Prenatal testing

[mittendrin]

The ever so popular question on a due date forum: What are you gonna let your provider do? With my last two pregnancies I had the 20 wk US as well as the glucose testing and the strepB test done. I am planning on having the US this time again just to find out what it is (selfish me, had enough surprises this year), I already had one at 10 wks to determine the EDD. I will not bother w any other tests this time.
What are you guys gonna do?

[yogachick79]

Group B strep (because I was pos last time with DS), we had the BUN test done last Wednesday (ultrasound and finger prick) but ONLY because I wanted an ultrasound this early on to see the babe before we could determine sex. Not worried about the results, it wouldn't change anything except if there had been any signs of anything it just would have helped prepare us to help the babe better when he/she is born.

If we HAVE to do one at 20 wks, I probably won't look because that's when we found out that DS was a boy even though we didn't wan't to know (he wasn't shy )

I'd LIKE to skip the glucose test simply because I hate that stuff, but haven't been able to get out of it with either pregnancy before so we shall see...

[wwisdomskr]

I'm going in for a standard prenatal blood screen and HIV test. I don't want anyone saying they "need" to do an HIV workup on my baby if I decline it.

Other than that, I don't want to do anything unless a problem is indicated. I'm declining all the "standard" stuff.

Dh wants a 20-weekish us and we're discussing it.

Probably won't do the gest. d. test unless it looks like I may have a problem. If I do choose it, I'll do the carb-loading and special meal...definitely not the stupid drink test.

I won't be testing for GBS, but will follow a natural protocol before and during labor since I was positive before.

Glad the technology is there if I need it....don't think I or most pregnant mamas really need it most of the time...

[monocyte]

I'll do the 20 week u/s because I need to know everything is going ok, but other than that, we do nothing. We do lots early on (u/s, serial betas etc) since we have a hx of mc's, but, I don't think I would do anything (like an amnio) if something came back abnormal; and IF something is wrong, Im trusting the u/s to pick it up.

But, GGT and strep, no, I decline. I do monitor myself a bit (urine sticks) for glucose, protein, and ketones and would speak up if I was getting abnormal results, but, I don't feel the need for the strep - DS was a quick labor, and Im trusting my body will do the same this time (I wouldn't use antibiotics unless my water was broken for a long time ~36 hours or so).

[pixiesmommy]

I did the nuchal translucency test and it came back great. This is the one where they do a finger stick and U/S and measure the baby's neck and look for a nasal bone to see if there might be evidence of down syndrome or trisomy 13 or 18.

They also did bloodwork to check for cystic fibrosis and tay sachs (hubby is jewish.)

I've had 4 U/S now and wanted none, or at the very most 1, so I hope they don't have to do any more.... but if I'm overdue I'll bet they will (they did with DD.)

Manda

[*Lindsey*]

One u/s at 18 weeks and GBS test.

[scheelimama]

I'll be going to a birth center that does not have a dr. on staff. For that reason, I think they are more cautious. I've already been told the 20 wk ultrasound is mandatory to be sure there are no serious birth defects or twins. I asked about declining the GBS test and she basically told me it would be frowned upon. Not sure how hard I'll push for that, but I won't do antibiotics either way. I see no point in doing the glucose screening (for me, not passing judgement on anyone else if you decide to do it). It's just not an issue for me and I think I would know if something wasn't right with my body.

[Isaac'sMa]

I'll do the 20 week us b/c I'm curious and would want to know about any possible correctable conditions...hydrocephaly, for ex.

I'll do the GBS test. I did it last time and it was neg. but I would want to know if it were pos....I'd do the hibiclens douche and re-test until neg. Definitely don't want antibiotics but would also like to spare the baby from "having" to be tested in case of transfer to a hospital.

I will also do the gest. diabetes test. Did that last time too & it was neg but ds was still 10 lbs, so I'd want to know if I had it b/c in that case I'd grow an ENORMOUS baby, I'm sure! For the test I ate a banana and had 16 oz. of OJ instead of the glucola. I just made it my mid-morning snack. It wasn't too bad.

[sandiegokristi]

Because I am still considered a high risk pregnancy I am with my perinatologist and he likes to do the tests. I am hoping to transfer to the midwifes at 20 weeks if approved by my doc. You are not pressured into as many tests then. We are doing the 18 week ultrasound and dh is so excited he took the whole day off of work. Watch, now we will have a shy baby!

[lisalulu]

I am going to do the 20 week u/s, probably the glucose and GBS. I am really torn on the GBS though. My midwives are big on doing it but I tested positive last time and had a severe allergic reaction to the antibiotics. This time they seemed to be more open to the idea of me declining the anitbiotics if I want.

