn't terminate the pregnancy wither way and it doesnt effect birthing the child. For the spinal issues, he said that if it were to effect the birth plan he'd more than likely see it in the ultrasound.

Consult your doctor for what ever you think is best. This is just my opinion. All I can do is continue to take my vitamins, try to eat right, and do all the things that I think are best for my baby.

quartz02 · November 2015

went to my email to remember what happened in my first pregnancy in 2012:

email to my mom:
The nurse finally called with my results today. All she said was, "Your results were normal. Any questions?" I don't know if I'm just more informed because of the pregnancy board I'm on but I knew the results should be in ratio form, not "normal" or "abnormal" so I asked for the specific figures. Our results for Down Syndrome were 1:2,734, our results for Trisomy 18/13 were 1:10,000+. The CRL (crown-rump-length) measurement was 7cm, and the NT (nuchal translucency) measurement was 2.4 cm (under 3 is good).So I'm breathing a sigh of relief... for now.

My mom's response:
That's good. Don't worry so much. You should be more worried about your bowels.

LOL! You guys... start eating your FiberOne bars now! @ijstarr28 I agree with your sentiments. I'll just do it again for a peek at the kiddo (still have yet to see the actual Dr. or obtain an ultrasound, I have a feeling that would be my first at 12 weeks)

thebigoaktree · November 2015

I don't even get one till 20 weeks. I feel a little wonky being happy about having one sooner but not for a happy reason to have one. Im a ball of emotions and this weeks episode of Greys anatomy didn't help that at all.

BostonBaby1 · November 2015

ijstarr28 said:

acadia07 said:

It's okay to worry! Pregnancy is 90% worry and 10% joy.

The screening is a great idea, IMO. Think of it this way - you're being as prepared as possible. If your baby does have a genetic issue that would require extra care at birth, wouldn't you want to know? I would. I want all the info I can possible get to help keep my baby safe and cared for.

So I have opted out of the 16 week screenings for downs or spinal issues. When I talked to my Dr the odds of a false positive were so high on the downs side and the chance of someone my age having a child with downs is only about 1 in 1000. I wouldn't terminate the pregnancy wither way and it doesnt effect birthing the child. For the spinal issues, he said that if it were to effect the birth plan he'd more than likely see it in the ultrasound.

Consult your doctor for what ever you think is best. This is just my opinion. All I can do is continue to take my vitamins, try to eat right, and do all the things that I think are best for my baby.

---QBF-----
I feel that when one says "I would keep the baby anyway," it's misleading and uninformative to women that want to know what is going on with their babies in order to provide the best care possible for a child with issues immediately after birth. It's not necessarily about termination, but about providing necessary care if issues are present. Sadly, in other situations, there are conditions that are incompatible with life. Luckily this is extremely rare, but it does happen. I will be doing screenings and if I need to, I will do an amniocentesis because I had a loss due to Trisomy 15. Neither DH nor I have a chromosomal translocation so the chance of Trisomy 15 occurring again is very rare, but in certain cases, the most prudent thing to do is to deliver at a hospital where one has a team of doctors that are ready to take care of one's child. Unless if you have had a child that has these sorts of issues, please don't pass judgment on others that choose to have screenings. Particularly that they would terminate if something came back awry.

* edit it for clarity and QBF

Taymiller · November 2015

^wss

didi0308 · November 2015

I think @BostonBaby1 said it well here.

I will be having any screening offered to me. because I want to be prepared. If my baby is born with a condition I want to be able to offer them the very best care I can from day one.

mandyjulie · November 2015

The most important thing I will remember as a STM opting for screenings is they're just that: screenings. There is NO SUCH THING as a false positive or negative in a screening, despite what people write on these boards.

A screening looks at the potential risk. It doesn't determine a positive or negative result.

Our 12 week NT scan put my first baby at a higher risk, but overall a still very low probability anything was wrong. We opted for noninvasive prenatal testing as a followup (MaterniT21 blood test) which tells you with about 99% accuracy if those issues are present. Just know to ask about this type of testing should your screening show any elevated risk.

But please don't freak out if the screening does put you you in a higher risk ratio -- it is not a result, just casting a wide net to help you decide if you want further testing that actually will give positive or negative results.

Can you tell I regret freaking the F out after our screening?

FiancB · November 2015

BostonBaby1 said:

acadia07 said:

It's okay to worry! Pregnancy is 90% worry and 10% joy. The screening is a great idea, IMO. Think of it this way - you're being as prepared as possible. If your baby does have a genetic issue that would require extra care at birth, wouldn't you want to know? I would. I want all the info I can possible get to help keep my baby safe and cared for.

