Worried about my first trimester screening results

[Vickyjoa]

I am 40 and pregnant for the first time, currently 14 weeks. I have just received my results for my first trimester screening test:

bHCG 0.29
NT 1.70
PAPP-A 0.22

DS risk 1:45

I have booked in for an amnio on 31st August but i feel really, really worried about exactly what these results mean. I veer from thinking the absolute worst to everything will be fine.

Does anyone have any advice on exactly what each of these figures mean?

I really look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks

Vickyjoa

Hi
I can't really comment on your actual blood results but I am going through a similar situation to you. I am 37 and pregnant with my third child. Following my scan and combined screening on 2nd August I was given a 1:112 risk and am booked in for my amniocentesis this Thursday afternoon. My recommendation would be to talk to your screening midwife/coordinator. For me, this was the woman who called me to tell me I was high risk. I have spoken to her twice since our initial call with various questions and she has been very helpful. I also emailed an organisation called ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices). They will come up if you Google them. They too sent me a very reassuring and informative email in return.
From a personal point of view, I can relate to how you are feeling. When I got the phonecall I was so upset and couldn't believe how I've tried to do everything right and still ended up as high risk. The first night I was awake at 4am worrying. However, as the test date has got closer and I am armed with more information I do feel better. I do think the waiting is possibly the worst part of it all.
I'm really sorry I can't be more help with regards to your blood results, but I do recommend getting in touch with the people I've mentioned above.
Good luck x

Hi Vicky. I'm afraid I'm not much help with the specifics either but have been where you are very recently. I can echo hmo2b with regards to either calling hospital and asking them for more info or contacting the ARC who are wonderful.

The waiting bit really is the worst but I found that the more I understood the better I felt. Try to hang in there and not panic too much although i totally understand how hard that is.

Keep posting on here if you have any questions or just want to chat. I found there are a wonderful group of people on here who will help you through everything.

Will be thinking of you on the 31st. xxxxx

thank you both for your support - much needed at this time.

VX

I think the fact that the nuchal translucensy is with 1.70 so low is very encouraging. I am not familiar with the bloods but it is probably your age that upped the chances. You have a probability of 98% that everything is fine,
but I do understand that your are worried.

The PAPP-A and HCG are expressed as MoM (Muliples of the mean) the closer to 1 the better.

The PAPP-A is very low at 0.22 and the HCG is also v low at 0.29. The NT seems well within normal. The classic DS features would be low PAPP A and high HCG, not low.

Can you speak to anyone about your results, midwife, consultant?

Did you get a risk factor for the other trisomies?

Disclaimer: I am not a HCP! Only an interested mum who had a 1 in 3 for DS, so did lots of research. (was luckilly one of the 2 in 3 for whom i came good)

Hi Vicky, I just wanted to send you some support and agree with some of the other ladies. I am pregnant again (19 weeks) after ending a pregnancy for Edwards Syndrome (Trisomy 18) in Jan and so have researching blood levels etc. I'm no expert though! I would echo what the others have said and try to get some answers though ARC, SOFT or your hospital. As Fannylogan has said, with DS (Trisomy 21) you would expect to have a high HCG combined with a low PAPP A result, but if they are both low there is the risk of other trisomies. Have you quoted from your equivalent MOM results? What were your risk factors for the other trisomies?
Let us know how you get on, I will be thinking of you- the waiting and worrying is really horrendous x

I'm no expert with numbers either. But my best friend has just had the results of her amniocentesis after being given a risk factor of 1:5 and she's having a healthy little girl. Just thought this may offer some encouragment xx

Hi Vicky. Was just wondering how you got on with your amnio. Hope everything was ok. Thinking of you. xxxxxx