Info on Prenatal Care Appreciated!

I wouldn't get too worked up about this maternal age stuff. I had children at 36, 39 and now I am due to have my third at age 42. If you are healthy and take care of yourself, your chances of having any problems are very small.
I had a level 2 ultrasound with my second and the tech said that she couldn't see the nasal cartilage, which is an indicator for Down's. That haunted me the rest of the pregnancy and my baby is 100% normal.
I won't have any tests this time because of that. Also, if you are pro-life and wouldn't abort the baby anyway, why do it. There are too many false positives to make it worth it the headache and some of those tests are not without risk to you and the baby.
I have been a chiropractor my whole adult life until my first child, so I understand where you are coming from. Just do alot of reading to understand all of the tests, their risks, etc. Educate yourself, don't let them educate you.
Good luck. I am sure things will go just fine. Just think of all of the celebrities that are having babies into their forties and not one of those children have any problems.

I just had a son at 38 (he's the last one, this time we're sure of that) and have been a "career" oriented gal for most of my adult life, too. Weird! I had no "extra" tests. The doc asked me twice if I wanted the extras and I said unless there was something he could do about negative results, I didn't want them.

The tests aren't 100% accurate, and too many women end up with false positives for something "horrible" and suffer through their pregnancy certain their child will be disabled only to discover they're perfectly normal.

So I have no advice on the tests other than they can be good for preparation if your child will be disabled in some way, they can be bad for you if the tests are wrong, and there is a slight chance with all the tests of causing a miscarriage.

Slight meaning 1% or less. But it has been known to happen, which was another reason we said "no." I refused to risk the life of my child for a test whose only outcome was knowledge.

L.

Congratulations, S.!!

I agree with almost everything that has been said. I just read all of the responses, and I'm trying to think if there is anything that I disagree with. Maybe just a thing or two about some of the tests, but your OB/Gyn will be able to tell you about the ones that have a high rate of false positives. A couple of people talked about the correct terminology, but they didn't tell you what it is. Mongloidism is a really old term for what is now called Downs Syndrome. And Downs Syndrome is the "name" given to Trisomy 21. Trisomies are explained very well in this website: http://www.trisomyonline.org/links.htm which comes from the main site at http://www.trisomyonline.org/ . Not all of the pages are active because it is a non-profit website that needs support at this time, but it has good information. Spina bifida is usually a characteristic of one of the Trisomies or of another syndrome.

My daughter was told at about half-way through her first pregnancy that her baby had Trisomy 18. And the doctors will ALL use the term "incompatible with life". That is a devastating diagnosis. All it did for her was prepare her for a death instead of having fun during her pregnancy. She wouldn't even let her friends give her a baby shower. But we have since done our own research and have found "friends" through the site that I mentioned who have children with Trisomy 18 which is also called Edward's Syndrome. There are babies that live. And there are varing degrees of the syndrome.

Like others have said, "If the outcome of the tests is not going to change your feelings on keeping your baby, then why do them?" However, if you want the knowledge to prepare if something is found or feel that you personally could not deal with a disabled child, then by all means, have all of the tests. And the other responses have told you about all of the other tests.

Good Luck and enjoy being pregnant!!!

The best thing you can do is stop worrying! The more calm and assured you are, the better for you and your baby. If you chose to be tested for anything, remember that any test has a false positive potential. If you plan to keep your baby no matter what (and I pray that is the case) then screening for things that can be corrected/monitored in utero can be helpful. It can also be helpful to know if your child has a condition that can be treated at birth or prepared for prior. But if you are submitting to tests out of fear, don't go there! Ultimately, every baby is a gift of God, no matter its physical or mental condition. Too many test can undermine your own mental well being and resolve, in my opinion. Every woman blessed with conception is blessed indeed!

SAHM of seven, some with special needs, all precious to God. I can't imagine my life without any one of them!

