Combined results give 1:77 chance of downs

[Jodie242]

Can someone please give me a kick up the bum so I can stop stressing and crying and generally being a moody cow about everything? I'm looking for reassurance I guess :) I'm booked for an amnio but it's an agonising 15 days away, they said it was safer to wait than to do a cvs now (I'm 14+3). I was tested at 13+5 so only just made the cut for the combined test - would that make a difference? I'm 38 so I know that bumps my odds up. NT measured 2.5mm and baby measured 77mm crown to rump. 1 in 77 is after my bloods were done but I was in too much of a daze to ask what my actual blood results were. Can anyone reassure me? I'm going out of my silly mind :-/ xxx

[Metalhead]

Chances are everything will be fine, though I know how horrible the wait is! I was given a 1:85 risk based on dodgy bloods, everything else looked fine on the scan. I opted for the Harmony test which came back as low risk, and DD2 was born perfectly healthy.

Try and remember that, put differently, you've only got a roughly 2% risk of having a baby with Downs. That's a 98% chance of a healthy baby!

Good luck with the amnio, I hope everything turns out well.

[PinkParsnips]

We have just just been through this and just wanted to send you as it really is an awful wait. Our results were 1:20 for Downs which was a terrible shock. We opted for the nifty test and everything came back fine thankfully.

Is the nifty test an option for you? I only say this as we were also given an in depth scan where they look for soft markers. Although this isn't seen as an accurate indicator she did reduce our risk from that scan to 1:120 which gave us a bit of comfort while we waited for the results.

[Jodie242]

I haven't been offered anything except the amnio and having looked at the NIFTY and harmony tests I'm not sure I could afford it :( plus I'll still have a 2 week wait which could still lead to an amnio anyway, at least with an amnio I'll have a definitive answer. I know the odds are way in my favour but with the way things have been going for me lately, I just know I'll be that 1. And the weird thing is, I've felt all along that something wasn't right. I haven't told anyone about the pregnancy other than my other half because I just felt like I shouldn't. I can't explain it. Thanks for your answers x

[PinkParsnips]

Yes you're right it would be about 2 weeks so you wouldn't get results any faster. It's funny you say that about your pregnancy as I had the exact same feeling about this pregnancy too and thought it was a bad sign. I will keep everything crossed for you.

Did they tell you the numbers from your blood results for Bhcg and PAPP-A as your nuchal measurement doesn't seem too bad?

[PinkParsnips]

Sorry I have just seen that you were too shocked to ask. During all my frantic googling I did read that high risks based mainly on bloods alone often turn out to be fine I don't know how true that is but your nuchal seems OK.

[Jodie242]

I think the bad feeling I've got stems from a chemical I had at 7 weeks at the end of last year. That pregnancy was a surprise (would be baby number 3) but it made us realise we would like a third child after all. Just when I felt ready to tell everyone, my dad died very unexpectedly. That was a month ago tomorrow, and it's not just the pregnancy if I'm honest, everything has a sadness around it because of the circumstances in which I lost my dad. Sorry, I realise this is the wrong place to offload that, it should give you an idea of my current state of mind though :(

[KittyandTeal]

This is absolutely not the wrong place to offload, it's exactly the right place!

It is really hard when you get worrying antenatal results and have to wait for results and tests.

There is a high chance things will be fine. However, Down's syndrome isn't the end of the world in lots of cases. Have a look at fb groups and websites about living with Down's syndrome. You might be pleasantly surprised.

However, you might have already decided that you would terminate a pregnancy with t21. That is also fine.

Have you contacted arc? They are a brilliant charity that can give you absolutely impartial advise and experience from people who have been through exactly the same situations.

