my triple quad test came back-and I decided to get amnio.

[mama2rey]

I went to the MW today. I was feeling dizzy (details are in my other post about this). The MW made me wait about 2 hours to see her-I thought it was to talk about being dizzy and ways to keep my BP up. But it was to tell me about my triple quad results. Apparently my risk should be 1 in 355-well according to the test, it's 1 in 155. So I decided to get amnio.

I'm scared. I doubt having a baby with Down's is going to change anything. I'll most likely have it, I just want to be prepared IF there is a problem. I don't know what else to say. I'm really scared. : :

[wholewheatmama]

I'm so sorry you're going through this. It sucks to have to take time out of your happy pregnancy to worry about the unknown. I'm sure you already know about the high false-positive rates, but I'm sure I would also worry if I were in your shoes. I hope you don't have to wait too long on the amnio and that you get some reassurance from it.

[starry_mama]

mama. I don't really know what to say. Your baby will be perfect no matter what, but I understand wanting to be prepared.

[kerrybennysmama]

Hang in there and try to remember that it doesnt say for sure if there is any problem. I know its only natural to worry. Hopefully you will get good news after your amnio.

[julichris]

We didn't do any screenings because we knew it wouldn't change our minds about having the baby. However, if something ever indicated a problem, I can't say I wouldn't want to investigate further. I'm sorry you have to go through this........think if this, however: you're in a room with 155 babies. One of them has Down's. Does it *have* to be yours? The odds are still very much in your favor.
I hope you get some answers soon so that you aren't stressing over it. Please update when you know something.

[Momma2DoubleCuties]

Hun, its hard but try not to worry too much. We got the test done with our first and it came back positive. It was hard, I was only 18 and the thought of having a baby with downs was so scary to me, but I also believe that parents of handicap children are specially chosen to be. Anyways, we got all the testing done we could besides having the amnio and they all came back positive that he was to have downs. We were totally prepared for a downs baby, he came out and was beyond perfect. Not a single sign of downs. The false positives percentage is so high its not even funny. Keep us posted on how your amnio goes. We'll all be thinking of you.

[GearGirl]

Good luck with everything, I'm sure you know this, but it is just a screening test, not a diagnostic test. The test gives these results ALL the time, and almost every single baby is downs free. I had about a 1:100 with dd, so I went through the same thing. I can tell you that you have a less than one percent chance even if the odds given are correct, but the test is all about giving false positives.

[mama2rey]

Thank you everyone! This is hard, I'm trying to sort out my feelings. My DP little brother has Down's and it's hard. He's 22, and basically for all practical purposes like a 2 year old. We nicknamed him Baby Huey. Of course we love him, but would I sign up to be his mother-no.

I am going to schedule the amnio tomorrow. I can't imagine having a child with Down's-I know the risk is low and most likely the baby is fine. Of course I'll keep everyone updated. DP has also been telling me that there are many children with Down's who are just so talented...... For her it was a blessing that her little brother was born-even though she was 13 when he came, and she has been raising him.

I just ask that you please keep me in your prayers!

[DucetteMama21842]

Originally Posted by Momma2DoubleCuties

The false positives percentage is so high its not even funny. Keep us posted on how your amnio goes. We'll all be thinking of you.

Exactly. You're in my prayers. You still have good odds though, don't stress yourself out too much okay? We're all here for you and thinking of you.

[f&p'smama]

Kare, you will definitely be in my thoughts. I hope you get good results from the amnio & that the procedure itself goes well. I've had several friends get amnios and they say that they're not fun, but not bad.

[MCKH]

I am sure everything is fine, but I understand it is impossible not to worry. Try to remember that you have a 154 in 155 chance of having a totally perfect baby. I have heard that amnios are not as bad as some people make them out to be. Have faith and take care during this stressful time

[ohiomommy1122]

try not to worry te quad screen has a HIGH false pos rating, thats why we always decline it and unltrasound will usually pick up and major health problems, good luck try not to worry, stress is not good for your happy little HEALTHY baby tucked away all warm and cozy in your loving wonb!

[mama2rey]

Originally Posted by ohiomommy1122

try not to worry te quad screen has a HIGH false pos rating, thats why we always decline it and unltrasound will usually pick up and major health problems, good luck try not to worry, stress is not good for your happy little HEALTHY baby tucked away all warm and cozy in your loving wonb!

