Prenatal Screening/Genetic testing...

[islandjunkie]

My doctor has recommended genetic testing/screening. It has become quite common in Ontario for women to have this screening done before 20 weeks of pregnancy to screen for the possibility of a birth defect such as trisomy 18 and down syndrome...
What do you ladies think of genetic testing/screening....I am torn on what to do!

[bdoody11]

I personally won't have it. We will not terminate no matter what so I would rather not go through a possible false postive (which I hear can be common). However, you have to do what's best for you and your family.

I hope other mamas who have gone through this before will have more helpful advice!

[Lizzo]

I am not a fan of testing. It's pretty pointless and if something is "wrong" they'll just add more and more interventions which you really don't need.
Plus, they have a lot of false positive results.
I'd reccomend reading some more on the topic.
I like these books:
The Natural Pregnancy Book by Aviva Jill Romm
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
Both of these are really fabulous and will give you a lot of info about the tests. If you wont be having a midwife, these books will be your midwife!!!!

[polka hop]

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[Gray's Mommy]

I am not doing prenatal screening/blood work testing this time around. I will be participating in ultrasounds though.

[maxmama]

Not your DDC, but got here from new posts --

We did have the screening. Not that we would necessarily not continue the pregnancy, but if the initial screening and follow-up were both positive, we wanted time to adjust, to meet other parents of kids with similar conditions, to research providers and possible treatments, etc. The prep time was what we wanted. It ended up being a moot point, as the test was negative, but we'd do it again.