Screening test

[Hew1991]

Hello I have had my screening test back which was high 1/117. I'm going for the next test which I cant remember the name of but they take fluid of the stomach. Just wondering if anyone has been in the same situation thanks

I have had an amnio. It wasn't as bad as I thought (the build up was worse if you know what I mean). They scan u as the needle goes in so they can get the right position. I didn't have a local but it didn't hurt a lot( more of a scratch). I had to rest the next day and had a few light cramps. The trisomy results came back in a few days and the full karotype in a couple of weeks (I did end up chasing for both). There is a small risk of miscarriage but it's widely thought to be less than the 1/100 often quoted.

Have you been told about the NIPT test? What is your risk for T21 or something else?

Thanks. Just it seems to be nothing people talk about when it's something where I feel we should talk and be more aware. No unless it just went over my head in the meeting the other day.

As little mentioned, i think it’s worth calling and seeing if the NIPT is available or if possible going private for it. Definitely worth looking into.

So the NIPT is another screening test. It takes another sample of your blood and looks for fetal DNA and gives a more accurate risk for T21(downs), Edwards (t18) or t13 (it is more accurate for downs than the other 2). Some NHS trusts offer it or you can get it privately (sometimes called harmony or safe test). So versions may give results back for sex chromosome disorders (eg turner's)

It is still only screening so doesn't give a definite diagnosis (for downs a negative result would be one in 10,000 so very unlikely but you could be that one) but is thought to be very accurate. It doesn't screen for rarer chromosome disorders (digeorge for example) which might be thrown up by the full karotype from the amnio.

So in short it can give you piece of mind without having to have the slightly risk amnio but can't rule everything out. In my case I had the harmony (just as precaution, NHS screening was clear) at 12wks which came back clear but 20 week scan showed heart issues so had amnio anyway to rule out any chromosome issues than the harmony wouldn't have picked up ( also clear it was just one of those things). If we have future kids and anything came up I would probably just have an amnio but there is a slight risk.

Ps might be worth asking your midwife what she thinks x