[strawberryfields08]

With my daughter I did not have any ultrasounds and was very glad that I didn't. This time I had an ultrasound at 10 weeks. I thought I was 12 weeks and we were not getting a heartbeat, so we had to go in and check, I couldn't wait and see. I will not be going in for another one unless there is a VERY good reason.
I don't think I had the GBS test before...pregnancy brain... but I probably will not have it this time.
I will test for gd though, my family has a HUGE amount of diabetics and I am considered almost guaranteed to have it some day so this is something specific to me that I want to keep in check.
Regular bloodwork at the beginning of pregnancy of course.
I didn't do any of the other "standard testing" and I won't do it. I kind of have the feeling that if something was wrong it wouldn't change anything. I would still carry my baby to term and love it as much as possible no matter what the outcome. So for me I think it is almost better to not know if there was a problem so that I could enjoy my baby the most instead of worrying throughout the whole pregnancy. That is just a personal preference though. I have heard others say that they would rather have the time of pregnancy to come to terms with whatever is going on if something is out of the ordinary. I think that along with everything else in pregnancy, prenatal testing requires some information and some thought about how you feel personally about what the results might be. Sorry this is so long. I just have spent a ton of time explaining this to relatives in the past Usually I hear "WHAT! NO ULTRSOUND! THAT'S CRAZY! What if something is wrong?!"

[StacieM]

doing the "big" u/s...skipped the quad screen. Will probably do the strep B because I was + the last time (and didn't even know until delivery?)

Not sure about the glucose test yet. I hate that one.

[Dee-Groovy]

Wow everyone sounds like they know exactly what they want! I'm a first-timer so I'm figuring it out as I go along.

I missed the window for the nuchal translucency test due b/c I transferred to OB care at 13 weeks. It was my first appointment with that OB - he didn't offer the test & I didn't think to ask. I had an u/s at that appt and was super happy to see that there was a living human being growing inside me. It was the coolest thing ever and we got a pretty good guess at the gender too! I'm having the quad screen at my 17 week appointment because I can't see myself bringing a disabled child into the world. I know that's pretty unpopular but I feel very strongly about it. I don't want to do the glucose tolerance test but the doc wants me to b/c of a family history of diabetes. :/ Then the 20 weeks u/s to confirm our gender guess & whatever else they do at that u/s. I originally didn't want to know the gender but my curiosity got the better of me.

Can anyone explain why they're refusing the group b strep test & meds? A friend of mine gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby boy who got GBS on his way out. His lungs collapsed and he almost died, an probably would have if he hadn't had access to state-of-the-art medical care. I guess that sounds like a horror story that never happens, but to me it doesn't seem like a big deal to make sure I don't expose my baby to it. I'm not a fan of antibiotics AT ALL but it seems like the reward outweighs the risk in this case.

Wow I sound incredibly un-crunchy, don't I? I guess I want all the interventions before birth and none during birth. Does that make me half-cruchy? Or just half-baked?

[sorteep]

Had a US at 5 wks 3 days for bleeding, had another for followup a few wks later then 1st tri screen of Free Beta HCG and PAPP-A blood work and detailed US screening for nuchal fold etc for Downs..... I think we are done but might do the AFP portion of the tripple screen and if neg done, if pos then maybe 20 wk US for structural neural tube stuff... (I don't want this but DH does) I am skipping the glucose test (I monitor at home reg due to hypoglycemia) denied AIDS test (have heard NIGHTMARES with false pos') and I KNOW I am neg (very recent test for life ins and NO risk factors), I will prob do teh beta strep swab but have alos heard of false pos but teh downside can be pretty down if kid gets it at birth... hmmmmm, what else?? I think that's it.. OH doc wants me US every week from 36 wks to delivery due to AMA.. ummmmmmmm no, maybe maybe I *might* do one if I go post date 2 wks or more but prob not..

[sorteep]

OHHH forgot to add, last pgcy I refused to drink that nasty glucola crap full of additives and sugar, so my doc gave me a 50 gram simple carb "diet" to eat just before I came in.. it was like, pancakes and orange juice and a banana.. no biggie.. it was WAY better and you can do gluten free (they DO have to be refinied grain products tho,, no whole grains..) I thought it was a great compromise..

[Undercover Hippie]

I'll do bloodwork to check for anemia... probably would have skipped it but I don't want to repeat the oh-so-fun postpartum hemorrhage that I had last time! So I had my levels checked around 8 weeks and will repeat around 28-32. So far my hematocrit, hemoglobin, and platelets are much better than last time!

