Blood test for spina bifida?

my doctor said at my next appointment they will draw blood to check for this. What exactly are they looking for?

Quoting ALLYGIRL:“ my doctor said at my next appointment they will draw blood to check for this. What exactly are they looking for?”

spina bifida is a spinal cord disorder.

Quoting NicolaW ~ 13w4d left!:“ spina bifida is a spinal cord disorder.”

I know what it is I just didn't know they could tell from my blood if the baby has it.

This test is just to check for the chances of your baby having spina bifida and downs syndrome. My doc told me they get a lot of false positives and not to take it i'm one to worry a lot. I decided not to take it cuz what if its positive but my baby ends up being fine, all that stress on your baby isnt healthy...

Quoting ALLYGIRL:“ I know what it is I just didn't know they could tell from my blood if the baby has it.”

They are just checking your blood for a percentage of a chance that your baby might get it. Then if you have a chance they do an u/s to check into it further. It's really no big deal.

Quoting Waiting for Rylan:“ This test is just to check for the chances of your baby having spina bifida and downs syndrome. My doc ... [snip!] ... I decided not to take it cuz what if its positive but my baby ends up being fine, all that stress on your baby isnt healthy...”

Oh its that test? EhI planned on not getting that. I mean can't they tell from my 20 week ultrasound if the baby has a spinal cord problem?

Quoting ALLYGIRL:“ I know what it is I just didn't know they could tell from my blood if the baby has it.”

it doesnt give you an exact answer it will give you a risk result. they'll say either something like your chances are 1/10,000 or 1/200, the larger your chances are they will schedule you for a level 2 ultrasound.

Quoting ALLYGIRL:“ Oh its that test? EhI planned on not getting that. I mean can't they tell from my 20 week ultrasound if the baby has a spinal cord problem?”

Maybe but the baby is all curled up in there anyway.. it may be hard to tell.. I'm not completely sure about that though..

Thanks for all your answers guys. I am going to try not to stress the test too much. I mean in the end it is all in Gods hands and what will be will be.

i think they measure the spine at the base of the neck through ultrasound and do blood work and with the two combined ggive you the chances of your baby having it.

My dr said the only real reason to even take the test unless you are already high risk is if you would plan on changing your mind if the results were not good you know what i mean? i said i wouldn't do anyhting different anyways she said our chances were 1 in 800 so less then 1% no test for me!