Testing/screening for down syndrome?

The doctor explained all that stuff to me today and I'll be getting all that screening done at my next appt, but it got me nervous and worried about it. Does anyone know or have any info on any of that? Is it something to really be worried about?

ya. your best bet.

don't even get it done!
(i posted about my expierience earlier today, if you want to read it)

it'shas only caused me moreworry than it has done any good.
ifit doesn't matterto you if the baby has special needs, there is no reason to get checked. the test gives a lot of false positives, and its more scary than it is relieving.

Quoting Priscilla247:“ The doctor explained all that stuff to me today and I'll be getting all that screening done at my next ... [snip!] ... me nervous and worried about it. Does anyone know or have any info on any of that? Is it something to really be worried about?”

its only going to make you more nervous as time goes on.
the info is...the quad screen is 70% accurate. when you get your results it will say, "your chances of having a baby with downs are _____/____%"
(mine is 1/172, when normally it is 1/1000). and downs is something to be worried about, but if you don't care whether or not you baby might need special needs, there is no point in getting it done. its just caused me more stress.

Quoting Priscilla247:“ The doctor explained all that stuff to me today and I'll be getting all that screening done at my next ... [snip!] ... me nervous and worried about it. Does anyone know or have any info on any of that? Is it something to really be worried about?”

Triple screen is an ultra sound where they measure the skin on the back of baby's head. These measurments are put into a database that measures the odds of any defects...cardiac or any type of trisomy 18, or 21. Nothing is definitive
down syndrome is a simple routine blood test that has a VERY high false positive rate. This means that there is a very high chance of coming back positive when in fact your baby could be fine. Normally they ask you if you want to do this test. If for some reason your test comes back positive they will then give you the "termination of pregnancy" option. This is why I never even wanted to get the blood work done. My first they told me he could possibly have down syndrome. I ignored all requests for further testing AND termination of pregnancy. He was a healthy baby boy  
The only way any type of abnormalty is DEFINITE is if you get an amniocentices done.

I had a first trimester screening done on Dec. 18th. All it was was an ultrasound where they did some measurments, like the thickness of the skin on the baby's back, and the did a finger prick and took 5 drops of blood. It didn't tell if the baby definately had any genitic defects, but it told the probability. If the probability is low (which it was, thank god) then I don't have to worry about getting an amnio for that reason. I'm not sure if this is the same kind of testing you are getting, but that was what mine was. They did it because i'm over 35, and the probability of genetic defects goes up significantly. I hope this helps some.

Are you talking about the NTS? I got that one- any chance to see the baby again was okay with me! It was an u/s and a finger prick. At the u/s they told me flat out that the picture didnt seem to indicate any problems (they measure a fold of the neck)... but, she couldnt tell me anything with certainty until the blood test came back. Everything was fine. There is a risk of false positives though... that is what kept my sister from taking the test. Neither of us would ever dream of terminating a pregnancy - but, I want to know if my child had an increased risk of any diseases or deformaties. I would rather have time to prepare and be pleasently surprised with a healthy baby than to be caught off guard and have to deal with a "crisis" at the delivery (crisis - for lack of a better word as my brain is sleepy).


The test was quick and painless and I got to see my lil one one more time than I would have gotten to otherwise. If I was pregnant again I would ask for the test again.

I got it done, I really dont see anything wrong with it if you're going to keep the pregnancy regardless of the baby having downs or not.. At first I didnt want to get it done because I didn't care if he had downs or not, I was going to love him regardless but my doctor really suggested it to me, and gave me a list of pro's and con's and I just decided that I would rather know if there was a chance so I could prepare myself mentally, financially, etc..

Quoting Biancaa:“ Triple screen is an ultra sound where they measure the skin on the back of baby's head. These measurments ... [snip!] ... He was a healthy baby boy   The only way any type of abnormalty is DEFINITE is if you get an amniocentices done. ”

because my quad screen came up abnormal, and the odds are high, tomorrow i'm getting the level two u.s and some more work done to figure out how things are. since i got the news this morning....its been hell. i haven't personally got the "termination of pregnancy" option...not that i would. but i think its too late at 18 wks 3 days. everyone i've spoke to today has said it has a lot of false positives, and that i shouldn't worry. which is unrealistic, because im obviously going to worry until my baby is here. honestly, if i had the choice again, i wouldn't get it done.

Here is my theory on this test.


For one...if your baby does test positive for Downs...what are you going to do? Have to worry and cope THAT much longer!!

I think knowing that your baby has it or could have it will cause more mental and emotional stress and make your pregnancy that much more difficult. I would wait to find out when the child is born.

The only test that is good to have done is the ones for Spina Bifida(because that can be fixed before birth with new technology) and possibly cystic fibrosis because accomodations can be made more quickly.

I will stop worrying about it and just let what is..be! Dont' put yourself through two to three more months of stress possibly because of a bad diagnosis..etc!

Just my opinion  
Amber

Thanks to ALL of you for this info. It gave me more of an idea of what these tests are all about. Well I'm getting them done, I just hope and pray that everything is just fine. I already worry too much as it is.. I hope they don't give me yet another reason to worry. Thanks again to all you ladies =]

Quoting Sammy.Marie:“ because my quad screen came up abnormal, and the odds are high, tomorrow i'm getting the level two u.s ... [snip!] ... because im obviously going to worry until my baby is here. honestly, if i had the choice again, i wouldn't get it done.”

good point. how can a mom "not worry"
Well Iguess we can just hope for the BEST.

Quoting Sammy.Marie:“ because my quad screen came up abnormal, and the odds are high, tomorrow i'm getting the level two u.s ... [snip!] ... because im obviously going to worry until my baby is here. honestly, if i had the choice again, i wouldn't get it done.”

I really hope that everything works out for you and you get better news tomorrow. I can't imagine how stressful that must be. I'm sure I'd feel the same way. Let me know how it works out for you ok? I'll keep you and your baby in my prayers...

I had mine done at about 14 weeks or so. Mine wasnt an ultrasound though...it was a blood test. Mine came back normal. I thought it was a waste of time especially because they siad its highly common to have it come back abnormal when in fact there is nothing wrong. However, I do recommend getting it done if you have a choice. A freind of mine got hers done 2 weeks before Christmas. Hers came back abnormal which like I said most are faulty. She had to then get an ultrasound done to make sure there was nothing visibly wrong. After only 2 minutes her doctor told her that her baby girl had some long worded diagnosis. Simply put, her babys brain never developed though there could still be movements seen. Should she make it to term, the baby would most likely be still born with a near 0% chance of life. She has to go tomorrow to deliver her baby at 20 weeks. So while the tests seem useless and nerve racking, they are worth it should something be seriously wrong.

Quoting Biancaa:“ good point. how can a mom "not worry" Well Iguess we can just hope for the BEST.”

absolutely right. thats all i can do.
which i think is why its bugging me so much.
b.c this is one of those things i have no control over...you know?

Quoting NikkiF21:“ I had mine done at about 14 weeks or so. Mine wasnt an ultrasound though...it was a blood test. Mine ... [snip!] ... her baby at 20 weeks. So while the tests seem useless and nerve racking, they are worth it should something be seriously wrong.”

im sorry to hear about that  
i hope your friend is doing ok. she'll def. be in my thoughts.