Will have the 20 week u/s to check for major anomalies that would rule out HB, and possibly to find out gender... I just can't go without that one quick peek at baby!

Other than that, nothing. No pap, no urine dips, no GBS swab, no glucose tolerance test, no quad screen, no vag exams...

Most of these my MW doesn't do anyway. I think the urine dips is the only thing she normally does that I am declining. And I do let her check my BP at every appt, measure my fundus, palpate baby, and listen to the heartbeat. I am not totally contrary!

[Mama Bear]

I already had a blood draw at my first prenatal for basic bloodwork. I think they also checked for anemia, HIV, and immunity to measles/rubella? Everything came back fine. We will do the 20w u/s. I will discuss the strep B with my mw. I was neg with ds. I may do it just for precaution sake. If I do the glucose thing, I am not drinking anything. With my ds, I just fasted for 2 hours and they did a different version of the test.
We already declined some other stuff that I can't remember.

[LittleLlama]

Originally Posted by MajorGroover

Wow I sound incredibly un-crunchy, don't I? I guess I want all the interventions before birth and none during birth. Does that make me half-cruchy? Or just half-baked?

I prefer lightly breaded, myself



If I can actually get care, by insurance or out of pocket : (that's a rant in the process) I will have the 20 w ultrasound because I not only want to know gender, but DH has a cleft palate and we want to have resources lined up if they are needed. With Titus, he was kind enough to give us a full on facial shot then so it was obvious that if there was a cleft, it would only be in his lip... a very minor surgery in the scheme of things. If this baby is not so accomodating, I will have whatever u/s are needed to determine if there is a cleft or not.

I had GD last time, so I will DECLINE the GTT and just skip straight to monitoring my blood sugars several times a day and tracking my meals. I feel much more *on edge* about eating junk food this time, so I just know the inevitable 3 hour test will make me ill. I did start this pregnancy nearly 20 pounds lighter and with a regular excersise routine as opposed to last time where I was fat and lazy I managed the GD with diet last time, so I expect that IF it comes up again, I'll be able to do the same. If not, my handy-dandy monitor will tell me.

I would like to not have as many u/s as last time, I think I had about 7 total because they were a little worried that with the GD, my birthweight, DH's birthweight (both under 8 pounds) that Titus was getting reeeeeally big. Turns out, he just boosted the Fijian Factor and was simply a big baby. I'm not afraid of a big baby in the slightest now... well, maybe over 12 pounds I'd get a bit stressed, but in the 9 or 10 pound range, I'll decline all the NST and growth-tracking u/s

I think I will accept the GBS.

[melissakc]

I just wanted the one big ultrasound at 20 weeks but had one at 12 weeks to get a heartbeat and make sure everything was OK and no twins, since I was so incredibly sick. So I didn't want it, but I was glad to not have to worry about twins until 20 weeks!

I've already done the standard prenatal bloodwork. I thought it was important to make sure everything was normal, since I was so sick and not eating or drinking much at all for weeks.

I declined the nuchal translucency test but I'll do the quad screen.

Last time I didn't get to do the GBS test bc I didn't make it to 36 weeks, so they gave me the abx at the hospital (which I had to go to bc the baby was a preemie) anyway. I ended up positive. I will gladly get the test this time since I KNOW this baby will be full-term and I'd love to not have any IVs or a hep lock like I had last time if it's not necessary.

Last time I didn't even get one cervical check bc I was too early. I liked that, but I do wonder if I could have had some warning that I was dilating already. SOME warning would have been nice for my psyche.

[welldone]

We're basically not having anything. Oh, I'll have the glucose testing, but I'll do the alternate meal (instead of the icky syrup), I think. We won't have a routine ultrasound, though we're not opposed if there is a concern (lack of growth, too much growth, bleeding, etc).

As time goes on, and I continue to learn more about pregnancy and childbirth, I feel very informed in making my decisions about testing in pregnancy. I feel comfortable declining most everything this time around, though I can understand why one might not make the same choices.

Originally Posted by strawberryfields08

I just have spent a ton of time explaining this to relatives in the past Usually I hear "WHAT! NO ULTRSOUND! THAT'S CRAZY! What if something is wrong?!"

I hear ya. I get a lot of surprised looks when people find out we're not having a routine ultrasound. But I look at it as a chance to educate--I'm not anti-ultrasound, but I believe routine ultrasounds are unnecessary, and most women aren't completely informed. There are a lot of things that ultrasound doesn't pick up, and many things that are "diagnosed" or "predicted" (like weight) that turn out to be inaccurate.