screening results for the older mum

[batteryhen]

Hi. I'm 41 and pregnant with dc2. I have had 4 mc in the past. I was wondering if because I am older will my risk for downs etc always come back high purely because of my age?I am living abroad in a country that does nuchal screening, but that's all so if I were to get a high risk then things like cvs or amnio would have to be back in the UK. I'm just trying to think how likely it is that I would have to fly home in a few weeks?!

Hello batteryhen, and congratulations on your pregnancy. I have no advice to offer but am interested in any you receive. I too am pregnant at 41, with dc3, and 2 mc in past. I have my booking-in appointment this Thursday and am assuming that I will be advised to take the tests.

Thanks for your reply. I just wonder if the midwife says my risk will be high because of my age then why bother screening older women anyway? ?

Hello hen and arse (that is one strange sentence to type ) and congratulations to you both on your pregnancies.

I was pregnant with my first child at 41 in the UK. I had the nuchal screening test and the results showed me to be at very low risk of Downs, despite my age. On the strength of my test results I chose not to have an amnio as I didn't want to do anything to jeopardize the pregnancy.

So no, you will not automatically be high risk because of your age. I was grateful to have the 'low risk' nuchal result because it gave me the strength to choose not to have an amnio. In my case it all turned out well but of course there are no guarantees in the great genetic lottery. But that is true for all parents, whatever their age.

HTH and best of luck with your pregnancies and births.

Hi, I had DD3 at 41 and had low risk result, can't remember what it was but was not offered any further tests, I am now pregnant with DC4 and age 45 my results have recently come back as 1/1000 saw MW yesterday and she said that's a really good result considering my age. Unchallenged measurement this time was 2.0. Hope this helps x

*Nuchal not unchallenged! (Predictive text!)

Thanks everyone I do feel reassured. I had an ammio with my ds so I am hoping to avoid that this time as it would mean a very long flight home :(

I don't think it's anything to do with age. I was 42 when I had DC3 10 months ago and my nuchal came back at 1:19000 very low risk

The risk of Down's Syndrome is calculated in two ways:

1. Background risk - this is the risk that is calculated WITHOUT screening results and this is the one where maternal age is a big factor.

2. Estimated risk - calculated using blood results, nuchal measurement and maternal age.

So for the estimated risk, your age still has an influence but the screening results are the main factors. For most older mums, the estimated risk will be much lower than the background risk.

High risk is 1:150 or less. It is important to remember that 1:150 only equates to a 0.67% chance of Down's Syndrome; 1:1000 is a 0.01% chance etc etc, just to put it in perspective.