Just hoping to get some opinions out there. I am 12.5 weeks and due to have my nuchal fold translucency screening ultrasound done before 14 weeks. I am having trouble coming to a decision on whether or not to do this. We used donor eggs and the donor was 23 and my OB says it's my choice whereas if it were my eggs (39) he would highly recommend it. We are not abortion minded, so even if the baby had a severe issue that wouldn't be an option for us. So I am asking myself why we would do this test. Some of the nurses have suggested that it's for "preparation", so you can be prepared if the baby has some other kind of issue that can get picked up in this high level ultrasound. But my thought about that is that this is only a screening and often
when the screening says there's a probability it turns out to be ok. I am a worrier to begin with, after 9 full cycles of IVF I've turned worrying into a recreational sport. So I can imagine that if I did get a "probability" of a problem I would make myself sick with worry which isn't good for me or the baby. So my question is, what are you thoughts on this and wouldn't they pick up any
issues at the regular 16 week ultrasound? Our chacnes of downs are 1/1500 with the donor's age. I realize they can pick up organ issues and other malformites as well. I am just really torn about this test, I dont know what to do. The giddy selfish part of me would enjoy a 4D ultrasound and the brain centered part of me is terrified of how I'll react if something comes up even though chances
are good it will all be ok. I would love to hear some candid opinions. I'm a tough girl so don't feel the need to spare my feelings!
if you would not have an abortion no matter what.. then skip all of this testing.
there is no reason to do the testing.. just wait for the normal scheduled ultraousnd at 16 weeks..
I had amnios with both kids.. (i was 39 and 41.) and they wree both fine.
Well, we didn't do it because come what may, we were going to keep our children. I personally know a woman who was told by her doctor and a specialist to abort due to findings. Her daughter is now in middle school and has no medical issues at all. It's really a personal decision, but my opinion is that when you have a child it is for better or worse.
I suggest just skip it and enjoy being pregnant. Doctors worry patients way too much. I say this because one of my friends was pregant and working in a hospital and followed all the doctors advice. Well, she came up positive for her baby being down syndrome and was freaked out at 5 months along. She decided to have the baby and low and behold there is nothing wrong with her child. Its her 4th and she was not young....late 30's and she worried for nothing. And the test was in black and white and the doctor said oh we do get some false positives. I don't think it was necessary to worry my girlfriend. We used to talk a lot after that and I would say before the baby was born what if they are wrong? Well, she still works as a nurse in the hospital and she believes we really don't have as much power as we think we do.Like preparing.........she prepared and it was wasted energy. Just eat right, relax and enjoy. See your doctor and I agree with your doctor its your call.
Seeing your baby on an ultrasound is one of the greatest things about pregnancy. (And we found that the smaller baby was much easier to see than than the larger baby at our next one.) If you're only going to get one u/s otherwise, do this one now and give your self what is overwhelmingly likely to be piece of mind. I don't know the odds, but I would guess that a false positive is the least likely outcome of all of this, and you can worry about the unknown what ifs without the u/s anyway.
Personally, I don't do any screenings. Too many false positives. If you wouldn't abort, I don't see the point. Sure, I guess you could prepare, but in the end, if you baby is born with any real problems, s/he will probably spend time in the hospital after birth giving you time to prepare at home anyhow.
I would do it. Since you know the results are overwhelmingly likely to be ok, hopefully it will help you put one worry to bed. Otherwise, my guess is that you'll spend the whole pregnancy worrying that something is wrong, AND worrying that you should have done the test. In the tiny likelihood they do find something, at least you can do something productive with the worry (prep, additional tests, etc). Good luck with your pregnancy.
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I would do it. Since you know the results are overwhelmingly likely to be ok, hopefully it will help you put one worry to bed. Otherwise, my guess is that you'll spend the whole pregnancy worrying that something is wrong, AND worrying that you should have done the test. In the tiny likelihood they do find something, at least you can do something productive with the worry (prep, additional tests, etc). Good luck with your pregnancy.
