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Antenatal tests

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Fear of the unknown, starting to worry now.

5 replies

sammyleh · 04/07/2012 13:15

Hi all, I'm hoping someone can help me return to calmness and sanity as I've had a bit of a panic over the past couple of days. Its come from nowhere really but nevertheless it still worries me.

My DP and I decided not to go ahead with Down's Syndrome screening and didn't have any of the tests. I'm now at 25 weeks and everything seems well and healthy. We chose not to go ahead because the thought of possible MC was enough to put us off, we also didn't want spend the pregnancy worrying when there was probably no need to.

During our anomaly scan the sonographer found nothing wrong at all, he saw the heart and all organs developed how they should be, a healthy spine and skull and no abnormalities to the face, I've also had no problems throughout my pregnancy. I'm a healthy 28 year old woman and this is my first baby and first pregnancy too, and there is no history of any major health problems in my family. BUT still, the fear of not knowing when we could have found out if we are at risk of having a DS baby is sending me into a little panic. Its probably normal and something that every expectant mother (who chose not to have the tests) goes through. If our baby is born with DS I'll still love her with all my heart and decided early on that if its something that's going to happen, we'll deal with it when we know... but the fear is still there and I'm really letting it get to me xx

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Londonmrss · 04/07/2012 14:01

Hi sammy, did you have NT and blood tests, avoiding anything more dramatic, or did you decide not to have that at 12 weeks?
Everything is most likely fine (I have a similar history to you and my risk after NT measurement / bloods came back at 1:33000). But we always said we would never have the more invasive procedures whatever the risk came out as- simply because we will love and be able to take care of whoever this baby is (that's not meant as judgement towards anyone who made a different decision- I am totally 100% pro-choice, and everyone has a right to do what is right for them).
I think you just need to keep bonding with your little one, and assume everything will be fine- because it most likely will be! It's easy to get bogged down thinking what might go wrong. I seem to have daily panic- am I feeling enough kicks, could I be at risk of premature, etc etc. I just try to get into the habit of telling myself it will be fine- or I'll drive myself insane.

sammyleh · 04/07/2012 14:07

Hi Londonmrss I didn't have the NT and bloods because I knew we wouldn't have the invasive tests, it didn't seem worth it in case anything came back to cause us worry. Seems stupid now! thanks for your reassurance, I'm sure everything will be fine but its always a thought in the back of your head isn't it? especially with so many other thoughts and worries flying around. Baby kicks regularly, we talk to her all the time and really have developed a strong bond... absolutely love her to pieces already :)

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mummytoh1 · 04/07/2012 16:41

I think you should consider the following, it might make you feel better about the choice you made:

  1. When having your 12 week scan, if they had seen a marker for DS like an increased nuchal fold, they would have told you. And your age is in your favour. So the only thing you are missing is the blood results, which are notoriously unreliable.
  2. Even if you had had the screening, you would only have a 'risk' factor now, not an answer - even with a chance of 1:30,000 someone is the '1' - and unexpectedly so. HTH.
Londonmrss · 04/07/2012 20:31

Yep, good advice from the mummy above- we're all in the same boat really because you can never be sure. So just hope for the best and assume it's all fine!
It's also great news that all looks fine at the anomaly scan, but as my sonographer said 'Everything looks as good as it possibly can at this stage, but seeing that the kidneys are there isn't a guarantee that they work perfectly.'
But if everything looks as good as it can, that's good enough for me.

sammyleh · 05/07/2012 09:36

Thanks ladies, this has helped. Feeling a lot better today and the worry has subsided a little. Yep, we're all in the same boat and I love this site for the support everyone can enjoy xx

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