Consent to HIV testing? Did you do this? - Page 3

[jstar]

i did it for my first pg and declined it on this one. my last hiv test had been 10 years ago. it was definitely something i felt it couldn't hurt to confirm.

[BookGoddess]

I consented to it. I didn't think I had anything to lose by it and I was certain the test would be negative for HIV and it was.

[blueridgewoman]

I consented. I don't attach any stigma to STDs or being screened and I figured better safe than sorry. My NP, however, felt really awkward about asking me to do the screening and kept apologizing. I think that she was concerned that I, since I'm gay and used donor sperm, would think she was singling me out or something.

[mom2myprincess]

I signed for it to be done. I knew that I didnt have it but it wasnt a big deal to me.

[HeatherB]

My MW said she was reading an article/study about the testing. Apparently it's a 50/50 for a false positive! : I have absolutely no risks and I'm pretty sure I was tested with my first birth, so I see no reason to do it again and risk a false positive on my records!

[Alohamelly]

I did the test. I had a blood transfusion a couple of years ago and I have always wondered if I could have gotten HIV from it. Small chance, but I worry about those things. It came out negative, so from now on I won't get any more of them done. Besides, DH is in the military and has no choice. He has to be tested for it every year or something like that.

[AbbieB]

I'm surprised nobody connects the bullying for testing with money for the doctor's office/lab. I know my previous doctor added all kinds of fees just to to do a vein puncture, fees my insurance at the time would not cover.

As someone who now has no insurance I always have the cost of testing (any kind of testing-not just pregnancy related) in the back of my mind. I always ask myself what the benefit of the test is to me before consenting to it.

I completely agree with the moms that get the test so that their baby won't have to. There are a lot of things I would rethink about declining prenatal testing if I thought I could protect my baby from state mandated violence.

A PP made a good point about being able to treat an HIV positive mom to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to the baby. But like another PP mentioned, I don't like the idea of being treated as infected unless proven otherwise.

*sigh* Issues around prenatal testing are so complicated.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by AbbieB

I completely agree with the moms that get the test so that their baby won't have to. There are a lot of things I would rethink about declining prenatal testing if I thought I could protect my baby from state mandated violence.

It's important to note that even such "mandated" tests can still be declined for your baby.

-Angela

[Baby Makes 4]

I got tested for it a couple pregnancies ago. I have miscarried the last two pregnancies and don't feel that all the bloodwork needs to be done every time, KWIM?

If I was HIV- 2 months ago, I am probably still HIV-.

[wildthing]

I have never consented to it. I also refuse all STD testing. Why? Because I know my status. If I felt that I had engaged in any behavior that increased my risk, I would be checked out when I felt it was appropriate. As far as my dh cheating, it wouldn't happen. We have been together long enough, and I know what kind of person he is. *IF* I had any suspicions that he did, testing for HIV would have been done immediately.

[BrooklynDoula]

Also in NYC and so I had the test both times without any issues.

[Lady Lilya]

Originally Posted by alegna

It's important to note that even such "mandated" tests can still be declined for your baby.

-Angela

In NY they can't be.

When I discussed with my MW all the potential details of a possible emergency transfer, she said that I can legally refuse anything for myself, but once the baby is out of me, there are many things I can't refuse. The PKU test (which tests for 40 diseases and conditions) is one of them. Another one was the HIV test if I didn't have one in advance, that would need to be done before I could have the baby in my possession or breast feed.

This was the only reason I consented to any blood test at all.

[artgoddess]

I think I'd make the drive to Jersey if I lived in NY.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by Lady Lilya

In NY they can't be.

Yes they can. You may need a religious waiver, but it is YOUR child and YOU have the right to decline all medical procedures.

-Angela

[BrooklynDoula]

Originally Posted by artgoddess

I think I'd make the drive to Jersey if I lived in NY.

And make your child live with being born in Jersey their whole live????

[mirlee]

I refused this test. There was no reason for it.

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by Lady Lilya

In NY they can't be.

I had both my boys in Syracuse, NY where I DID decline. Noone cared a bit. And yes, I realize NY has this "law." Means nothing.

[Belle]

I declined it during my first pregnancy.

This time I asked for it. I had a m/c in November and received a blood transfusion. The doctor who did my d&c told me she wouldn't have given me a transfusion if it weren't a life or death situation. She said that the risk in our area of contracting HIV from a transfusion was about a million to one and hepatitis was about 50,000 to one. She recommended that I get a test every three months for the first year after my transfusion. I've had one test and tested negative, but I'm not sure that I'll do it every three months.

[mgeis01]

I started to decline since I just had one done less than 2 years ago with my last pg. But the nurse warned me that the hospital would get pushy and INSIST on testing the baby if they did not have a current test on file for the mom. They have new stricter policies. Considering the other things I will be standing up for at the birth (if we don't make it to the birth center), I let this one go. One less thing to fight for at the birth.

The info about a potential false positive and what they do if that happens was right on the waiver.

[LilMomma83]

I got tested...I just don't see a problem with being tested for it (however I had not heard of "false posatives from pregnancy" which makes me wonder if I will test next time)... I did think it was strange that I had to sign a waiver? Even though I had TONS of bloodwork done that day and nothing else needed a waiver??

DH and I are loyal and I was not worried...I just figured it was standard and if they were drawing my blood anyways there wasn't any reason to decline the test.