AIBU to get all the chromosomal tests done?

[firsttimemumggg]

10 weeks, first time pregnancy. I'm anxious about the health of the baby. Would I be crazy to spend £600-1200 getting tests done for chromosome disorders like Prader Willi and Jacobsen. Lots more that I haven't heard about.

For reference we all seem healthy in my family, no health concerns.

The tests the NHS do would cost about £400

I would be too if I was reading some of the dickish responses on this thread!

Same

I say this with gentleness, but a high dose of folic acid doesn't always make a difference anyway to prevention in NTDs

This is really good advice. There is perinatal mental health which you could ask to be signposted to. But it's definitely something I'd advise you look into. Early pregnancy is so frightening and stress inducing, it's no wonder you're looking for ways to feel in control.

I'm not trying I be a dick but as a parent of a child with a rare chromosome disorder,I know from experience that they can affect an individual in a wide a varied way ,some people don't seem to be affected at all and some are very affected and everything in between so even if a test shows there is a chromosome abnormality it won't show how that individual may be affected they could be affected severely. Or not at al! Or mildly it only become 'apparent as the child develops ,chromosome disorder,s can be inherited so a parent could have the same one as the child and the parent maybe fine but the child isn't basically there is still a lot to be learned and these tests don't always give the answers peop!e want .

Overwhelming likelihood is that you will have a baby without a significant chromosomal anomaly. Age increases odds but they’re still very much in your favour (although not wanting to devalue people with these conditions so no disrespect meant). If this would help then I’d suggest doing a more simple one that looks at the more prominent syndromes and if you haven’t been anxious before maybe some support around anxiety would help - if you have then still support around putting strategies in place in pregnancy. It’s bloody awful. Pregnancy is such an unknown there’s no real control beyond the basics and then you have all the hormone changes to tip things over. Take care OP. I hope things don’t feel quite so fraught as the months progress.

Thanks. My anxiety seemed to be particularly bad at the weekend!

I wouldn't have personally as I was a healthy weight, but if I were obese at conception I probably would have done as that increases the chances of things like birth defects and congenital malformations. So I'd want to do all the tests possible as early as I could to gather info at an early stage.

Ultimately it's your money and only you know whether that's a significant chunk of cash you could do with spending on the baby or other things, or whether that's small change that's worth the peace of mind.

Most women are obese/overweight at pregnancy. I'm a size 16.

I need to loose weight!

I think, if you are genuinely overweight, it might be worth getting medical advice on whether you can safely, gradually lose weight during your pregnancy. I tore badly when giving birth because of being overweight. It does increase the risk of problems. I wish I had known before I had my first.

@PriOn1 your lady parts split?