tested positive on 1st trimester screening! HELP, freaking out!!!

[brneyedmama]

OK, so we got our results from the ultra screen today and I tested positive with a 1 out of 215 chance of having a baby with Down's.  They consider anything positive under 350.  I am 26 yrs old, in good health, have no family history, and DD has no issues!  But we now have to decide whether we're going to get amniocentesis to find out for sure or if we're going to just let it go, and I would have to get the test done this week!!!!  Has anyone else "tested positive" with these types of numbers and if so, what did you decide to do?  And was your baby healthy?!  Thank you!!!!

[MaryLang]

I've never taken the screen because of the high rate of false.

I have however been given a 65% of Down's with #3, right up until after she was born, they thought so until the chromosome tests came back fine.

I did a lot of research on the topic since I was half expecting to need the info. And IMO Down's isn't the worst thing that could "happen" to a baby.

My baby ended up not having it, although she had many other health problems at birth, all congenital, no chromosomal.

Try not to freak out over Down's. Down's babies are blessings. Down's is not a death sentence.

And also your statistic gives you less than one half a percent chance. That's awfully small. I personally wouldn't risk the amnio.

[eireann]

My sister had some pretty positive numbers w/ DC 2, something like 1 in 66. She didnt want an amnio or CVS b/c two friends had sad complications as a result. Anyhow, he was born completely normal.

[aeterna]

IMO, unless having confirmation of the condition would cause you to terminate the pregnancy, I wouldn't bother with any further testing.

[belltree]

I would try to decide what you would do with the knowledge you gain during amniocyteses - would you terminate, do you just want to have a peace of mind? 1 in 265 also means that 264 healthy babies. And yet another thought - most disabilities are obtained later in life and not during birth and pregnancy.

[brneyedmama]

OK, I think we're going to skip the amnio.  Especially since the midwives said that we had the same level of chance of having a MS from that as we are of having a baby with Down's.  How ironic is that?  Anyway, thanks all for your input, I'm sure everything will be fine!!!

[Imakcerka]

I've known far too many people that were scared into thinking that their child would have the downs trait.  It's worth waiting before you start to worry yourself.  And if it is the case then you just need to realign your thinking.  Downs children are blessings.