Congratulations. I too had my first (and only - so far anyway) baby when I was 38. He's 10 months old and perfect. Like you I worried a little bit but realized it was probably more dangerous for me to worry than to just take it all as it came. My clinic (I see the midwives at U Specialists in Women's Health, next to Riverside Hospital) automatically did genetic testing b/c of my age. They also had me meet with a genetic counselor. My advice is, know what you are going to do with the results before you get them. For instance, you'll be given statistics for various genetic defects for people in your age group (e.g., chance of Down's is one out of 800 or whatever). Then you'll get a blood test which will make those odds go up or down -- for instance, let's say that based on your blood test, your baby's chance of Down's is now one out of 8,000. Maybe that's all the info you need and you decide not to go on for a more refined estimate that would come from an amniocentesis. I would carefully consider amniocentesis - it carries risks to baby, small but there. Another test I got was one done by ultrasound, called nuchal translucency. You might ask for this, too. It can refine the odds for Downs and other somatic disorders.

Chances are your baby will be perfectly healthy. Just relax and eat right and take your daily prenatal vitamin.

Jen-
Congratulations on your baby!!! How exciting. Don't worry. Take good care of yourself, take your vitamins, eat healthy, drink water and rest. I don't want to stir up controversy, but why are you so concerned about tests? You have to decide before you have them what you would do if something was "positive". (one note, they do have lots of falce positives!! enough to scare anyone) I had 4 babys and never tested....

Congratulations--how exciting. I don't want to be a downer, but maternal age can be significant. Please make sure you are seeing a good OB, not a general practitioner. My husband's business takes him to OB/Gyns--so if you need a recommendation for someone close to your area, let me know.

Take care!

Congrats to you on your pregnancy! You have received much advice; that's probably the hardest part of being pregnant; wading through it all and using what feels right!

I had my children at ages 36 and 39; my doctor and I laughed as she filled out my referrals with the term "advanced maternal age." Both our our children are healthy & happy at ages 2 & 4.

I had an amniocentesis and a cystic fibrosis test (done through a blood test) with each pregnancy. My advice is to learn about all the tests and think about why you want them before you decide to go ahead. After research, my husband and I felt the blood screenings had too many false/positives and were given too late into the preganacy, and I was concerned about chromasomal (sp?) issues, so we opted for the amnio because it was considered the most accurate from a scientific standpoint.

To refute some of the other postings' (mis)information:

1. the risk of miscarriage with the amnio is actually less than the actual overall risk of general miscarriage during pregnancy.

2. You also don't need to wait until month 5 as stated by another post - I had both of mine at 15-16 weeks. You have an ultrasound as part of the procedure; it's very accurate and reliable, albiet very painful for about two minutes. The doctor I saw had never had a patient who miscarried as a result of an amnio (in over 20 years). Results are available in 7-10 days. The peace of mind for my husband and me was worth it.

Good luck as you enjoy this wonderful pregnancy!

Hi Salsa-
My name is B..
I'm a 47 yo med. prof, wellness coach and mom of almost 7 yo twin girls- who were full term when I was 41 yo.
You want good nutrition, and definately a good omega 3 fatty acid and vitamin.
Because I'm a wellness coach, I'm also affiliated with a particular product line I use and if you want more info on that- email me with your phone number and I can tell you about it. I can't say much on this site- advertising.
Your risks are higher at 38 - like 1/100 of a major birth defect. Don't let that scare you. Testing can be done but there are risks assoc. with some so you have to weigh that.
If you want to talk, reply back.
Don't worry- rest and a positive attitude are also important for wellness and health.
B. Jarmoluk
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Hello,

Congrats to you on your 1st pregnancy! I am also 38 years old and 5 months pregnant with my first baby. Chances are due to your age, your doctor will order a 1st Trimester Screening in which you will meet with a genetic counselor to go over you and your partners family medical history. After that they do an ultrasound and blood test to test for Down's Syndrome and Trisomy-18 & Trisomy-21. Check out the following site for more information on this test: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/prenataltesting/firstscr.... Part of the blood test was to check for cystic fibrosis as well. Between wk 16-18, your doctor will probably order another blood test (maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) to test for spina bifida. As far as I remember, that is everything that they tested me for, there may be other tests out there that I'm not aware of. Lots of luck to you and fingers crossed for a smooth pregnancy!!

S.

