Hi Ladies, Im freaking out because at my 12 week ultrasound my doctor told me that the NT was 2.8. I am 29 years old and my blood work came back all fine and I was relieved but then he told me my risk score which freaked me out even more. He said I had a 1/160 chance of having a baby with down. What I didnt understand was that if the blood work is all fine and 2.8 is the 95%, but still considered normal why my risk score was so high. I didnt think the results were so bad but from the way the doctor was talking and telling me that my score was high, he scared me half to death!! Anyways, I dont want to walk around worried for the next 6 months, and I really dont want to do an amnio, so I need some reassurance please!!!!
I forgot to mention that they checked for three markers which were fine, but my number still came back like that!
Thank you ladies!! Your kind of words are soooooo comforting!!! With future pregnancies, Im never doing these tests again. The more I read about them and how much unnecessary anxiety they cause, the more upset I am that I even did it!! Im just trying to shake off what the doctor said and continue calmly with this pregnancy. Thanks again for all of your reassurance, it really helps!
You could get a level 2 ultrasound, where they can check for down syndrome "markers." That's what we did for me, when I came back very high risk for downs. I had no markers, so we passed on the amnio. The ultrasound allowed me to not be scared the remainder, of my pregnancy!!!
I want to write a lot but I'm on my balckberry getting my nails done... Lol... which makes it really hard to type but just wanted to offer u my little tidbit.
Bonzlee and Emma P are right on with what they said. - wanted to say the same thing. A lot of this is for statistical research ... Please just enjoy the rest of ur pregnancy I'm more than positive your baby is total fine!!! I know of so manu cases that had false positives... Much much higher rate than urs they told them like 90% chance but the baby came out perfect.
Much Love and take care.
It's not unusual for doctors to give pregnant women needless worrying. I think from a liability standpoint (and from financial standpoint), they are required to give you information that scare us half to death. That's why I switched to a midwife more than halfway through my first pregnancy, and then all throughout my second. Midwives showed me how to be healthy, and reassured me to enjoy my pregnancies. In any case, I was 35 when I had my first baby and at that age, automatically, I'm considered high risk. Blah! If you're healthy, trust your instincts. Worrying causes stress that affects the baby inside you. You are fine. I was told to do an amnio. I chose not to, and my risk factor was higher than yours. Amnio is a much higher risk. Again, you are fine. You are not high risk. Enjoy your growing baby and belly!
My boyfriend and I got pregnant in the US, and I was freaked out EVERY time I came from the doctor. After a few weeks we decided not to go back to the doctor until I was back in Europe, even though that meant two months without check ups, and we refused all tests other than the screenings for STDs and diabetes. Doctors look at humans like machines, try to calculate things you can't calculate, and drive you crazy over all. In most European countries tests are only done when the parents of the baby have severe health issues or are very old.
It is your choice to have a peaceful pregnancy. I found a midwife and birthing center I like, and have great personal care now. Don't let them drive you nuts! Love and peace!
S.,
Remember, that at 1/160, your baby is more than 99% likely NOT to have downs. The numbers can be scary, but the probability is overwhelmingly that your baby won't have this issue.
Enjoy your pregnancy!
C.
I completely understand your worry but what the previous posters have written is very true. I was told that a 3 was the limit before they would suggest that you get a CVS test. I think that is a good rule of thumb.
Also, if you would terminate due to downs, it might not be a terrible idea to get further testing done. But there are options in that department.
But DO NOT let that make you think you are super high risk. Most likely your pregnancy is completely normal. Good luck and try not to worry. I know it's hard!
I was 36 with my first and planned on having an amnio, so my doctor told me to SKIP these tests. She said they often come back false positive, and just freak the mother out. I'm not telling you to get the amnio, just that doctors don't trust these tests as accurate measures of what is really going on. Karen A. said something about a nuchal fold screen test. I would check that out so you could have peace of mind.
Hello, While my now two year old grandaughter was born with Down Syndrome and is the love of our whole families' lives, there have been MANY false tests done on this. I would wait for more testing. Be assured that you are going to love you child no matter what. My daughter also passed on the amnio test. We were very sure that this baby would have Down Syndrome, so we were fully prepared. She is smart and funny and adorable. We are stopped all of the time by people who are so drawn to her by her beauty.
Good luck with your precious baby.
K. K.
From personal experience...those tests are just awful! We took one with my first son and it had us all freaked out. I think ours was a risk of 1 in 188 or something like that. We did the level two ultrasound which checked for markers, they found none so we didn't do the ultrasound. I had a higher risk of miscarriage from the ultrasound than having a baby with downs so the risk didn't seem worth it. Fast forward and he was born completely healthy and is now five years old...no Downs or anything of the kind! Hate those tests!
-M
Get the more detailed ultrasound, and than if they see markers you can consider the amnio.
Would having the amnio test change anything? If they can't change the outcome and you would still have the baby then I see no need for the test. I didn't have the test with either pregnancy. My sister's friend had the test and knew downs syndrome was likely but he was born w/ no signs.
Ask your doctor for clarification but don't stress. It won't change anything.
That is why I passed on taking those tests. Are You planning to abort if there is an issue? Adopt your baby out? If you don't plan to do anything with the information, don't pt so much into the results. 1/160 chance of Downs send more like an across-the-board statistic rather than something which came from a test like this! My friend was told she had 1/99 chance of Downs. She was shocked at her genetic counselors demeaner even with those statistics. There's a better chance that you will have a child wth autism (which, by the way has found links to the use of pitocin in labor, so an induction or augmentation of labor will raise the risk of it).
Pregnancy is not a disease, proceed with care but don't be looking for problems that aren't there. Just enjoy it and look forward to the beautiful gift that awaits you.
Ask your obgyn for a referral to a specialist. They can do a nuchal fold screen. I had discussed doing this with my doctor, but the pentascreen came back okay, so we did not do the nuchal fold. I am 37 and did not want to do the amnio. They need to do the nuchal between 11 and 14 weeks, so you would need to speak to your doctor soon if you wanted to do that. It is just a more detailed sonogram and does not contain the same risks as the amnio.