So I have opted out of the 16 week screenings for downs or spinal issues. When I talked to my Dr the odds of a false positive were so high on the downs side and the chance of someone my age having a child with downs is only about 1 in 1000. I wouldn't terminate the pregnancy wither way and it doesnt effect birthing the child. For the spinal issues, he said that if it were to effect the birth plan he'd more than likely see it in the ultrasound.

Consult your doctor for what ever you think is best. This is just my opinion. All I can do is continue to take my vitamins, try to eat right, and do all the things that I think are best for my baby.
---QBF----- I feel that when one says "I would keep the baby anyway," it's misleading and uninformative to women that want to know what is going on with their babies in order to provide the best care possible for a child with issues immediately after birth. It's not necessarily about termination, but about providing necessary care if issues are present. Sadly, in other situations, there are conditions that are incompatible with life. Luckily this is extremely rare, but it does happen. I will be doing screenings and if I need to, I will do an amniocentesis because I had a loss due to Trisomy 15. Neither DH nor I have a chromosomal translocation so the chance of Trisomy 15 occurring again is very rare, but in certain cases, the most prudent thing to do is to deliver at a hospital where one has a team of doctors that are ready to take care of one's child. Unless if you have had a child that has these sorts of issues, please don't pass judgment on others that choose to have screenings. Particularly that they would terminate if something came back awry. * edit it for clarity and QBF

I totally agree. I would also want time to mentally prepare myself and do additional research on whatever the issue may be. If I had time to prepare, I would have come to terms with it by birth and be back to being 100% happy about the birth. I don't want to wonder what if the whole time if everything's okay, and I don't want to throw the shock of having a special needs baby in on top of adjusting to having a newborn. I work with special needs people and I think I'm better prepared than most for it, but I still want that time, and of course like you said I may choose a different hospital/birth plan based on risks.

acadia07 · November 2015

FiancB said:

BostonBaby1 said:

ijstarr28 said:

acadia07 said:

It's okay to worry! Pregnancy is 90% worry and 10% joy.

The screening is a great idea, IMO. Think of it this way - you're being as prepared as possible. If your baby does have a genetic issue that would require extra care at birth, wouldn't you want to know? I would. I want all the info I can possible get to help keep my baby safe and cared for.

So I have opted out of the 16 week screenings for downs or spinal issues. When I talked to my Dr the odds of a false positive were so high on the downs side and the chance of someone my age having a child with downs is only about 1 in 1000. I wouldn't terminate the pregnancy wither way and it doesnt effect birthing the child. For the spinal issues, he said that if it were to effect the birth plan he'd more than likely see it in the ultrasound.

Consult your doctor for what ever you think is best. This is just my opinion. All I can do is continue to take my vitamins, try to eat right, and do all the things that I think are best for my baby.
---QBF-----
I feel that when one says "I would keep the baby anyway," it's misleading and uninformative to women that want to know what is going on with their babies in order to provide the best care possible for a child with issues immediately after birth. It's not necessarily about termination, but about providing necessary care if issues are present. Sadly, in other situations, there are conditions that are incompatible with life. Luckily this is extremely rare, but it does happen. I will be doing screenings and if I need to, I will do an amniocentesis because I had a loss due to Trisomy 15. Neither DH nor I have a chromosomal translocation so the chance of Trisomy 15 occurring again is very rare, but in certain cases, the most prudent thing to do is to deliver at a hospital where one has a team of doctors that are ready to take care of one's child. Unless if you have had a child that has these sorts of issues, please don't pass judgment on others that choose to have screenings. Particularly that they would terminate if something came back awry.

* edit it for clarity and QBF

I totally agree. I would also want time to mentally prepare myself and do additional research on whatever the issue may be. If I had time to prepare, I would have come to terms with it by birth and be back to being 100% happy about the birth. I don't want to wonder what if the whole time if everything's okay, and I don't want to throw the shock of having a special needs baby in on top of adjusting to having a newborn. I work with special needs people and I think I'm better prepared than most for it, but I still want that time, and of course like you said I may choose a different hospital/birth plan based on risks.

Yes and yes. Thank you for better explaining what I meant by "being prepared." It has nothing to do with terminating.

nopegoat · November 2015

Passed on the extra screenings with my other three and will pass this time around as well. The 20wk ultrasound /anatomy scan should show if anything is off and we need more testing. That is good enough for me.

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