Hi! When I became pregnant at age 36, back in 1972, I had amniocentesis to test for Downs syndrome ("mongoloidism") As far as I know, that is still the test for it, but if I were in the same situation today I wouldn't do it. First of all, in those days (you'd have to check with your doctor on the present-day statistics) more babies were lost through spontaneous abortion following the procedure than were discovered to have Downs. Second, I didn't realize what rich, full lives Downs kids can and do live. Third, there is no point in having the test (which is not a big treat for the mother) unless you would abort the baby, since there's nothing that can be done to treat Downs if he/she turns out to have it.

If "now taking a turn toward family" means you want to have children, your odds will never be better.

Well, since you are over 35, as you know you are concidered high-risk. I'm also prego and over 35. But, that doesn't mean that you have anymore precursers for an unhealthy pregnancy/baby than others who are younger and out of shape or carry genetic disorders in their genes. Until you start going to the doctor regurlary and tests become available (due to your gestational age) just enjoy the pregnancy for what your hoping...a healthy baby.

Tests become available to you according to your gestational age (how far along you are). And, being over 35, you will be offered a few extras that women who are NOT over 35 are not, and those are fun. There is a triple screen test that looks at Spinabifita, Downs and trisomy 18. All are genetic and a simple blood test. You will be offered (as all mothers are) an amniosentesis (sp?), which is a needle into the uterine sack and there is a small risk of losing the baby when that is performed...and it hurts I guess. I think most people turn this test away because of the pain and risk. I think people who get this are people who are at even higher risk than we are, and one of the other tests came back either inconclusive or positive so further testing using an amnio test is sometimes performed as the amnio is usually more accurate. There are many opportunites to discover those genetic disorders throughout the pregnancy. You will probably be offered a genetic counceling session along with your 20 wk ultrasound and that is fun to learn the different risks involved in your and your spouses family health. It usually involved a level 2 ultrasound, instead of a level 1, which looks more indepth for those genetic disorder markers. I'd definately recommend the triple screening shot, as they use the results from that to assist in the level 2 ultrasound and genetic results at 20 wks. You may also get an early ultrasound to look for the same stuff as the triple screening blood test and that has to be done between 12-13 weeks so I'm sure they'll talk to you about that too. Prepare yourself for lots of pin-pricks because they do take quite a bit of blood for multiple tests, but most of those are right at the beginning of your pregnancy, one of your first appointments. Good luck, Congrats and have fun with it all.

I would get all the tests done as long as your insurance covers them and what is recommended by your OBGYN - any woman over 35 should have them all done just to be on the safe side. At your visits, discuss this with your Dr. and they will give you all the information you need. I was apprehensive on the down syndrome one and some others but I wanted to be sure if I carried the genes and what my next step would be if they found a problem. With technology today, it's very advantageous to get the tests done. Congratulations and good luck!

You should google on the issues you are looking to understand. Always ask google: "what's wrong with" when you look, i.e., "what's wrong with amniocentesis tests?"

Your fears could easily undo your pregnancy S. ~ at some point testing can actually be harmful. For example, amniocentesis tests have been linked to deformities and, most commonly, miscarriage due to the fact that the womb is punctured.

I would spend as much time researching the safety of the tests you plan to ask for. 38 year old women give birth to healthy babies all the time. Don't let your fears become your nightmare.

Who is still using the term "mongoloidism"??

I refused to be tested for anything unless something showed up on US that would be an indication for planned c-section (ie, Spina Bifida) or early medical treatment such as heart problems. But I work with children with "disabilities" all the time, so I suppose I have a different take on it. One of my friends had a bunch of testing that initially came back concerning and then she spent the next few weeks worrying for what turned out to be "nothing wrong"

I would just consider the reasons you would or wouldn't want testing and proceed from there based on your priorities.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! The first step is to schedule an appointment with your OB/GYN where they'll ask about your medical history. That should give the doctors plenty of information about what you need to be/can be tested for.

If you're determined to get tested for everything, I highly recommend the book "The Mother of all Pregnancy Books" by Ann Douglas. It is straight-forward, funny, written by a mom of FOUR, and includes real-life examples from Mommies everywhere. It deals with the best and worst outcomes of every test imaginable and does so in a sensitive, but informational, way.

