to not want the downs syndrome test

[PrincessScrumpy]

I've never been a betting person so to get odds as to whether you baby is one way or another seems pointless to me. I'd just spend pg stressing. DH and I have a strong relationship and one dd. We didn't test with her and don't think we'll get tested this time. We wouldn't abort anyway so would there be any point?

Am I unusual? All my friends have had the test.

I never did it, despite the same sort of pressure (teaching hosp) and doctor with an eye on possible lawsuits...

Among my friends, the divide was about 25/75 for/against the tests.

I didnt. I had no use for the information. a downs baby can go on to have a happy and fulfilled life. if some of the adults and children I know are anything to go by. but there are loads of other potentially devastating conditions out there you can't test for..its upto you.

If you're talking about the nuchal fold scan at 11-14 weeks, then if you don't want it, be sure to tell the sonographer immediately in case they do it automatically.

I was unsure whether to have the nuchal test or not as I knew I wouldn't have any of the other tests or abort but I figured it might give me a heads up if there was a risk of Downs and give us time to get used to the possibility. But ALL antenatal tests are entirely your choice.

I did first time- didn't know what I would do. Second time didn't.

Another one here who didn't test.

We had gone through IVF to conceive in the first place so knew this might be our only chnce to be parents (it was). We talked it through and decided that even if we found out we were expecting a child with Downs we would still go ahead, so couldn't see the point of having the test and taking any unnecessary risk - however small.

I did have the test. This was so if there was a very high risk - and we chose to have an amnio - I could read up and be prepared for a Down's baby.

I've just re-read my post and it sounds a bit flippant! Of course it would be difficult to ever 'read up' to 'be prepared' for a Down's baby but you get the gist I hope. I would just like to have had time to prepare as best I could.

YANBU. I refused the tests with DC1 and DC2 (I was 33 then 34). I trusted the scans would spot anything major enough to require surgery or immediate post birth intervention. (They do not do the nuchal scan here). I knew I would not terminate the pregnancies so tests would only have led to an amnio/cvs and I was not prepared to risk the pregnancies.

yanbu

I almost did not have it for same reasons

dont have it if you dont want to

So don't have it then.

YANBU. I didn't have it with any of my 3.

I had the observation things done at the 12 week scan (wasn't aware you could opt out anyway!) and with DD I was at kings college in London where a leading doctor did extra tests as part of a research thing (non invasive, and optional)

Our risk was incredibly low so not relevant to us but no way would I have an amnio. My mum had one and it caused a late MC.

My friend told me recently that you can pay £1k to get a private amnio done and do a prenatal paternity test.

I think this is a very personal decision. My opinion is only My personal opinion on what I would do. Everyone is different.
I am disabled myself and I couldnt justify terminating a baby on grounds of disability. So if there was a problem I wouldn't have terminated. Given that the amnio carries a risk, and I already have had miscarriages I decided we wouldn't go for testing.

If there was a test to tell me if I was carrying a baby with a disability that was zero risk I would have taken it. Purely because I would want to be prepared before birth.
You really have to do what is right for you.
Having said that when i was preg it seems that I was in the minority with not taking the tests. My SIL recently texted me, because she was coming up to testing stage, and from the message it was clear she assumed I had taken all tests and she was a bit shocked when I told her I didnt.

I am currently ttcing and I would not take the tests again. But i found I was in a minority