The to be kind to yourself and take things easy in the mean time 💐

[Jodie242]

Something just occurred to me, I'll call the antenatal clinic tomorrow to see if they can tell me my blood results but I'm wondering if papp-a could have been low or borderline low in my two previous pregnancies. My son was born 12 days late but still only weighed 7lb 11oz but my daughter was induced 2 weeks early because she wasn't growing enough. That's a sign of low papp-a, right? I was never given a ratio of risk before so I don't know what my previous risks were. I'm thinking though that maybe my age, on top of a low papp-a score is enough to put me into high risk category. I was 31 when I have my son and 34 when I had my daughter. I'm now 38. Obviously I'm clutching at straws but it's just something that occurred to me. Will be interested to know my blood results. Hopefully someone can tell me!

[Jodie242]

My daughter was only 5lb 9oz when born btw. She didnt increase at in her 37th week so was induced at 38 weeks.

[KittyandTeal]

Yes low Papp a is sometimes linked to slower growth or iugr.

The high risk for T21 is related to low Papp a and high hcg.

[PinkParsnips]

Gosh I'm so sorry to hear what a tough time you've been having, that's such a lot to deal with at the same time

Yes my midwife gave me a leaflet which said anything lower than 0.4 for Papp-a can be linked to growth issues and that extra monitoring might be given.

[PinkParsnips]

Hi. How did you get on OP?

[Jodie242]

Hi there, thank you for thinking of me :) I had the amnio last Thursday but I'm still waiting for the results. I'm swinging from feeling positive to feeling completely deflated and just want to know now. Results have been delayed by the bank holiday but they said I should hear the initial results today. Will let you know xx

[KittyandTeal]

Good luck for today xx

[Jodie242]

Well, no results for me today. The bank holiday had more of an impact than they thought it would. Hopefully will hear tomorrow. If I don't hear tomorrow then I'm likely to go and find a cave to hide in for the next few months. I can't take much more of this pressure :(

[Byrdie]

Just to add - i had 1:60 chance with my third pregnancy... I was 30, 33 and 36 so similar age and I also went for the amnio. It was fine but i was quite stressed till the results came. I do think age is a big swing factor so try not to stress. If you were under 35 then you probably would have had very different combined results. (P.s Amnio had the added benefit of telling us for sure if we were having a girl or boy)

[SirVixofVixHall]

I was given odds of 1-120 for dd2, not quite as high as yours but not far off. I was a bit shocked as my odds for dd1 had been 1-50,000. I imagine my age was a factor (I was 42, 43 when she was born) but not the only one. I didn't have amnio as I was worried I might miscarry and I would have had the baby anyway, but subsequent scans gave no indication of any problems and she doesn't have Downs, or any other issues. Odds are just odds, even with a 1-2 you still have a 50/50 chance of a baby with no problems. So I'm keeping everything crossed for you that you get a clear result tomorrow.
And i'm very sorry about your Dad. I've just lost my Mum and there is a cloud of sadness around everything I do- it is a very difficult time, the months after losing a parent. When my father died three years ago I felt as though I was walking around in a fog. It must be very difficult for you. .

[Jodie242]

That's pretty much how I'm feeling right now SirVixofVixHall, everything is tinged with sadness and I'm definitely walking round in a fog. It's kind of like I am the fog, my mind especially so. I'm so sorry to hear about your parents. Losing those so close makes this sort of thing especially tough I think. I'm very glad you had a happy result with your daughter x

[Jodie242]

Got my results through, and I'm incredibly thankful and relieved to say that they were all clear! Thank you for all of your help ladies, you've all been so supportive, thank you again x

[Metalhead]

Glad to hear it OP, good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

[KittyandTeal]

Brilliant news.

Fingers crossed for a dull and not I h rest of your pregnancy

[PinkParsnips]

Wonderful news!!
So pleased for you, enjoy the rest of your pregnancy

[SirVixofVixHall]

Hurrah! I am very happy for you. I hope the joy of a new life coming is comforting . When my mother was dying I happened to speak to a doctor who was just about to have a baby, and it made me feel happy to think of a new life starting. Your baby will have elements of your Dad and will carry him into the future.