One word of caution, though. So many of these tests are just indicators of a potential complication. I was told at 20 weeks that I had a two-vessel cord that could deprive my baby of nutrients in the womb. He could have been low birth weight, had kidney issues, or had cleft lip/cleft palette. It was also a risk for premature labor. I had him a week LATE and he was 8 pounds and perfectly healthy! I firmly believe that the stress caused by worrying about some of the more obscure tests is worse for the baby and Mommy than having the results.

Good luck with whatever you decide and prayers for a perfectly happy, healthy, "normal" pregnancy - whatever that is!!

Hi Jen,

I had my two children at 38 & 39. Both of my children came out healthy and happy with no problems. With my first child I decided to get the blood test that tells the chance of there being a problem (downs or worse) by percentage and it was horrible. It came back with a high percentage that my child would have this terrible chromosome disease and we had to go through genectic counseling. And in the end there was no issue. The test only tells you the percent chance of what might happen and it scared the hell out of us needlessly. I decided to skip it with my second and had a much less stressful pregnancy.

I do think these test are good but I would be careful. One thing you need to ask yourself is what you would do if you found out something was wrong. I decided that I would only have the amino test done if there was a reason for us to be concerned. Aminosentisis is the only way they can detereme for sure if there is some chromosome disorder. You will have a high level ultra sound after 4 months (I can't remember when exactly) and they can see a lot with that.

I would talk to your doctor but I just wanted to let you know that it is possible to be in your late 30's and have healthy happy kids without problems. I did have gestational diabetes for my second pregnancy but it was very controllable. Just be really careful what you decide to do becuase I found that we almost know to much now. I hope that is helpful and good luck to you.

I think lowering your stress level should be first on your list of priorities. Only 38--you are still young! Make an appointment with a doctor or prenatal nurse so you can discuss your choices. I wish you many happy days ahead!!!!

Congratulations! I understand your concern being on the older end of child bearing years. However, make sure whatever tests you get, you are prepared for the outcome AND be forewarned that many tests, including down syndrome, spina bifida, and others give false positives. I'm 33 and elected not to take any of the tests and just put it in God's hands. My Dr. delived my daughter 1 month early and wanted to do an amniocintisis, but I elected not to get it. Chances are you'll have a perfectly healthy, beautiful baby, but don't worry yourself so much now, because all that stress goes right to the baby when your blood pressure rises. Enjoy your pregnancy and instead of worrying about what "could be", envision what will be.

Best of luck!
L.

Hi S.!

Congratulations for starts! How exciting for you!!!

Are you at high risk? why do you need all the tests?
Both my sister's had babyies at ages 38 thru 41. Their babies were adorable and still are!

I would be sure to get on the best supplement that I could possibley get my hands on.

If you are looking for a good prenatal supplement. Melaleuca has one of the best.

One of my associates sisters is a dula. She works with new moms and helps them during pregnancy and at birth. She has studied the effects of our supplements. She has actually blood testing that proves that the Melaleuca Pre-natals are superior over other on the market. So much to the point that she will only take on patients that are using the Pre-natals because the benefits it gives during and after pregnancy.

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J.

Congrats! Your doctor should and probably does know about all the tests that are necessary and even the ones that are optional and he or she should tell you about them or give you reading material on such subjects. Also, check out this link. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pregnancy/PR00115

Additionally, contrary to popular opinion (at least in this forum), prenatal test results do sometimes point to the need for fetal surgery in which case having the tests done would not be something that would just cause senseless worry.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! First of all, you might want to do some reading to learn the current proper terminology. Then, I would recommend you think about why you want the testing done and proceed from there. I had a baby at 36 (healthy). The only thing I had done was a Level 2 ultrasound and that was in part because I had preterm labor with my first baby. I knew I wouldn't want to terminate the pregnancy unless it was a condition that was life threatening to me or the baby so the tests seemed pointless. I thought the Level 2 ultrasound would probably provide me with enough information to determine whether I wanted additional testing done or to prepare me for potentially having a child with disabilities. If you think you would terminate a pregnancy then the testing might be warranted. The amnios are reliable (I personally thought it would be too invasive for me), but many of the blood tests they do are unreliable and just add to the stress and require additional testing. You might want to look into the reliability of the tests before you go ahead with anything. People your age are having healthy babies all of the time; I hope you do too. On another note, I have friends who have very lovable children with Down's Syndrome and they are all doing well. Best wishes.

