Screening tests at 12 weeks - do I have to have them?

[polkadotdinosaur]

If baby has Down’s syndrome we would want to continue the pregnancy, zero hesitation at all.

The midwife said it’s for Downs, Edward’s and Pataus (unsure of spelling). I would also possibly overthink the statistics; if I got a 1/500 statistic I’d wonder, why is it not 1/5000?

Edward’s and Pataus I understand are incompatible with life but I also see that they are rare. My dating scan is booked for close to 14 weeks so to me there is not much difference waiting until 20 weeks for the anomaly scan, as even if there was a problem the way of dealing with that wouldn’t be incredibly different at each of those stages.

Is it wrong and silly to decline the tests? I have no reasons to think I would be at risk as I am very low risk and under 30.

Of course you can decline, the tests themselves pose a risk too.

What? How do an ultrasound scan and blood tests pose a risk? What risks are those exactly?

OP - of course you can decline screening if you wish, it's totally your choice.

Amniocentesis carries a risk to the baby. Ultrasound and maternal blood tests undertaken between 11 and 14 weeks do not.

It's not correct that the screening tests are an additional risk (assuming you are having the dating scan anyway).

It's the diagnostic tests (that provide the likelihood of your baby having downs etc) which have an additional risk.

You can decline any/all tests, screening and interventions. You may find some midwives and sonographers try to argue with you and/or ignore your wishes (I have experienced this). BUT you do have the right to decline and should complain if your wishes aren't respected.

You can definitely decline them. I technically did, as the sonographer advised me not to have them as I had already done a private NIPT which is more accurate.

They haven’t recorded my private NIPT anywhere on my NHS record though so I have been asked why I declined the screening when I saw a consultant, but I think he was looking at any potential extra risk factors not questioning the decision.

I don't know a lot about these tests had babies a long time ago but wouldn't you want to prepared for whatever is coming and be prepared ?

This is a very personal choice. You can definitely opt out of these tests but they don't carry additional risk to you or the pregnancy.

I always think it's worth deciding how you would use the information. I've looked after families who had positive screening and then diagnostic tests during a pregnancy. It meant they and their families had been able to prepare for a syndromic child. The birth announcement phone calls were very "yes, the baby is here and they are beautiful" not "the baby is here BUT...".

Only you know what is right for you.