I am 33 years old, 22 weeks pregnant with my second child and I had this test done at 13 weeks. I also had it done with my first child when I was 30 years old. Thankfully, both of my tests had great results, so it gave me peace of mind that things were ok. However, even with good results I still realize it's just one test - it can't predict ALL the things that could be wrong. I just look at it as one more piece of information. I am the type of person who loves to gather information and to be prepared. I also would never choose abortion, but I figured that if something did turn out bad, at least I would have time to mentally prepare for it. I knew there was a chance of a false positive, but to me it was worth the risk and I knew I just had to use my common sense and judgment when looking at the results (good or bad). Good luck, I know it's a tough decision.
Since you said that you would not terminate, ask yourself if in the small chance there was a problem, would you rather know now or at the time of delivery?
I am not sure what 16 week u/s u are referring too, I didnt have another one until 20 weeks. At 20 weeks they can see malformations better than at 12, but they do not look at the nuchal fold then.
They do a blood test called the triple screen at 16 weeks (but again you can opt not to have it) and if they get abnormal results with the blood they will send you for a scan.
Everyone feels differently, I think I would want to know early to get resources in place and figure things out. I had nuchals done with both of my pregnancies
congrats on the pregnancy!!!
Like you, I take worrying to a whole new level. So I can understand how you might react with worry if something shows on the test. However, based on your good odds due to the donor's age, your knowledge that even when something shows on the test, it often turns out ok, and with the knowledge that you wouldn't do an abortion no matter what, I think that you might benefit from having the test done. At the very least, if something shows, you will get that preparation and adjustment time everyone talks about. But in the greater likelihood, you will find that out that things are fine, you will get to see such nice images, as well as the peace of mind that goes with knowing that everything is developing normally, and think of how relaxing that knowledge will be... For what it's worth, my humble opinion is that I'd probably do it.
We did all the testing with our first baby. Everything came out great, and we had no worries. That being said, this time I decided NOT to get any genetic testing done. Like you, I knew we would not terminate, and my SIL also got a false positive with her NFT and thought for two weeks (until they did a level 2 ultrasound) that her baby had Down's. I have heard time and again about false positives and parents worrying when there was nothing wrong and the baby was born completely normal. What scares me is that many people DO make choices to terminate based on these test results- that are very often wrong!
If you are a natural worrier, you are probably better off not knowing. You will love your baby no matter what, and knowing all you went through to get to this point, just enjoy your pregnancy and love that little baby inside of you- it is perfect as it is.
Congratulations to you!
T.
www.ReadandGrow.com
With my first baby I did not to an ultrasound; with my second I did do an ultrasound - having now done it both ways, I will be avoiding all ultrasound with any future babies. Firstly, I do not trust the safety of ultrasound, and secondly, I would never abort a "non-perfect" baby - so ultrasound really doesn't have a point. I would rather protect my baby's space and love her unconditionally. Blessings for whichever way you decide!
My girlfriend who was 42 and pregnant had all the screening plus amnio. They told her , she should abort because the child was short a chromosome(sp) and had other issues. She didn't want to abort so went through her entire pregnancy a wreck and prepared for the worst. Also hired a nurse for a special needs baby to be there right after the birth. The baby was a beautiful bouncing baby girl and...... PERFECTLY HEALTHY. No health issues, nothing. I can't even imagine the feelings of joy mixed with anger my GF had after finding out her daughter was 100% healthy. So if you are not interested in aborting a child for medical or physical reasons then sit back, don't test and enjoy this pregnancy. Congratulations.
Hi Yvette,
I was 39 when I delivered my son. I didn't take any of the tests offered to me. Just didn't see the point, especially since the results are inconclusive. Good luck!
I did not do any tests other than the regularly scheduled ultrasounds. The test for downs gives false +'s and false -'s. I liken it to this...would you get a screening to see if you'll ever get cancer, if you know the test result can be wrong? I would not, so I did not take these tests. My friend got a false positive, the baby is fine. A friend of a friend got a false negative, and the baby has Down's. I am typically a worry wart; however, with my kids, I'm not so much. There is so much to worry about with children...in utero & after birth. If I worry about everything I will go crazy. So, I lean on my faith more than I ever have before & try to relax about things that are out of my control. Good luck!