Be very cautious of the tests you do decide to take. A lot of times the tests produce false positive results, which can cause undue stress and worry during your pregnancy. You may think you are at risk due to your age, but look into your family history and racial background as well. These factors may put you and your baby at more/less risk than just strictly your age. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PREGNANCY!!

I had my 1st at 39, and my second 6mo. ago at 43! My husband and I chose only to do the non-invasive tests,( quad-screen, ultrasound etc.) My screens came back with a higher probability of downs, but detailed ultrasounds at 20wks showed no problems. We knew we would not terminate no matter what so elected not to take the risks that are associated with amnio. There were times I felt I would like to know 100% for stress reasons tho.You need to decide between you and your husband.

first of all, CONGRATULATIONS!!! how exciting to be pregnant for the first time!! www.askdrsears.com has LOTS of good information on everything. check out his books, the baby book is one i cant live without!

i dont know much about the tests or anything.. i (pregnant at 23 helped) just followed doctors orders, except the test for downs syndrome and stuff i denied because 1. i didnt care i was keeping the baby no matter what and 2. there was no reason my baby should have any problems, and he doesnt.

what i want you to know most of all is that God is in control. i dont know how you feel about religion or anything, but for me thats important.

you need to ask yourself this one important question. if you got a test result that lead you to believe that the child would be disabled... what would you do? im going to assume that you would be keeping the baby no matter what. so does it really even matter what the test results are?

what im trying to say is, if you feel like it, you can just go one with it like a normal pregnancy. im not saying to ignore instincts, or if the doctor has genuine concerns, but dont feel like you have to go out of your way to test for something that isnt going to make a difference to you one way or the other.

you have 2 choices. find out while you are pregnant if there is something wrong (some people feel that helps them better prepare) or trust God and let Him lead you and your pregnancy for better or worse. even though i had no reason to believe my pregnancy wouldnt be perfect, i still chose to avoid a test that wasnt going to change anything.

the other thing that i fear with these tests is the false positives. it can be pretty stressful and heartbreaking to find out your child might have a problem. however, there really isnt any guarantees, and you could worry yourself over nothing... or make a choice that you might not otherwise make if you knew there was nothing wrong. how many babies do you think are taken because of a suspected problem, and they turn out to have been fine ? probably more than anyone would like to admit. mistakes happen. however, i would choose to not know about it at all, and let the doctors take care of it when the baby is born.

do you know what i mean? basically, i dont think there are any tests that should be required of you, and you shouldnt feel that you have to do any tests at all. after all, the Lord blessed you with a pregnancy, He will take care of the outcomes.

bless you and your baby - i pray that everything will go well for you!

Our daughter was born when I was 36. Because of my "advanced maternal age" (medical definition, not my own LOL) it was recommnended that I have the 1st trimester screening for Downs Syndrome and Trisomy 18. I had the test but to be honest I don't think I would do it again.

The test itself isn't any big deal--a blood test and an ultrasound. However, we were told we had a 1 in 60 chance of having a baby with Downs Syndrome. That just gave me one more thing to worry about. We chose not to have the amnio test or the CVS test because of the slight risk of miscarriage. Either of those tests would have given us a more definate positive or negative result. But we decided it wasn't worth the risk. We were going to love and accept our baby no matter what. I did have a couple extra ultrasounds where they looked for some of the physical markers for Down Syndrome, but that was all.

Thankfully our daughter was born with no problems. I did spend time thinking about what we would need to know if we had a special needs child, but overall I don't think the worry the test caused was worth it. One thing that did keep me from obsessing about the results was something our genetics couselor said. A 1 in 60 chance means that if you had 60 babies, maybe one of them would have Downs Syndrome.

Congratulations! I think being a mom with "advanced maternal age" is incredible!

Congrats! Make sure that you are taking your prenatal vitamans and Omega 3 supplements. There is a procedure that can be done at 11 or 12 weeks that is less invasive than an amnio. Amnio's do carry risks, and can't be done untill 5 monthes. I can't remember the name of it. Your ob may be able to tell you. This puts you in the right time table should you decide not to carry on with the pregnancy. This is not something that I advocate for. I have two beautiful boys, but was glad that I came to this by choice. Don't let anyone pressure you into a decision. If this baby does have health or physical issues it's something you both have to live with for the rest of your lives. Only you know the amount of strength that you have. Good luck. Having a baby is a beautiful thing!

