Scheduled for the Sequential Screen Test at 12 Weeks...

I was two months shy of 35 at delivery. I declined to have the blood test that determines down syndrome (don't remember what it was called). I knew there are a lot of false positives, and I would have kept my baby anyway, so why spend all those months worrying?

Hi N., I was 35 and pregnant for my second. I did have the tests done. At 37 I was pregnant again, I did not have the tests done. The first time I did them for my husbands sake, but I didn't want to have them done, I have seen too many women with false positives and then they stressed for weeks until they had an amnio. I am a stressed out person anyway, so for me, I didn't want to know unless I was going to abort if there was a problem. I knew that I wasn't so I didn't have them the second time. I can deal with anything once it happens but will worry constanstly until it does.

Everybody is different and you need to do what you are comfortable with. The false positives are relatively high (I think), but I would recommend against an amnio unless completely necessary. The risk to the fetus is 1 in 200 with an amnio and that is why they don't just do them on everyone. They only do them if the other tests show a positive.

Good luck with your decision. Remember you are the one who has to live with the decision, decide what you are comfortable with and don't be swayed by doctors or anybody else. I recommend prayer for big decisions like this. Have a great week-end.

Sounds like you've already gotten a lot of good advice! I had my first daughter at 39 and second at 41. I was very thankful that the ob I was with politely convinced me to not have the testing due many of the reasons listed already. I also opted out of the amnio. Are you willing to risk killing your baby to find out if he/she is okay? You, of course have to do what you are comfortable with. I'm happy with the choices I made. Good luck!

If this is the genetic testing, it's a blood test and ultrasound to measure the likelihood of defects. In my opinion, it is a great deal less invasive than the amnio. At 37, I had the genetic testing and found that I had the chance of a 20 yr old for defects. Based on that, I decided not to have the amnio.
I would not hesitate to get the blood test, but it would take some pretty compelling results to make me want to let someone aspirate amniotic fluid during my pregnancy. The risks are just too great for miscarriage due to an OPTIONAL medical procedure.

I was pregnant with twins at 36 and had no testing done, not even the amnio. I prayed everyday for healthy, happy babies and that is what I have. My sister had a test done and was told there was something was wrong with the baby, The baby is now a 20 year old, perfectly healthy college student. My sister was under alot of stress worrying about her pregnancy.

My friend did an amnio and she miscarried shortly after. It's too risky. Why do it? Will you abort if it indicates a problem? It's just another way to make more money off of childbirth and keep it in the hospitals. You sound healthy - trust that your baby will be too. Good luck and enjoy!! I loved being pregnant.

N. ~
One of the things I always tell women about this type of testing is, will it change what happens with the pregnancy? If you find out that there is some genetic problem, would you abort the pregnancy, or continue it anyways? If if won't change anything, then maybe don't do the testing...or at least not the amnio (there is a risk of miscarriage with amnio...and you can't do it too early in the pregnancy...) I can see the bloodwork/ultrasound...at least it gives you some idea what could be going on. Unless you're the type of person who really needs to know in order to prepare. It's a very personal choice.
good luck!
D.

I was 35 when I had my son. I declined to have the extra testing during the pregnancy. I knew I would keep the baby regardless of the test results.

Unbelievable! You mean they're still on that old hobby horse that 35 puts you in the too old to have a baby category? I was 36 when my youngest was born. And y'know what? I found myself surprisingly preggers 2.5 years after that! I wish these doctors would quit with that stuff. I mean these days, being 50 is like the new 30 anyway!!!

Didn't have anything more than ultrasounds and an amnio, however. I think they went with the amnio more out of the fact that I'd had two miscarriages previously. Who knows? They could've been thinking the same thing: "She's pushing 36, we'd better make sure all is well!"

I was 35 when I was pregnant with my first child. I felt so blessed to be pregnant as it took my husband and I over a year to conceive. I didn't do any tests. I knew in my heart that it was God's will to give me a healthy baby. Also, I took care of myself...ate good, drank water and etc. you know all the good things. My son turned 15 in July and my daughter is 12.

You sound like you are doing such great things to be healthy and to help the planet, my opinion is don't have any test. Just keep doing what you are doing and you will have a healthy baby.

God bless.

I declined all that testing with all of my pregnancies. I was 37 with my most recent one. There are so many false positives with the screenings that I didn't want to cause myself needless anxiety. I was going to love and accept my child no matter, so there was no need for me to have those tests.

Good luck with your decision making and your pregnancy!

I had a baby at 39 and a second one at 41.

The test that you are talking about is relatively new it wasnt available for the first child but was for the 2nd child.

I had the "first trimester screening" that you are talking about.. blood test looking for 3 markers and ultrasound looking at the back of the babies neck.. In my case the neck was fine but one of the 3 blood markers came back elevated so an amnio was recommended. So I did the amnio. The amnio had normal results and the baby was fine.. Teh amnio is quick but it does hurt a bit. the worst part of the amnio is waiting 10-21 days for results..

I dont know if you have considered the CVS test. I would not recommend that test. I had that done in my first pregnancy.. the CVS takes placental cells.. The placental cells may not be the same as baby cells.. there was a problem found with the placenta (chromosmal) so I had to hae the amnio also..

The only absolute answer on chromosmal issues is the amnio. all other tests are not as accurate.

But if you will continue the pregnancy no matter what the test result is. why do the test.??If termination is not an option for you then the tests arepointless.

I had a horrible experience with these tests. I was 34 when I had our 2nd child so they recommended these tests to me. They came back very high possibility that my son had spina bifida and I had to wait 2 weeks for the level2 ultrasound that came back NORMAL. I retook the genetic blood test and the results were "normal". I cried and worried for 2 weeks of my pregnancy for nothing! My son is 16 months old and is perfectly healthy. These tests have been banned in other countries. Hospitals and doctors make alot of money off these tests, that is why they push them.
good luck