Thanks! I wish I had declined it. The MW I was going to offered a first trimester screening, and we declined it because we decided that it wouldn't make a difference. I thought the blood test was non-invasive enough that it would be enough.

After sleeping on it,I am now rethinking the amnio-I would hate to miscarry-now I am going back and forth.

[FroNuff]

Sorry you are going through this.

I went through this same thing a few weeks back and my odds were similar to yours -- the blood test showed a 1:151 chance of having a DS baby, but with my age, it "should" have been 1:500 (or something like that). I posted about this, and I worried like crazy. In fact, I was hysterical when I found out. Not very smart of me, but my emotions took over.

Anyway, after meeting with the perinatologist, he suggested that I take another AFP test since I was still within the "right" timeframe of pregnancy (original test was at 13ish weeks, but the second test was at 16 wks). My results just came back and my odds are now at 1:2888! I will no longer consider the amnio, but will go for a level II ultrasound, anyway.

I'm not sure how far along you are, but perhaps that could be a consideration -- to do the test over again. My original test was the one where the finger is stuck and several circles on a piece of paper have to be filled in. The second test was an actual blood draw.

Best of luck to you.

[crsta33]

Could you have an in depth ultrasound to look for other Down's syndrome markers before you decide on the amnio? That might help you decide whether or not the amnio is something you want to do depending on what they see on ultrasound.

Christa

[ohiomommy1122]

Originally Posted by crsta33

Could you have an in depth ultrasound to look for other Down's syndrome markers before you decide on the amnio? That might help you decide whether or not the amnio is something you want to do depending on what they see on ultrasound.

Christa

i agree, ask for a more in depth ultrasound before doing the amnio, to me the ammnio is not worth the risk especially w/ the HIGH false pos rate. I would go for and ultrasound or maybe even ask for another around 30-35 weeks to look for major abnormalities that could disrupt the health of my child, to me an unltrasound is a better tests as it looks specifically at the organs and can SEE if there is a problem, even amnio can come back w/ somthing wrong w/ baby and not know what.

I have congenitail caterracts its a very rare cateract that I was born w/ they are hereditary it is not life threathening and will not even cause blindness, however it would show up on triple screen and amnio as a defect- is this defect dangerous NO but I would worry my whole pregnancy if an abnormal amni or triple screen came back .

I personally trust ultrasunds more were the CAN SEE a problem trust your instincts and do what you feel in your heart right! .

[DucetteMama21842]

Originally Posted by crsta33

Could you have an in depth ultrasound to look for other Down's syndrome markers before you decide on the amnio? That might help you decide whether or not the amnio is something you want to do depending on what they see on ultrasound.

Christa

I'm putting my vote in for an ultrasound first as well. It might help you not have an amnio and all the worrying about the risks that go with it.

[mama2rey]

An ultrasound had not even ocurred to me! I called my MW just now and when she calls back I'm going to ask about that. If not-I'll get a second opinion from my new MW.

In any case I'm having problems scheduling the amnio. I am a believer in the universe causing things to happen-so I am taking this as the Universe telling me to SLOW DOWN. That and last night I prayed that I would make some sane decisions. My pastor's office is in the same building as where I work and I think I am going to go have a chat with him too.

I may still get the amnio, but if I do it won't be in freak out mode, it will be with some sort of sanity!

[MCKH]

Now that I think of it, it is bizarre that they would not first suggest an ultrasound by a perinatologist to look for soft markers of Down Syndrome or other problems. Considering that an amnio is not 100% safe, but al ultrasound is, it would seem only logical that it would be your next step.....Especially since your numbers weren't THAT bad at all.....

[mama2rey]

Originally Posted by MCKH

Now that I think of it, it is bizarre that they would not first suggest an ultrasound by a perinatologist to look for soft markers of Down Syndrome or other problems. Considering that an amnio is not 100% safe, but al ultrasound is, it would seem only logical that it would be your next step.....Especially since your numbers weren't THAT bad at all.....

I was the one that jumped to amnio. I was extremely freaked out and the minute the mw said amnio I just jumped and said yes. I did call my MW and spoke to her nurse, and she is going to page her and let me know if they can do an U/S first. If they don't I am going for a second opinion somewhere else.

update-I spoke to my M/W-I'm getting a level 2 u/s instead of the amnio.