They have a triscreen or a quad screen. Request that. It tests for those two things and some others. I don't remember which-ask at the dr. Your 20 week ultrasound will be good too. As far as an amnio goes I would not do it unless the other test shows you are high risk for some major problems. Amnio has a higher risk for miscarriage and I would not chance it. Just try to relax and congrats.

Hi Jen,
I had my first child at 35 and my second at 37. I had an amniocentesis with the first one due to the 'advanced maternal age' handle but declined having one with the second. Both of my children were healthy and are now in their 20's. A friend who is year older than I am had her children in her mid to late 30's also. The last one showed signs that there might be spina bifida from the amniocentesis test and she was a wreck. But her son was born healthy and with no signs of the disorder. From my experience, eat healthy, take your pre-natal vitamins, go for regular checkups, and listen to your body. If you have friends who are also expecting, it helps to hand out and share the joys of the experience rather than expecting problems. A positive mental attitude and positive people around you is a good thing. Lastly, of course, if there is a history of any type of disorder in your family be sure have checks done for those.
Congratulations! Being a mom will be the best experience of your life - Blessings, G.

Sit back, enjoy the pregnancy and dont worry so much about things. you are only 38! Not 50! Your obgyn will take you through all the steps and tests that need to be done. I was 37 when I had my first and she is healthy and happy.
Congrats on your new venture in life.. I too was a total career woman.. now am a stay at home mom! Who'd a thought! haha I love it though and wouldn't change a THING!

I had my first baby at 41 and the pregnancy and delivery went great! I only saw mid-wives (through Park Nicollet) not doctors, and they did not dwell on the "age" statistics. Park Nicollet had me speak with a genetic counselor who describe all tests possible. They only test I had was the amnio. The chance of that procedure inducing miscariage is miniscule. It it still the best test as far as giving accurate results (instead of just more statistics). And it DOESN'T hurt (less than a finger prick by far).

They tell you that you have a 1 in 98 chance of having a baby that has Downs - that means you have approximately a 98% chance of having a baby that doesn't!! Beware of statistics!

But no tests are required - Both of my grandmothers had babies at 40 and they didn't do any tests.

I had my first at 36 then the third at 39. The first trimester screening will be done, then the AFP test, then make sure your OB/GYN sends you to a perinatal specialist to get a level three ultrasound. I did not have an amnio...too risky....but in general, get rest, drink tons of water and eat well, and RELAX! You will be fine! Take care!

First of all, many congratulations on your pregnancy. Secondly, do note that the term “Mongolism” is considered to be beyond obsolete, incorrect and racist. When requesting any prenatal testing, I’d suggest that you refer to the condition as Down syndrome. Our second child (22 months) has it. Mind you, he is the love of my life. Nothing was found in any of my prenatal tests (blood, Level II untrasounds and other tests), although I did not undergo an amniocentesis. My other two children, 9 months and 6 years, are of the typical chromosomal make-up. I will be 38 years old in August.

I wish you luck.

An overview of the various tests offered can be found here: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/prenataltesting.html

Simply too much to cover in my response.

I was 36 when I had my daughter and the only extra test I had, outside the normal tests they give every pregnant woman, was an amniocentsis. It was a bit nerve racking but well worth it and it really is not that much of a big deal.

I would also suggest reading Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy along with What to Expect When You're Expecting.

You'll be fine. 38 is no longer considered old when having a child.
Good luck and take care of yourself!

Hi ! your doctor should be telling you of all the items that you'll be tested for. I had my one ane only child @ 39 we even spoke to a genetist ( spelling?) who relived a lot of our fears through a blood test they do they way the # aginst family history etc. I loved being pregnant at that time of my life and have alot of friends that have had kids at the advanced maternal age ( I hate that term!)
AT any rate Good Luck! Enjoy this amazing time! When people tell you kids grow up so fast! They really do!!!! Mine will be 4 in August totally unbelievable! D. Winslow